United StatesForest Service
Outreach Notice
Region 4
Caribou-Targhee National Forest
Montpelier Ranger District
Forester
GS-0460-05/07/09
Duty Locations: Montpelier, Idaho.
The Caribou-Targhee National Forest will soon release a vacancy announcement to fill a Forester position. This notification is being circulated to inform prospective applicants of this upcoming opportunity and to determine interest in the position. You may use the attached optional form to express your interest in the position. Please return the form by March 4, 2014.
About the Position:
Series/Grade: GS-0460-05/07/09
Title: Forester
Duty Station: Montpelier Ranger District.
Tour of Duty: Permanent Full Time
Housing: Government quarters may be available.
Duties:
The successful applicant will work in a zoned forest vegetation program across the Pocatello, Soda Springs and Montpelier Ranger districts. The forest vegetation program on the Caribou Zone is very active producing between 5,000 and 12,000 CCF in timber sales annually through a combination of restoration activities and settlement sales. The zone sells 4,000 CCF of personal use firewood and 3,600 Christmans tree permits annually. The zone also has an active thinning program and supports an active fuels program.
The applicant will be involved in a full range of forestry activities and duties, from planning to harvest to reforestation. Some of the duties of this position will include:
· Project recognizance and stand diagnosis
· Preparation of specialist reports for NEPA documents
· Sale and harvest unit layout
· Cruise design and implementation
· Timber sale appraisals
· Contract preparation (TIM)
· Timber sale contract inspection and administration
· Reforestation planning and implementation
· Timber stand improvement planning and implementation
· Development & implementation of Sale Area Improvement plans (KV)
· Activities reporting (FACTS)
· Contract administration for reforestation, TSI and other related contract items.
· Forest monitoring, surveys, and inventories
· Personal use forest product program (Christmas trees, firewood, etc.)
· Supervision of crews employed to help carry out above duties.
This position requires knowledge of ecological processes, contracts, logging systems, transportation design, mapping and reporting techiques. The successful applicant will be required to attend public and agency meetings. Communication with contractors, the public, and Forest Service employees is essential. Use of an ATV, 4-wheel drive vehicles, and pulling a trailer will be necessary as a regular part of this position. The job also requires hiking across uneven terrain and working in inclimatic weather..
Advertisement for this position will be a vacancy announcement on USAjobs (http://www.usajobs.gov). All applicants that complete an outreach form will be contacted with vacancy announcement information and application due dates.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS POSITION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Wayne Beck, TMA/Silviculturist Caribou Zone, 208-847-8941.
Dennis Duehren, Montpelier District Ranger, 208-847-0375
Jack Isaacs, Soda Springs District Ranger, 208-547-1101.
Jeff Hammes, Westside District Ranger, 208-236-7510.
Forest & District Information
Forest: The Caribou-Targhee National Forest headquartered in Idaho Falls, ID encompasses about 3 million acres in southeastern Idaho and western Wyoming. The Forest stretches in an arc from the Montana state line on the Continental Divide at the north end, along the Idaho-Wyoming state line on the east, to the Utah state line on the south. The Forest Borders both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and is actively involved with issues in the Greater Yellowstone Region. The Curlew National Grasslands administered as part of the Caribou-Targhee are the only National Grasslands in the Intermountain Region. The Forest has about 200 permanent employees and includes seven Ranger Districts. Two world famous fly fishing streams (Henry’s Fork and South Fork of the Snake River) are located within the Forest, as well as very diverse wildlife populations (including grizzly bear, lynx and gray wolf). It is home to elk, deer and moose, but not caribou. It is a Forest with spectacular scenery and a variety of resource programs and challenges.
Soda Springs & Montpelier Ranger Districts
There are 30 permanent full time positions between the two Districts and typically 30-40 seasonals. All of the major programs are zoned between the two districts and include; Minerals (phosphate and gold), CERCLA (Super Fund sites), Range, Noxious Weed Management, Timber, Recreation, Trails, Fisheries, Wildlife and Fire/Fuels Management.
The Soda Springs and Montpelier Ranger Districts are home to a unique array of multiple uses.
The two districts combined have 60 sheep (19 permitees) and 28 cattle (145 permitees) allotments. The zone has an active weed control program including both truck and horse mounted crews.
Gold was discovered on the Soda Springs Ranger District in 1870, and active gold exploration and prospecting still occurs in the area; however, the mining emphasis is now shifted to phosphate mining. Large phosphate deposits located in the area are the result of an ancient inland sea. These rich deposits form the backbone for a prosperous phosphate industry centered around Pocatello and Soda Springs, ID.
Besides active mining and mine site remediation, there are a variety of other uses taking place between the two districts. The zone timber sale program offers approximately 2.5 million board feet of saw-timber per year and a variety of personal use programs such as, firewood, post and poles and Christmas tree sales. The Districts are home to the headwaters of the Blackfoot River, which has been designated by Idaho Fish and Game as an “Outstanding Resident Fish Resource” for its runs of Yellowstone cutthroat trout. Montpelier is located on the south end of the Bear Lake Valley.
Recreation takes many forms on the two Districts and they offer something for every user. There are hiking trails, cross-country ski trails, as well as 400 miles of ATV trails and several snowmobile trails. Several large areas are closed to motorized vehicle for the satisfaction of those seeking escape from civilization. Other areas are open to all forms of motorized recreation for those who are fond of that aspect of recreation. There are ample opportunities to observe elk, mule deer, moose, bald eagles, upland game birds and many other forms of wildlife. The endangered whooping crane once was a resident at the Grey’s Lake Wildlife Refuge, adjacent to the Soda Springs District.
The city of Montpelier is located in the southeastern corner of Idaho and has a population of around 2,100 people. It is 15 miles from the Wyoming border to the east, and 26 miles from the Utah border to the south. The elevation is approximately 6000 ft. in the valley. Montpelier is situated between the Caribou and Cache National Forests and just north of scenic Bear Lake. There are 3 larger cities within convenient driving distance – Pocatello, ID – 88 miles; Logan, UT – 75 miles; Salt Lake City, UT – 159 miles. Jackson Hole, WY is 113 miles.
The Montpelier Ranger District administers a portion of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest and the Cache National Forest that is located in Idaho. Recreational opportunities include: hiking, fishing, hunting, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, mountain biking, off road vehicle trails and camping.
Medical facilities in town include a 21-bed hospital with a 37-bed nursing home attached. There are 6 doctors, 3 dentists, and 1 full time chiropractor that reside in the valley plus several specialists that come in on a routine schedule for patient appointments.
Schools in the Bear Lake County School District #33 include kindergarten through 12th grade. The high school and middle school are located in Montpelier. There are elementary schools in several surrounding communities. The county library is located in Montpelier.
Motels that serve this area are: Best Western Clover Creek Inn, 243 N. 4th, 847-1782; Park Motel, 745 Washington, 847-1911; Super 8, 276 N. 4th, 847-8888.
Restaurants in Montpelier are varied in the food that they offer, chances are that you can find a place that fits your budget and taste buds. Establishments include; the Ranch Hand Truck Stop, El Jaliense, and the Mandarin Café. For those that prefer a, quicker meal there is a burger drive-inn (Dan’s at 733 Washington, 847-1963), 1 pizza parlor Studebakers, 802 Washington, 847-3020, and 4 fast food places (Subway, Taco Time, Twisted Subs, and Arctic Circle.
Entertainment in the area includes varied outdoor activities (skiing, hiking, camping, boating, fishing, snowmobiling, etc.), the Center Theater, JoLara Lanes, and the Oregon/California Trail Museum. There is an annual summer music festival, the Bear Lake County Fair, and a Raspberry Festival held in Garden City UT. We also have a golf course right in town.
Local shopping includes 1 grocery store, 2 variety stores, 1 hardware store, a JC Penny catalog outlet, craft stores, 2 drug stores, 2 florist shops, a sporting goods store, a trading post, and pawnshop, 2 automobile dealerships (Ford, Dodge), Post Office, Medical supply shop, furniture store, and several other establishments.
Local churches include LDS, Catholic, Presbyterian-Lutheran Community Church, Four Square, and Baptist.
Housing in the area is readily available. Rentals cost around $500 for a 2 bedroom apt., or from $500 to $800 for a 2 bedroom, 1 ½ bath home. The average cost of a house is approximately $110,000 with fixer-uppers available for considerably less and some higher priced housing markets near Bear Lake. There are several smaller communities within easy commuting distance of Montpelier also in the area.
Banks include Wells Fargo, Ireland, Zion’s, U.S. Bank, and Advantage Credit Union.
Climate is typical of high mountain valleys varying from 60 to 90 in the summer, and low teens to below zero in the winter. There is plenty of snow for winter recreation.
For further information feel free to contact: Montpelier RD 322 N. 4th, Montpelier ID 83254, 208-847-0375; Bear Lake Chamber of Commerce, 320 N. 4th St, 208-847-0067 or on the Internet: www.bearlake.com or www.oregontrailcenter.org
OUTREACH RESPONSE FORM
Range Management Specialist
Caribou-Targhee National Forest
GS-0454-09
Please return your completed response form by: January 17, 2014
If you are interested in this opportunity and/or plan on applying for this vacancy, please return this Outreach Response Form electronically to the district(s) you are interested in. See contact information below.
Name: Email:
Mailing Address:
Phone Number:
If Current Federal Employee, Agency Employed With: ____USFS, ____BLM, ____OTHER________
If Current Federal Employee, Type of Appointment: ____Perm ____Temp ____Term
____VRA ____PWD ____Other
Current FS Employee, Region/Forest/District:
Current Series and Grade:
Current Position Title:
Please briefly describe your qualifications/interest for this position:
If you are not a current permanent (career or career conditional) employee, indicate if you are you eligible to be hired under any of the following special authorities:
_____Person with Disabilities
_____Veterans Recruitment Act
_____Disabled Veterans with 30% Compensable Disability
_____Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998
_____Former Peace Corps Volunteer
_____Pathways Internship Program
_____Other ______________________________________________________
How did you learn of this vacancy? ______________________________________________
Thank you for your interest and response!
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