OUTREACH NOTICE

Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland

Title, GS-Series-Grade: / Hydrologist, GS- 1315-7/9
District/Unit: / Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests & Thunder Basin National Grassland
Date of Notice: / January 22, 2014

The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests & Thunder Basin National Grassland will soon be advertising an entry level professional Hydrologist position (Hydrologist GS-1315-7/9). The position will be permanent full time with a duty station in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. This notification is being circulated to inform prospective applicants of this upcoming opportunity and to determine interest in the position. FOREST SERVICE EMPLOYEES ON THE WORKFORCE REDUCTION AND PLACEMENT LIST WILL RECEIVE PRIORITY CONSIDERATION AND CTAP/ICTAP ELIGIBLES WILL RECEIVE THE APPROPRIATE CONSIDERATION.

Interested applicants, or those desiring further information, should fill out the attached outreach form and email to Liz Schnackenberg at by February 22, 2014, or call her at 970.870.2234.

POSITION: The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests & Thunder Basin National Grassland is seeking a dynamic, innovative self-starter for an entry level hydrologist position. The zone position would work for the South Zone Hydrologist and have responsibilities on the Hahns Peak/Bears Ears, Yampa, and Parks Ranger districts in northwest Colorado. The Forest has an active restoration program with successful cooperation with partners. The incumbent will participate on Interdisciplinary Teams to conduct environmental analysis on the hydrologic effects of a wide variety of forest and watershed management activities including fuels reduction, timber harvest, watershed restoration, fish and wildlife habitat enhancement, livestock grazing, mining and recreation under the guidance of the Zone hydrologist. Other duties include groundwater assessment and watershed monitoring activities including the evaluation of best management practices.

LOCATION: The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland (http://www.fs.usda.gov/mbr) cover nearly 2.9 million acres from north central Colorado to central and northeastern Wyoming. From mountain ranges to grasslands and crystal clear streams, the national forests and national grassland provide abundant and unique opportunities for visitors.

Duty Station: Steamboat Springs, Colorado is a full service year-round resort community located in northwestern Colorado at an elevation of 6,700 feet.

Community: Steamboat Springs is located 122 miles from Laramie, WY, where the headquarters office for the Forest is located. Denver is 160 miles southeast of town, and Fort Collins is 160 miles to the northeast. Year-round air service is provided at the Yampa Valley regional Airport in Hayden.

Year round population for Steamboat is about 12,000, which can swell up to 40,000 during the ski season. It is the county seat and largest community in Routt County. Other surrounding incorporated communities include Hayden (22 miles west, population 2,000), Oak Creek (23 miles south, population 1000), and Yampa (30 miles south, population 500).

Climate: The average high temperature in July is 80 degrees F., with the average low for the month at 41 degrees. In January, the average high is 30 degrees and the average low is 0 degrees. The average snowfall in town is 170 inches per year, while the Steamboat ski area averages 324 inches per year.

Cost of Living: The average 3 bedroom single-family home on a standard lot within city limits starts at $200 a square foot; condominiums are less expensive. The approximate average monthly rent for a one bedroom condominium or apartment is $700, and for two bedrooms is $1200. The rent for a single-family home in Steamboat with 3 to 4 bedrooms starts at $1600 per month. These figures may have changed with the current economic situation. Please check with local real estate agents for current market values. Several forest employees commute from surrounding communities where the cost of living is lower, and car-pooling is an option.

Education: There are two public elementary schools K-5, one middle school 6-8, and one high school 9-12. In addition, there are two private K-12 schools. The Colorado Mountain College Alpine Campus offers two-year Associate of Arts degrees in a variety of subjects.

Day Care: There are several pre-schools and licensed family childcare homes in the Steamboat Springs area. A list of childcare providers is available from the Child Care Network referral service at (970) 879-7330.

Medical Facilities: Yampa Valley Medical Center is a non-profit, non-tax-supported, independent community hospital. YVMC is a 39-bed acute-care hospital providing sophisticated medical services to more than 51,000 outpatients annually.

Churches: There are 15 to 20 churches in town in various denominations.

Recreation: Recreation is unlimited in and around Steamboat Springs throughout the year. Winter activities include alpine and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, dog sledding, ice fishing, ice hockey and skating. Summer and fall activities include hiking, horseback riding, fishing, hunting, kayaking, golfing, mountain bike riding and many other activities.

For More Information: Contact the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association, PO Box 774408, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477, (970) 879-0882, or on-line at http://www.steamboat-chamber.com for more detailed information or a relocation package.

Outreach Response Form

Hydrologist GS 1315 - 7/9

Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests & Thunder Basin National Grassland

USDA Forest Service

Please respond by February 28, 2014 to:

or 970.870.2234

Name: ______

Email Address: ______

Phone Number: ______Work, Home or Mobile?

Employer: FS Unit______Other ______

Location: ______

Tour: Permanent ____ Temporary____ Student/Intern____ Contractor____ Other_____

Current Position Title: ______

Series/grade if Federal Employee: ______

How did you hear about this position? ______

Agency Contact______Other______

If not a current permanent employee, are you eligible to be hired under any of the following special authorities?

_____ Schedule A (Person with Disabilities)

_____ Veterans Readjustment

_____ Veterans w/30% Compensable Disability

_____ Veterans Employment Opportunities Act Of 1998

_____ Former Peace Corps Volunteer

_____ Pathways Program (Students and Recent Graduates)

_____ Other ______

Submission of this form is voluntary. Thanks for your interest!