Ecological Restoration Specialist (USFWS, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge)

The Research Associate (RA) Program at GBI, in cooperation with USFWS at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is recruiting one (1) Ecological Restoration Specialist.  The RA will assist with habitat restoration, invasive species control, and ecological monitoring at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in southern Nevada.  The refuge is home to 12 threatened and endangered species and at least 26 plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world, making it a biodiversity hotspot of global significance. The refuge is designated a wetland of international importance and is routinely recognized as one of the most important conservation areas on the North American continent.  

The Refuge is currently implementing several projects to restore previously developed or impacted springs and their outflows to natural conditions that support endemic fish, wildlife, and plants. This RA will help implement these projects by leading revegetation of spring channels post-construction, by assisting with invasive plant, fish, and aquatic invertebrate control, and by assisting with ecological monitoring. As a member of a small team, the RA will have many opportunities to assist with other refuge projects, gaining diverse experience.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Lead revegetation of restoration sites;
  • Collect native seed and coordinate the growth of container stock at regional nurseries;
  • Coordinate and supervise salvage and transplanting of existing vegetation during construction and planting of container stock post-construction;
  • Water plants on a regular schedule, typically weekly;
  • Design, implement and maintain small-scale dripline irrigation systems.
• Lead invasive plant control efforts for the refuge;
  • Control weeds at recent restoration sites to prevent establishment;
  • Complete or supervise inventories to detect new invasions outside restoration sites;
  • Complete or supervise mechanical or chemical control of target species such as tamarisk and fan palm;
  • Complete follow-up effectiveness monitoring of prior treatment areas;
  • Manage the Ash Meadows weeds database using ArcGIS FieldMaps;
  • Prepare summary reports to document control efforts and relay recommendations for future management.
• Assist with control of aquatic invasive species;
  • Lead or assist with non-native fish and invertebrate control projects using minnow traps, spearfishing, hoop nets, gill nets, electrofishing, angling, and other methods as needed;
  • Assist with surveillance monitoring for aquatic invasive species using minnow traps, snorkel surveys, or eDNA sampling;
  • Conduct routine fish barrier surveys to monitor integrity;
  • Assist with control of emergent aquatic plants such as cattails to maintain barrier effectiveness.
• Participate in routine annual surveys for aquatic invertebrates, native fish, rare plants, and birds;
• Supervise and direct volunteers, Invasive Plant Management Teams, and Nevada Conservation Corps crews working at the Refuge;
• Author or co-author funding proposals related to primary areas of responsibility;
• Complete quarterly GBI activity reports, annual pesticide use report, project-specific reports, and contribute to refuge annual performance plan (RAPP) reporting;
• Maintain field equipment and tools such as: Electric drill, screwdriver, drill, hammer, jack, lug wrench, tire inflator, scythe, machete, shovel, spade, trowel, tool sharpener, grinder, garden fork, post hole digger, post hole pounder, pruning shears (secateurs), loppers, hedge trimmers, pruning saw, fruit saw, rake, hoe, stand-up weed puller, hand rake, leaf blower, garden knife (hori hori), string trimmers, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, pressure washers;
• Other duties as as