ALCC US Forest Service Water Rights Analysis Resource Assistant

Title: Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps - US Forest Service Water Rights Analysis Resource Assistant

Stipend: $18.75 /hour (+ benefits)

Dates: 09/06/2021 - 09/02/2022

Term: 12 months, 1 year

Reports To: USDA Forest Service, Southwest Region

Location: 333 Broadway Blvd NE, Albuquerque NM

Benefits: Housing stipend (bi-weekly), mileage reimbursements up to $50/month

Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps' Mission:

It is the mission of the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps to lead our nations back to cultural and ecological well being. The Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps is specifically designed to engage Native American youth and young adults with offices in Acoma, Albuquerque, Gallup, Zuni, and Hopi. *Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps serves local tribal communities in the regions we operate. Qualified Native American applicants will be given preference.

USDA Forest Service Mission:

The mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.

The Forest Service motto, "Caring for the Land and Serving People," captures the spirit of our mission, which we accomplish through five main activities:

• Protection and management of natural resources on lands we manage.
• Research on all aspects of forestry, rangeland management, and forest resource utilization.
• Community assistance and cooperation with State and local governments, forest industries, and private landowners to help protect and manage non-Federal forest and associated range and watershed lands to improve conditions in rural areas.
• Achievement and support of an effective workforce that reflects the diversity of the American people.
• International assistance to formulate policy and coordinate U.S. support for the protection and sound management of the world's forest resources.

US National Forest Ecosystem Analysis and Planning, Watershed Soil and Air, Water Rights Program Overview:

Water rights and uses are a valuable resource and property interest that must be managed carefully. The majority of water rights are administered under State (Arizona, New Mexico) law and the Forest Service (FS) directives must comply with regulations, statutory procedures, and timelines established in each State in order to acquire water rights for National Forest System (NFS) purposes. In addition, the FS is required by State law and FS directives to participate in adjudications and is represented by the U.S. Department of Justice in the litigation. Adjudications require high standards for water rights inventory, quantification, and data management.

The responsibility of the Resource Assistant (RA) includes the field collection, QA/QC for establishment, procurement and defense of water rights necessary for the management of National Forests, to ensure water is protected for national forest system resources. The RA will work with the Water Rights Team Lead, Regional Hydrologist, and Water Rights Analyst whom have oversight and program management for water resources with emphasis on federally owned water rights and water uses of in the regions national forests.

Essential functions and responsibilities:

The ALCC US Forest Service Water Rights Resource Assistant will work to complete tasks and projects outlined below.

General Projects:

1) Collect water right data using a mobile collector app with field personnel.

• Work with supervisor and forest personnel to select and map testing sites that will be input into Water Rights and Uses database (WRU).
• Travel to field locations, and collect pertinent data.
• QA/QC data and upload to AGOL site in preparation for WRU database.

2) Water Rights and Uses (WRU) Database

• Train and understand WRU database.
• Continue collecting, analyzing, and logging data collected from stream projects.
• Support field staff requests for water rights documents.

3) Hydrological Technical Support to Forests

• Work with supervisor and forest personnel to provide hydrological technical support to forests in regards to adjudication proceedings.
• Travel to field locations, and provide technical and modeling support.

Required Skills

The ideal candidate for this position is a highly organized individual who has the ability to work individually and with a team. The ideal candidate will have networking skills, familiarity with basic computer programs and technology, data management skills or the ability to learn them.

Required Experience

Bachelor degree in Natural Resource related field (preferable course work includes, hydrology, engineering, environmental science, environmental policy, GIS). Experience in ArcGIS, Surveying, and working collaboratively in groups is a plus.

The Forest Service recognizes that candidates may not possess all or many of the desired qualifications for this position, however, an individual who is enthusiastic, motivated, and demonstrates a willingness to challenge themselves by learning those skills in which they may be lacking at the time of hire will be welcomed.

Questions about the position? Contact Raguilar@conservationlegacy.org!

The ideal candidate for this position is a highly organized individual who has the ability to work individually and with a team. The ideal candidate will have networking skills, familiarity with basic computer programs and technology, data management skills or the ability to learn them.

Bachelor degree in Natural Resource related field (preferable course work includes, hydrology, engineering, environmental science, environmental policy, GIS). Experience in ArcGIS, Surveying, and working collaboratively in groups is a plus.

The Forest Service recognizes that candidates may not possess all or many of the desired qualifications for this position, however, an individual who is enthusiastic, motivated, and demonstrates a willingness to challenge themselves by learning those skills in which they may be lacking at the time of hire will be welcomed.

Questions about the position? Contact Raguilar@conservationlegacy.org!