AmeriCorps Restoration and Monitoring Member

The Restoration and Monitoring Members will serve alongside other members and WBC Conservation Technicians and Crew Leads conducting primarily project site monitoring and data collection, invasive species removal, and native plant re-vegetation within the Walker River Basin. Members may also work on recreational trail construction, sign installation, and fence construction. Members will work in conjunction with other WBC field staff, providing on the ground support to larger project operations.

Service Activities

Primary Functions:
• Scouting and identifying invasive infestations for targeted treatment.
• Following set guidelines while utilizing GPS, camera, and other instruments to monitor and collect data on invasive treatment, re-vegetation sites, and streamflow.
• Under the guidance of a WBC Technician, utilizing hand tools, backpack sprayers, and ATV mounted sprayers to conduct invasive plant removal and control.
• Under the guidance of a WBC Technician, utilizing hand and power tools to conduct native plant re-vegetation and restoration.
• Under the guidance of a WBC Technician, utilizing hand and power tools to conduct road decommissioning, recreation trail construction, and sign/fence installation.
• Communicating effectively and professionally with other members, WBC staff, agency partners, and the public.
Secondary Functions:
• Participating in advanced technical trainings, including the basics of equipment operation used in WBC agriculture and conservation projects.
• Participating in leadership and project management trainings put on by WBC for professional and organizational development.
• Assisting with the management and supervision of community volunteers on WBC conservation projects.
• Uploading field data into databases and compiling reports to inform future management plans.
• Assisting with the inventory, maintenance, and repair of WBC tools and equipment.

Community Need Addressed

The Walker River Basin (WRB) in Nevada has been heavily used for agriculture and ranching, which has been the economic backbone of rural communities in the WRB for more than a hundred years. However, the heavy agricultural use and subsequent diversion of water has had the unintended consequence of reduced water quality and availability for native habitat in much of the basin. Additionally, agricultural lands that have been retired and are no longer actively cared for are highly susceptible to invasive species encroachment, irresponsible recreation, and fugitive dust issues.
A portion of member service will be spent on invasive species removal, which is most effective during late spring and early summer when the plants have sprouted but have not yet gone to seed. During that crucial period the member will participate in a mixture of monitoring, herbicide application, and mechanical removal activities. All work, including herbicide application, follows federal and state standards as well as OSHA regulations. The member will also participate in continued monitoring of the sites and may conduct additional treatments in the fall season for any invasive plants that show signs of re-growth.
On sites where invasive encroachment is minimal or invasive plants have already been eradicated, the member will participate in re-vegetation efforts. Re-seeding with a mixture of native grasses and cover crops will take place immediately following the removal of invasive plants to help protect against soil erosion and invasive re-establishment. Member will also participate in planting of native shrubs in clusters around treated and seeded sites. Establishing these native shrubs will further stabilize the soil, provide a native seed source for long term passive restoration, and re-establish wildlife habitat on previously disturbed sties.
Additionally, members may participate in the establishment and maintenance of permanent campgrounds on Nevada State Park lands in the Walker River Basin. These established camping and recreation areas will focus the impact of visitors in specific areas, reducing negative impacts from recreation activities such as erosion, spread of invasive plants, and degradation of native habitat.

Position Outcomes

The Walker River Basin (WRB) in Nevada is comprised of the East and West Walker Rivers which converge in Mason Valley and eventually terminate at Walker Lake, a desert terminal lake with no outlet to the ocean or other body of water. During the last quarter of the 19th century, farmers and cattlemen established communities in the WRB which is also part of the ancestral home of the Northern Paiute people. For more than a hundred years the natural flows from the Walker River were diverted to support hay, pasture and other irrigated crops.
While these efforts at diverting water and taming the river resulted in a strong agricultural economy in the area, the unintended consequence was dramatically reduced freshwater inflows to Walker Lake. Among a myriad of environmental and ecological impacts caused by the water diversion and agricultural expansion in the Walker Basin, the most noticeable is that the lake can no longer support its native fish and wildlife populations.
The Walker Basin Conservancy AmeriCorps Program will implement interventions aimed at restoration of the Walker Basin. The primary restoration goals for stewardship interventions have been identified though scientific research and documented best practices from experts in the conservation and fisheries fields. The initial goals are to address four issues: fugitive dust abatement, soil stabilization, noxious weed control, and overall improved habitat. Establishing arid-land vegetation that can ultimately survive without supplemental irrigation is the long-term goal that the interventions of our AmeriCorps program will lead to.
Restoration is accomplished through two broad strategies: passive restoration and active facilitated restoration. Passive restoration relies on minimizing disturbance, monitoring and controlling weeds to allow infilling and regeneration. Active facilitated restoration uses techniques that help speed the process of natural regeneration, thereby stabilizing the site while speeding up the process of vegetative community succession.

Benefits

Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training

• Living allowance of $17,000; • Education award of $5,920; • Medical, dental and vision insurance, child care, and federal student loan forbearance are available for eligible members at no additional cost; • Uniform reimbursement; • Per diem when on spike (while camping); • Paid personal leave, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s; and • Paid holidays. Members will receive a variety of technical and professional training related to their service activities as well as personal and professional development. Available trainings include: • First aid and CPR; • Leave no Trace principals; • Off-road driver’s training; and • Plant identification, invasive species identification and treatment, and trails training.

Education Benefits

CPR and first aid

Skills you will gain

CPR, first aid, off-road driving, invasive species identification and treatment/removal, native plant identification, Leave no Trace Principals

Competencies You Will Develop

• Activity Types Hands On Activities, Office Activities, Professional Activities
• Focus Areas Environment
• Length of Service 12 Months
• Education Requirements GED
• Placement Individual and Team Placements
• Service Setting Community-based Nonprofit
• Weekly Training Hours 5