Aquatics Technician - Eldorado National Forest

EPIC • Placerville, CA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the Eldorado National Forest, is seeking TWO Aquatic Technicians to work alongside Forest Service staff to support aquatic resource surveys. Start Date: 1) April 13, 2026 and 2) May 25, 2026 Estimated End Date: 1) September 18, 2026 and 2) October 30, 2026 a 23-week commitment is desired Location Details/Description: Placerville, CA Eldorado National Forest, Supervisors Office The Eldorado National Forest is located in the central Sierra Nevada region within California and encompasses a total of 798,279 acres, which includes 193,027 acres of private ownership. The Eldorado National Forest is bordered on the north by the Tahoe National Forest, on the east by the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and the Humboldt-Toiyabe, and to the south by the Stanislaus National Forest. The Eldorado is within 3 - 4 hours of the San Francisco Bay Area and about 1 - 1 1/2 hours from Sacramento. It ranges in elevation from 1,000 feet in the foothills to more than 10,000 feet above sea level along the Sierra crest. The mountainous topography is broken by the steep canyons of the Mokelumne, Cosumnes, American, and Rubicon rivers. Plateaus of generally moderate relief are located between these steep canyons. The forest is also home to 297 lakes and reservoirs (including both public and private acreage), which total 11,994 surface acres. 11 large reservoirs account for 9,000 acres. The rest are mostly small, high mountain lakes. Both the rivers and lakes provide excellent fishing opportunities. The Eldorado National Forest provides diverse recreational opportunities to the public. The Forest offers every visitor the chance to enjoy nature and be outdoors. In addition to two popular wilderness areas (Desolation Wilderness and Mokelumne Wilderness), the forest offers more than 70-day use and overnight developed recreation facilities across the forest for the individual, families and groups. For more information on the Eldorado National Forest, please visit the USDA Forest Service website. Position Overview: The individual(s) will work with aquatics staff and conduct field work for a variety of species (California red-legged frog, Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, Foothills yellow-legged frog, Yosemite toad and Western pond turtle). As opportunities arise, 10-20% of the technician's time may be scheduled to assist in other program areas, in order to accomplish high priority project needs and provide cross-training opportunities. The work requires physical exertion, such as navigating steep and uneven terrain to approach remote field sites and wading in rivers with unstable footing. In many situations, the duration of the activity (such as most of the workday) contributes to the arduous nature of the job. Complete surveys (including night surveys) to protocol and providing accurate and timely documentation Some work will occur in a recent burned area and will require adherence to strict safety protocols. GIS and data entry associated with field survey work Support other projects and responsibilities as needed by the Forest This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups. Schedule: Mon-Thurs, 7:00am - 6:00pm

Requirements

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement

Nice To Haves

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a bachelor's degree in a natural resource field and have field experience.
• Ability to work independently including hiking, driving, following survey protocol
• Experience driving 4x4 and/or all-wheel drive vehicles safely in off-road conditions
• Experience hiking over remote, steep, and rocky terrain in adverse weather conditions (cold/hot temps, light rain, etc.)
• Experience surveying for amphibians
• Skill using compass, aerial photos, topographic maps and GPS units to locate survey areas in remote setting
• Flexibility in switching between day and night survey work (maintaining appropriate work/rest ratio)
• Familiarity with Microsoft Excel and GIS
• Competency with data entry, summarizing and compiling data

Responsibilities

• Complete surveys (including night surveys) to protocol and providing accurate and timely documentation
• GIS and data entry associated with field survey work
• Support other projects and responsibilities as needed by the Forest

Benefits

• Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $795/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.
• Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service.
• Housing: ACE members may be accommodated in USFS Barracks depending on availability. Each member will receive reimbursement for housing costs up to a weekly rate not to exceed $100 per week.
• Relocation Allowance: ACE members will have access to up to $500 to be used for eligible relocation expenses.
• Provided Training/Orientation: The ACE member will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. The Forest Service will provide the member with Avenza and field data collection systems training. Additional training may include cross-training with other departments.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees