Geomorphology Assistant - AmeriCorps

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Geomorphology Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Yosemite National Park, El Portal, California

Can this position be fully remote: No

Number of positions available: 1

TERMS OF SERVICE

Duration: 20 Weeks (not flexible)

Flexible Start Date: Yes

Start Date: 01/05/2026

End Date: 05/25/2026

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve.

BENEFITS

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,817.14 upon successful completion of position.
• Living Allowance of $600.00 per week.
• Relocation Allowance of $450.00 (distributed as a one-time lump sum with first paycheck)
• Student Loan Forbearance if applicable (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly).
  • Student Loan Interest Payments if applicable (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly).

APPLICATION TIMELINE

The position will close after receiving 60 applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, 12 October, 2025, whichever occurs first. The review of applications will begin after Sunday, 12 October, 2025. Preference given to applicants who submit applications before Sunday, 12 October, 2025.

PURPOSE

This Geomorphology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. Project 1: With frequent rockfalls and nearly 5 million annual visitors, Yosemite National Park is subjected to significant rockfall risk. Rockfall related road closures are common, there are occasional impacts to infrastructure, and even injuries and fatalities. The results of these projects will inform the public about rockfall risks through an interactive web map and supporting publications and help park managers decide how to understand and mitigate risk to trails, roads, and other infrastructure. This work will also help to develop a protocol for more efficiently documenting and reporting rockfalls in Yosemite.

Project 2: By accurately monitoring and analyzing hydrologic parameters such as streamflow, water quality, and snowpack, we can better assess trends, identify areas of concern, and prioritize restoration efforts. The Yosemite Hydroclimate Network is rare in its quantity of instrumentation in high-elevation, headwater systems. There is currently not a known solution that exists within NPS for easy documentation and transfer of field visit data to Aquarius software. Many other Park units collect hydrologic data and store it in Aquarius, so a solution for Yosemite would also be scalable to other NPS units.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

This position would focus on two physical sciences projects in Yosemite relating to rockfall and streamflow data.

Project 1: Yosemite National Park experiences frequent rockfalls and other slope movements (such as debris flows), with an event occurring about every 5 days on average. Because rockfalls pose considerable risk to visitors and employees, tracking rockfall activity, analyzing these data, and sharing the information with park managers and the public is an essential tool for mitigating rockfall risk. The primary means of rockfall documentation in Yosemite is with a rockfall database (Stock et al., 2013), which records rockfall and other slope movement events going back to 1857. The database includes information about timing, location, size, impacts, and associated environmental conditions. Yosemite recently converted the database from a spreadsheet to a geodatabase and interactive web map:

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/03e5fb490eaf4bef92494923a99c4fa0/. Serving alongside Yosemite's Park Geologist and collaborators at the US Geological Survey, the project will update the rockfall geodatabase and expand the database through the addition of supporting data, photos, and videos. The project will analyze rockfall occurrence data to understand better spatial patterns of rockfall activity and temporal patterns of rockfall triggering related to environmental conditions. The SIP participant will also assist in the field with rockfall response and documentation in the field.

Project 2: The Yosemite hydrological conditions network consists of a joint suite of high-country instrumentation measuring snowpack and surface water. There are currently 13 weather stations and 13 stream gages spanning the upper Tuolumne and Merced watersheds. Given the reliance of California (and the Western US) on snow-fed runoff for water supply, these two well-instrumented watersheds serve as a valuable crucible for studying snow and streamflow. With increasing temperatures, a shift from snow to rain is expected, as well as a decrease in runoff efficiency. Effectively monitoring both snowpack and streamflow is important to track expected changes and inform necessary adaptation strategies. The position will primarily focus on surface water records, working to enter data and streamline data entry and linking methods. There will also be opportunities for some field work, such as collecting stream discharge measurements.

KEYWORDS: geomorphology, rockfall, hydrology, streamflow, data analysis

DELIVERABLES

For Project 1, the primary deliverables will be an updated rockfall geodatabase and web maps of rockfalls, all available to the public. Other deliverables include field notes, photos, GIS-based maps and shapefiles, data tables, figures, and short reports, all of which may be incorporated into longer reports or publications. Many prior SIP participants in Yosemite have been co-authors on peer reviewed maps and publications.

For Project 2, the primary deliverable will be an application to record field visit details and an automated process for uploading field visits to Aquarius software. Potential solutions include adapting the existing USGS SVMAQ application for NPS use, leveraging the Aquarius Field Data Plug-In Framework to parse data from an existing Survey123 form, or developing a novel product. Another deliverable will be an improved Yosemite hydrological conditions field visit and instrument tracker that builds on existing spreadsheets

QUALIFICATIONS

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award.
• Prior to starting the position, agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check for the employer of record, Conservation Legacy, and a separate government security background check for the NPS site location.
• The applicant must be available to participate for 20 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
The applicant must have completed at an undergraduate degree in the geosciences or earth sciences. Current or recent graduate students are encouraged to apply. Previous geologic field work, experience with data collection, organization, and analysis, and writing experience are highly desirable, as is coursework in geomorphology, geology, hydrology, snow science, GIS, and/or remote sensing. The applicant should be able to work well independently both in the office and in the field, have basic map reading and GPS orientation skills, and must be comfortable hiking cross-country in a rugged mountain environment. Strong computer skills are essential, including organizing and analyzing large data sets. Prior experience analyzing time series data is a plus, as is an affinity for tidy data sets.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

Yosemite National Park is famous for its soaring cliffs, spectacular waterfalls, deep glacial valleys, and rugged wilderness. Yosemite Valley includes such geologic landmarks as Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls, the tallest waterfall in North America. The elevation of the park ranges from 2,127 ft. in the western foothills to 13,114 ft. at the crest of the range. Yosemite National Park is in the center of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, which were formed during two phases of mountain building. The Yosemite landscape consists of primarily granitic rocks with sparse metamorphic roof pendants. Small glaciers and snowfields still cling to the highest

peaks and feed clear rushing creeks and rivers. The 11,000 feet of altitudinal variation in the park supports a wide variety of life forms. During the dates this position is open, much of the high country above 8,000 feet is under snow, but Yosemite Valley and the Merced River Canyon are generally snow-free for much of the winter. Most field projects will take place in these areas. The projects may involve strenuous physical activity (steep hiking for several hours at altitude), and exposure to heights and to weather extremes. The participant will receive training in backcountry safety, travel, and navigation. Mariposa, the nearest community, has a large grocery

store, hospital, public library, etc. Smaller versions of these facilities are also located in Yosemite Valley. Fresno (~90 miles away) is the nearest large (university) town with a full range of amenities, including Fresno-Yosemite SIP participantational Airport. Yosemite National Park has almost unlimited hiking, snowshoeing, and backcountry skiing opportunities in the winter, and hosts a small ski resort at Badger Pass.

VEHICLE AND DRIVER’S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

• Applicant must have a valid driver's license to drive a government vehicle.
• A personal vehicle is recommended for this position.

HOUSING

Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant. Park housing consists of a shared apartment (private room) in the small town of El Portal, with kitchen and bathroom facilities and nearby laundry. The SIP participant will need to bring bedding for a single bed and kitchen and bathroom supplies. Wifi is available at the apartment but will need to be set up with the phone company provider or is available for free at the nearby El Portal Community Hall.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online, all Scientists in Parks positions are listed at: https://conservation-legacy.breezy.hr/. Complete the application for this position, highlighting why you are interested in the position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position. Be prepared to upload your resume and unofficial transcript as part of completing the application questionnaire.

Once you begin applying for a position, the application must be completed in one sitting. You cannot save and return later to complete it. Applicants can apply for up to five Scientists in Parks positions per season. You need to complete a separate application for each position in order to be considered. You should receive a confirmation email after successfully submitting an application. Sometimes institutional email filters/settings can redirect or block emails related to the application. We recommend watching spam, junk, and promotional email folders in case your email service delivers messages there. Please visit How to Apply for additional resources and information about applying (i.e., learn what materials to have ready for applying, find a worksheet that previews application questions, etc.). Learn more about Scientists in Parks at: https://www.scientistsinparks.org/.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions.

TIME REQUIREMENTS

• This position is expected to serve full time each week, but exact service schedules may vary.
• Lunch breaks will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service hours.
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

ORIENTATION AND TRAINING

• Orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Pertinent training from the NPS site location throughout the term of service.
• Free professional development webinars led by Conservation Legacy staff.

EVALUATION AND REPORTING

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to provide institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health. Stewards in partnership with the Yosemite National Park will host a Geomorphology Assistant.

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Scientists in Parks using the email address at the base of the home page, under “Questions? Contact us!”