Host: Tulare County Resource Management Agency
Region: Central California
Openings: 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation, Disaster Response / Emergency Management, Water Management, Forest Health
Skills Needed: Community Engagement, Research, Community Outreach, Technical Writing, Flexibility / Adaptability, Self-Motivated

Service Needs & Plans

An opportunity exists with Tulare County to support natural resources activities. The project includes working with stakeholders, various federal, state, and local agencies, and consultants to improve forest and watershed health as well as resiliency in the upper watershed. The County is the recipient of a California Firesafe Council County Coordinator grant, and the position will support this role. Tasks include update natural resources web tools; participate in educational outreach opportunities; and design and collaborate on outreach material. The goal of the project is to create a database of collaborative projects, develop plans for outreach, a planned response for pre/post natural hazard events, such as wildfire and drought, and addressing community vulnerabilities due to climate change.

•Specific agency/ies served, including specific organizational capacity needs, as they relate to this proposal.

Increase the Tulare County Resource Management Agency’s natural resources program’s capacity to collaborate with other Local, State, Federal, and Tribal agencies to address water resources, forest health and watershed management challenges. Assist in community assessments to develop projects, program outreach to educate the community, and complementary strategies to support all agencies to address the impacts of climate change (i.e., drought, floods, and wildfires) affecting the resiliency of our natural resources.

•Environmental (e.g ., climate, water, etc.) and/or social equity (e.g., affordable housing, mobility, etc.) challenges this project will address.

Wildfires, drought, and flooding are increasing in frequency and intensity in Tulare County, specifically within the Sequoia National Forest. This project encourages prioritizing wildfire response and drought resilience activities in support of natural resources that lead to a reduction in wildfire risk, drought impacts, and the improvement of water quality.

Project Description

1.Overarching goals of the project

Identify stakeholders, federal, state, and local agencies in the County to create a network of collaborative partners to exchange best practices to improve forest and watershed health as well as resiliency in the upper watershed, identify projects and update the natural resources web tools, develop planned responses for pre/post natural hazard events, such as wildfire and drought; collaborate and coordinate educational opportunities countywide that address community vulnerabilities due to climate change.

2.Role of the Fellow in the project

Supportive role to create a network of collaborative partners to exchange best practices to improve forest and watershed health, work with various agencies and consultant to identify projects and update the natural resources web tools; participate in educational opportunities countywide that address community vulnerabilities due to climate change; and design and collaborate on outreach material.

3.Desired project outcomes in terms of resources developed (e.g., reports, plans, networks, etc.)

A network of collaborative partners who exchange best practices to improve forest and watershed health as well as resiliency in the upper watershed, a framework of capacity building projects and outreach initiatives using data and technology that will guide decisions for changing climate conditions impacting water resources, forest health and watershed instability, and an active list of educational outreach events that address community vulnerabilities countywide.

4.How these resources will help increase the agency’s capacity to address the resilience challenges you described in the previous section.

The Fellow will improve momentum of the program by increasing capacity to move from planning to implementation. The resource will help broaden public agreement and support with diverse audiences to build resiliency and support the program through collective actions and strategies that will reduce climate change impacts to the citizens, communities, and natural resources in the County.

Desired Skills

A Fellow should be self-motivated ready to utilize their existing skill set and eager to learn and grow. The Fellow should be fully invested in not only the assignment but also in developing their professional career path. Looking at their 11-month time as a challenge to prove their willingness, professionalism, and dependability in insuring they follow up and complete projects on time. Taking an interest in themselves to mature in their assignment by communicating with staff and stakeholders in a teamwork atmosphere, taking initiative to take on an assignment, to be adaptable-flexible with tasks as they are developing, and have enough basic understanding and background to resolve simple questions. The Fellow should want to be open to learning, have computer skills, and the ability to assess their level of understanding of tasks and ask appropriate questions.

Organization & Community Highlights

The Resource Management Agency is a department under the County of Tulare. Our agency serves as a natural resources hub which interacts with the general public, stakeholders, and County staff in crucial business decisions with a team-based approach. Employees are trusted to have ownership over their work and have the individual power to improve results. There is a strong and positive collaboration between teams and the office is warm and sociable.

Our agency has a diverse group of employees with different skill levels, cultures, achievements, social groups and personalities. All employees work together to achieve common goals that support a diverse range of expertise and abilities which allows for open communication and flexibility. We are highly committed to creating an inclusive culture that enables employees to do their best and to work in a safe and professional environment. We hope to build upon the college experience in a positive learning environment that focuses on personal achievement of success to work and play in our County.

Remote or On-Site Placement

On-site