Resource Technology Roles and Responsibilities

Duties: Manage Staff/Leadership in Programs and Technical Resources (agronomy, range conservation, biology, wildlife, forestry, plant materials, cultural resources, wetlands biology, soil conservation and conservation planning disciplines, plus management of eFOTG and Toolkit.

Functions of Staff: Development of technical resources (oversight of eFOTG, Practice Standards, Tech Notes, New Tools), Training to field and area staff, Environmental Compliance oversight (T&E species, Cultural resources, NEPA, CEQA, Farmland Protection), Technical assistance to Programs (CSP, EQIP, WRP, WHIP, CRP, CREP, GRP), Direct assistance to field offices (discipline specialists), Quality assurances (e.g. spot checks of practices), Management of Certification Programs (CP, CNMP, Pest Mgt). Leadership in Conservation Planning (including Toolkit), Conservation Field Trials, State Technical Guide Committee, Lockeford Plant Materials Center, and specific technical disciplines (non-engineering and non-soils). Program Manager for Lockeford PMC.

Assists staff in coordinating development of technical materials, strategic and business plans, training, and program administration.  Coordinates conservation planning and other training courses and manages certification programs and records. Provides management and administrative assistance to staff, including preparing technical directives, travel vouchers, time sheets and travel and meeting arrangements.  Farmland Protection Program Act (FPPA).

Erosion Control (RUSLE2, WEPS and WEQ), Soil Quality (SCI), Conservation Tillage, Crop Management, Practices and Standards, FOTG Development, direct assistance to field offices. Mentor to field and area agronomists.  Provide plant materials assistance to field offices and coordinate work with Lockeford Plant Materials Center.  Instructor for conservation planning course. Reviewer for Conservation Planning certification.

Leadership in cultural resources protection and tribal consultation requirements for NRCS work.  Conducts field archaeological investigations and prepares reports.  Consults with SHPO. Provides training and informational materials to field personnel and other interested parties for the consideration of cultural resources. Provides policy and procedural guidance for considering and managing cultural resources and historic properties. Provides oversight and quality control for cultural resource program. Conducts cultural resources investigations, evaluations and develops treatment plans for mitigation.  Training to field offices.  Manages archaeology contracts.

Nutrient Management, Pest Management (WIN-PST), Irrigation Water Management, Practices and Standards, eFOTG development, Direct assistance to field offices, Mentor to field and area agronomists.  Instructor for Conservation Planning Course.  Reviewer for Conservation Planning certification.

Assistance to NRCS Field Offices in Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), Wetland Planning, Identification and Restoration activities, Coordination of Interagency Partnership for Wetland Acquisition and Restoration associated with WRP projects, Swampbuster, NRCS Wetland Appeals - Area Level, Practice Standards, eFOTG development, WRP Monitoring and Evaluation, Interagency Wetland MOA.  Reviewer for Conservation Planning certification.

GLCI, CA Grazing Lands Coalition, Rangeland Coalition, range conservation assistance to field offices, Practice Standards, eFOTG development, planning tools, maintenance of National Range and Pasture Handbook, ESDs, soil survey interpretations, mentor to field and area range conservationists.  Quality assurance and oversight for range activities.  Training.  Support to Grassland Reserve Program and Conservation Security Program. Instructor for Conservation Planning Course.  Reviewer for Conservation Planning certification.

Biology assistance to field offices.  Practice Standards, eFOTG development, mentor to field and area biologists.  Leadership in T&E species and environmental compliance issues.  Training.  Instructor for Conservation Planning Course.  Reviewer for Conservation Planning certification.  Technical specialist for WHIP.  Provides biology technical support to other programs, including CSP and EQIP.

Provides leadership to development of Ecological Site Descriptions (ESDs) and State and Transition Models.  Coordinates with State Rangeland Ecologist, State Biologist, Staff Forester and Soils Specialists in developing ecosite descriptions.  Coordinates with ongoing soil surveys.

Forest and Woodland Related Practices (includes windbreaks), Soil-Forest and Woodland and Windbreak Interpretations, Windbreak Technology, Agroforestry, Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) - vegetative practices. Also serves as the CA NRCS Cultural Resources Coordinator working closely with the Cultural Resources Specialist.  Instructor for Conservation Planning Course. Reviewer for Conservation Planning certification.

Provide training, support and oversight for Conservation Planning activities, CA Approved Planner Certification, Field Office Technical Guide (eFOTG Webmaster), NRCS Customer Service Toolkit (CST Support & Training Coordinator), and National Planning Procedures Handbook. Training Instructor for Conservation Planning Course.

Manages Lockeford Plant Materials Center (PMC) facility and staff, provides direct assistance to field offices, Tech Notes, Plant studies, new plant releases.

Manages Farm Operations at Lockeford PMC. Operates and maintains farm equipment. Field operations, maintenance on levees, roadways and irrigation systems. Serves on PMC team.

Provides agronomic assistance in Plant Materials Program. Conducts studies for new conservation plant releases. Collaborates with seed industry an research community. Works with NRCS field offices to conduct field plantings and conservation field trials. Provides input to California Vegetative Guides.

Provides agronomic assistance, including in Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE2), Wind Erosion Equation (WEQ), and release of Technical Notes.  Assists in updates to eFOTG.  Certified Professional Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Specialist