GS-12 Supervisory Hydrologist Vacancy Notice: There is currently an open vacancy announcement for a professional hydrologist (GS-12) at Death Valley National Park. This person serves as the program manager for all issues related to water management, water-related sciences, water rights and other related matters. Some people may not immediately think of water issues within such a dry place as Death Valley, but this is truly a complex, challenging and rewarding location for a groundwater hydrologist. It is open for two weeks (it closes August 12th). It is listed on the USAJOBS website.
At 3.4 million acres, Death Valley is the largest park unit outside of Alaska. There are many riparian areas, water-filled pool basins, a few small surface streams, and nearly 1,000 springs and seeps within the park, many containing rare or endemic aquatic organisms (including some fish). A few of these springs are high volume, for they are the principal discharge for a large regional groundwater aquifer contained within a highly faulted carbonate bedrock. Much of southern Nevada is within the groundwater basin. Since the region is so dry, many local communities, businesses and individuals have an eye on this same water for potential residential and commercial growth. The park closely monitors these water withdrawal petitions and due to their potential impact to the park, the NPS challenges many of these withdrawals. The hydrologist works closely with the national Water Rights Branch on these critical water right issues. In addition, located within the same groundwater basin are the Nevada Nuclear Test Site, the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository and the park's Devils Hole unit. Devils Hole contains an endangered fish- the Devils Hole pupfish. Since this water filled fault/cave is integrally linked with not only water rights and the protection of the only T&E species ever mentioned in a Supreme Court ruling, there's much research and monitoring associated with Devils Hole. There many research projects (i.e. hydrologic, hydrogeologic and computer modeling efforts) being conducted by several agencies and universities. The hydrologist actively and cooperatively works with these professional colleagues in an attempt to better understand the complex groundwater system. The hydrologist directly supervises two hydrologic technicians- one is focused on Devils Hole and the network of regional groundwater monitoring wells, while the other technician's responsibilities are more park-wide. The hydrologist also works closely with other resource staff, including a fish biologist, an aquatic ecologist, and fisheries bio-techs, as well as other non-aquatic-oriented resource and non-resource management staff. Death Valley NP has the reputation of being a hot, dry, desolate and isolated park. The reputation is much worse than reality. Surely, the summers are hot (but hey, 126 degrees does not seem much hotter than 115), but the fall, winter and spring are pleasant. Mostly you get use to it. Conversely, many other areas of the country do not have such a long and pleasant field season due to cold or rain in winter and spring. We do not shovel much snow, scrape much ice or hunker down waiting for rain squalls to pass. It's always sunny in Death Valley! Besides, we have air-conditioning in the buildings and vehicles. Usually, we are too busy to notice the outside heat and adjust extensive field work to the non-summer months. Staff have the option of bidding on park housing or commuting from local communities. If you live in the park, you are within walking or biking distance to work. If you live in outside communities, commuting distances are long (45-60 minutes), but there's no traffic and there are many car-pooling options. To put it in perspective, commuting time is about as long as it is in many urban parks and traffic-congested centers. For those people that like desert canyons, mountains, expansive wilderness, star-filled night skies, outstanding historic resources, as well as one of the most challenging, rewarding and high-profile hydrologist positions within the NPS, please consider applying to this vacancy or at least passing the word on to others. It is open both Merit Promotion and Competitive- All Sources. If you have any questions, please give me a call (David A. Ek, [EMAIL PROTECTED], or 760-786-3258). Thank you! David A. Ek
