The Riparian Assistants perform the research and physical work that are the heart of our relatively new riparian (stream) exotic control and restoration project. All such work at Starr Ranch is non-chemical (no herbicides used) and guided by research that is executed on site.
The Riparian Assistants are required to reside on-site in housing provided by Audubon as a condition of employment to properly perform the essential functions of the position that require hard physical activity during early morning hours beginning at 5 am to avoid high afternoon temperatures in excess of 90 degrees. Living on-site will also afford the Assistants the opportunity to develop a first-hand understanding of operating a large conservation sanctuary.
Housing will be provided in the “Bunkhouse” located at 100 Bell Canyon Road, Trabuco Canyon, CA 92679. The dwelling is in excellent condition and is the former lodging for Starr Ranch cowhands, built in the 1930s. It is a single story building with one guestroom, which can be used for the Riparian Research Assistant position when funded, with a separate door and two bedrooms separated by a sitting room. All rooms have doors and private entrances. One room has bunk beds and the other has one double and two single beds. The bunkhouse is fully furnished, linens provided. Two bathrooms and a fully equipped roofed outdoor kitchen are about 100 feet each from the bunkhouse. All are well described to candidates during phone interviews. The bunkhouse is professionally cleaned before assistants arrive and again in late spring. Each bedroom is occupied by one adult, no minors. Up to three adults can live in this residence. Utilities are paid by Audubon.
- Physical control of exotic species in two major stream corridors (3.16 and 4.71 miles long, respectively) including roadsides, using heavy tools such as trencher-cultivators, weeder-diggers, loppers, and pick mattocks
- Serve as fire watch assistants during evening hours throughout fire season to prevent human-caused wildfire.
- Initiate or continue, under guidance of a mentor, experiments or observational studies that explore non-chemical control methods for top exotic species identified during stream monitoring and mapping in our Bell and Crow Creeks.
- Recruit, track, and organize volunteer “Weed Warriors” that help remove streambank weeds
- Initiate or continue experiments or observational studies on techniques for restoring native stream vegetation.
- Write protocols and work plans; execute weed removal, restoration, and research; then write final reports.
- Ability to work with tools such as pick mattock or trencher-cultivator.
- Must be able to work outside in varying conditions (poison oak, heat, etc.).