Geocorps Geology Research Internship – Sierra National Forest 2017

Welcome to my dream summer spent in the Sierra National Forest, which was all thanks to the GeoCorps America Program!

Welcome to the Sierra National Forest

The Sierra National Forest encompasses 1.3 million acres of breathtaking natural wonders, ranging from rolling woodland foothills to pristine alpine peaks. It’s located on the western slope of the central Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. The Sierra is home to an abundance of unique natural resources, including a giant system of renewably powered hydroelectric reservoirs.

From the beginning of June to the end of August 2017, I interned as a Geology Assistant for Kellen Takenaka, who is a Forest Soil Scientist and Geologist for the Sierra NF. My position entailed more than just geology; it also covered GIS, inventory of caves, mine reclamation, and OHV trail assessment.

First, the primary objective of surveying abandoned mine sites is to check for any dangerous public hazards and assess the area for reclamation. The site visits usually involved replacing missing warning signs and broken gate locks. I completed an inspection form for the Dinkey Strawberry Mine, which aided in the Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) reclamation project planned to occur this fall. I also inspected various other lode mines, including El Portal Barite, Gold Standard, Mclendon Cabin, Black Oak, and Mcswain Mine.

Another primary focus of the internship was the inventory of caves within the Kings Cavern Geologic Interest Area and Giant Sequoia National Monument. These elaborate caves are carved out by the flow of water and form in metamorphosed limestone. We surveyed the health of speleothems, secured bat gates, and assessed recreational use. My favorite experiences always came from climbing through these brilliantly complex caves. One of the first set of caves I went to are located in the deepest river cut canyon in the U.S., the 8,200 foot deep Kings River Canyon. In order to explore the geology of Church and Beauty Cave, I had to hike up the massive granite face of a nearly dried-up waterfall. Climbing up the drainage wasn’t the hard part, but coming back down the steeply sloping cliff face was. Too slippery to stand, I ended up crab-walking most of the way down!

Lastly, a large portion of the Sierra National Forest is covered in Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) trails, which endure a lot of mechanical and water erosion. This erosion rapidly degrades the trail and eventually forms giant rills, making the trail dangerous for OHV use. The rills also alter the natural watershed of the area, therefore it is crucial to install water bars to divert the flow of the water and restore the health of the trail. With the help of the other intern, Cody, we monitored countless OHV trails and flagged areas where these water bars needed to be built. I learned how to use an Archer Field PC to geographically track routes, an inclinometer to determine the slope of the trail, the GYR rating system, and create maps using ArcGIS.

Life as an Intern

Life as an intern at the Sierra Headquarters consisted of daily trips to the field, while each week was filled with diverse projects. The first two weeks consisted of orientation, including Defensive Driving lessons, CPR & First Aid Training, and an introduction to the Sierra Headquarters Staff. I enjoyed learning about the backgrounds of all the employees, as they would be excellent resources to guide me in choosing my own career path.

Many times I had the awesome learning opportunity to join these natural resource specialists out in the field. One such experience, I accompanied Natural Resource Rangers on a trail survey to assess the impact of water and mechanical erosion. By assessing the area as a diverse group of specialists with different educational backgrounds, the best possible solution was established.

Another time, I helped a District Hydrologist in surveying the health of various meadows, including Haskell, Ross, and Peckinpah Meadow, to identify possible solutions to ecosystem damage.

As well, a memorable three days were spent installing a remote soil monitoring station in the Kamook area. The impressive scientific instrument was renewably powered by a solar panel and equipped with a soil moisture sensor, temperature gauge, video camera, and a satellite-connected computer.

During the course of three months, I was challenged by a major learning curve because my knowledge of geology was limited, but I overcame this by being patient and willing to learn. As well, since I was completely new to the area, it took me a long time to learn how to navigate through the mountains without getting completely lost.

An unexpected surprise of this internship has been the enormous amount of wildlife I have seen while out monitoring trails. Over the course of the summer, I practically saw every animal possible, from black bears to turkey vultures to rattlesnakes. As well, I have become more familiar with the sounds and faces of the forest; I can now identify a Mountain Chickadees call or point out the web of a Sierra Dome spider.

Reflections

This opportunity gave me a new appreciation for how our nation’s forests are conserved, and I realized that the public does not have a clear grasp of just how much goes on behind the scenes at a National Forest Office. After working out of the Headquarters for three months, I quickly learned that the Forest’s employees are highly educated and specialized, working together as a cohesive agency to accomplish many diverse projects. In fact, this was exemplified by my Supervisor’s, Kellen Takenaka, AML Restoration Project for the Dinkey Strawberry Mine. His report covered every angle of possible environmental or biological damage that could occur during the restoration by obtaining a consensus from diverse specialists in all areas, including aquatics, botany, heritage, hydrology, and terrestrial wildlife. As well, I was impressed by the detailed plan of action in case of emergencies during the project, including the possibility of an oil spill and the necessity for worker preparedness.

I am now more confident in the actions of the USFS in its efforts to manage our nation’s resources sustainably and would be proud to continue a future career alongside such a remarkable agency. Although, one consistent challenge I noticed in the office was obtaining enough federal grant money for projects to carry out proper management of our nation’s forests.

As well, this internship prepared me well for my future endeavors. For instance, I logged countless hours of experience being out in the field and learned how to conduct myself in a professional setting. One of my favorite aspects of this internship was the wonderful connections I developed with the Sierra National Forest staff while out in the field conducting scientific analysis. During these times, I was able to engage in great dialogue that has guided me to new directions in the study of natural sciences. By studying the brilliant wonders of the Sierra, I rediscovered my love for the great outdoors!

The Great Outdoors

This internship gave me the confidence to explore the wilderness on my own. I was well prepped on wilderness safety by the Forest Service and from hiking trails every day at work, I quickly became familiar with the area. Throughout the course of the summer, I was lucky enough to go on four backpacking trips, three of those solo, and one camping trip with friends.

My first solo trip was to the ancient Sequoias of Nelder Grove, where I slept above a creek in a hammock and saw a black bear hiking the next morning.

The next solo trip taught me a valuable lesson: that I always need to be prepared for random and drastic changes in the weather while up in the mountains. One day while conducting OHV trail monitoring at work, I came across a secret dispersed camping spot along Beasore Creek. I returned to the spot for some camping and just as I hung up my hammock near a babbling brook lined with wildflowers, the sky quickly began to turn grey and the air grew heavy with moisture. Luckily I had a tarp in my car, so I constructed a shelter over my hammock. As I slipped into my sleeping bag, it began to rain and thunder. That night was bitter cold, but the morning sun greeted me with a rainbow breaking through the old storm clouds.