Outreach Notice
GS-0460-09
Forester (Sale Prep)
Kenton, MI
This Outreach Notice is open to current Forest Service employees. The purpose of this
Outreach Notice is to determine the potential applicant pool for the position described
below and to establish appropriate recruitment methods and areas of consideration for the
vacancy announcement. Responses received from this outreach notice will be relied upon
to make these determinations.
Your response by:
November 18, 2013
would be greatly appreciated.
About the Position
The Ottawa National Forest, in Michigan's Western Upper Peninsula, will soon be advertising for a
GS-0460-09 Forester (Sale Prep). This position will be located on the Forest’s North Zone (Kenton
and Ontonagon Ranger Districts). The duty station for this position is Kenton, Michigan.
The Ottawa National Forest has a very active timber program, producing up to 60 mmbf per year,
with a growing stewardship contracting component. The incumbent of this position would be
responsible for the completion of preparations required prior to offering timber for sale. This
includes preliminary field visits, assembling and reviewing the timber sale contract package,
determining, planning and arranging for the resources needed to complete the layout of sales, and
ensuring quality of documentation. The incumbent will also be responsible to determine sale
boundaries, proper location of logging roads, acceptable marking and cutting methods, stumpage
prices and requirements for brush disposal, erosion control and stand improvement.
Welcome to the Northwoods
The 988,785-acre Ottawa National Forest is located in the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan, an
area known for its remote character, relatively pristine lakes and streams, vast northern hardwood
forests, and abundant wildlife. The towns where the field units are located range from very small
(Kenton - approx. 200 population) to somewhat larger (Bessemer/Ironwood area - approx. 10,000
population). Somewhat larger nearby cities include: Marquette, MI (approx. 25,000 population - 75
miles east of Kenton); Wausau, WI (approx. 35,000 population - 120 miles south of Watersmeet).
The Ottawa offers numerous recreational opportunities, including stream and lake fishing (blueribbon trout streams), deer and small-game hunting, canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking, hiking,
birding, cross-country and downhill skiing, and many others.
The southern portion of the Ottawa, in particular, contains numerous glacial lakes, which are home to
bald eagles, ospreys, loons, smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike, and other native
fish and wildlife species. Some of the highest-quality streams and rivers in the Midwest are also
found on the Ottawa, with several now designated as Federal Wild, Scenic, or Recreational Rivers.
Rivers on the Forest drain into both the Lake Michigan and Lake Superior watersheds, with several of
the Lake Superior streams having numerous waterfalls. There are three designated Wildernesses on
the Ottawa (Sylvania, McCormick, Sturgeon Gorge).
Post-secondary education is available at the following locations: Gogebic Community College in
Ironwood, MI; Northern Michigan University in Marquette, MI; and Michigan Technological
University in Houghton, MI..
Air transportation is available in Ironwood, Iron Mountain, Marquette, and Hancock, MI, and in
Rhinelander, WI, all within approximately 60 - 100 miles. Bus transportation is also available in
most towns.
Michigan State income tax is 4.4% of adjusted gross income. Sales tax is 6%, excluding food items.
There are no city or county income taxes. Housing prices are variable depending on location, but are
generally somewhat lower than other parts of the Midwest. Prices for lakefront property/housing are
considerably higher than for off-water property, due to high demand and limited availability in some
areas. Rentals can be difficult to obtain in some areas, but some may be available.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Barbara Van Alstine, District Ranger, Kenton RD
Phone # 906-852-3500, ext. 14
E-mail Address: bcvanalstine@fs.fed.us
Or
Jim Pelkola, Forester
Phone # 906-852-3500, ext. 32
E-mail Address: jpelkola@fs.fed.us