Jake Baechle
Santa Catalina RD Recreation Staff Officer
Tucson, AZ
United States
(520) 476-2501
[email protected]
Quick Links
Jake Baechle has 8 years of trail maintenance experience including both motorized and non-motorized trail construction. He has worked for the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and numerous outdoor non-profit organizations.
In addition to being the Lead Researcher for the Arizona Trail Association’s 2020 e-bike publication, he also authored the Arizona Trail Day Hiker’s Guide. Jake holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a master’s degree in Park and Resource Management.
In his free time Jake has completed three national scenic trails with his spouse Karrie, including thru-hikes of the Pacific Crest Trail and Arizona Trail.
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Industry Roles
Portfolio, Documents, and Certifications
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Detailed Skill Profile
Trail Construction
Experience Details:2011: New Hand-Built Trail Construction on CDT in Colorado with Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. Turnpike construction. 2014-2015: Lead volunteers in new Hand-Built Trail Construction with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy 2017-2018: New mechanized Trail Construction of OHV single-track on Dillon RD in Colorado. Lead and trained a crew in new OHV trail construction techniques. 2017-2019: Corridor clearing and Trail Finish work for mechanized new build segments of the AZT as a subcontractor with ATA and Bauer Built Trails. 2018-2020: Tread Hardening, Retaining Walls, and other rock structures installed in SAGU and ORPI as member of SAGU Trail Crew.
Skill Self-Assessment
Trail Sustainability Principles
Understand and apply principles of trail sustainability to all components of a trail construction project
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of trail sustainability as it relates to physical durability, resource conservation, user expectations and experience, and ongoing management
Full Performance qualifications:
- Apply trail sustainability principles to all components of a trail construction project (i.e. drainage, sheet flow, slope, soil types, users, maintainability)
Expert Level qualifications:
- Assess and integrate local conditions and situations into the application of sustainability principles (i.e. trail users types/skill levels, soil type, localized weather trends, resource concerns, management regimes, stewardship capacity, etc.)
Safety/Site Management
Plan and manage the trail construction site to meet safety and resource protection goals and requirements
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of and use necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), site and environmental safety precautions, situational awareness, and incident preparedness
- Demonstrate understanding of the areas of resource protection that intersect the trail development process
- Perform construction tasks that meet resource protection goals with supervision
Full Performance qualifications:
- Implement and manage the site safety program
- Implement required site activities to protect resources and meet permitting requirements
Expert Level qualifications:
- Develop and manage a worksite safety program
- Develop and manage the resource protection plan to meet the land management goals, objectives applicable law, and permitting requirements
Construction Specifications
Understand and apply common construction specifications/trail management objectives such as corridor height/width, tread width, cross/outslope, protrusions, obstacles, and compaction
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of and use terminology common to trail construction specifications
- Apply trail construction specifications in the field with supervision
Full Performance qualifications:
- Apply trail construction specifications in the field independently
- Demonstrate understanding of and use terminology common to trail construction specifications
Expert Level qualifications:
- Identify appropriate trail specifications for the different types of managed uses and across numerous types of terrain, soils and ground conditions
- Assess trail conformance with the trail specifications and if necessary identify measures to bring the trail/system into conformance and/or alter specifications as appropriate.
Corridor Clearing/Site Preparation
Clear the corridor and prepare the site in preparation for construction using proper pruning techniques
Entry Level qualifications:
- Safely remove rocks, stumps, and debris from identified trail corridor clearing limits, using appropriate hand tools with supervision
Full Performance qualifications:
- Use hand tools and power tools, to safely and efficiently remove rocks, stumps, debris and deposit appropriately in preparation for construction independently
Expert Level qualifications:
- Assess the project corridor clearing needs and select and use the most efficient tools and techniques to safely remove/stage rocks, stumps and debris in preparation for construction
Corridor Clearing: Pruning/ Side-Cutting/ Brushing
Use pruning and brushing techniques to maximize safety, minimize visual impacts and support healthy trailside vegetation
Entry Level qualifications:
- Use pruning and brushing techniques to maximize safety, minimize visual impacts and support healthy trailside vegetation with supervision (i.e. avoid damage to growth collar of pruned limbs, cutting saplings flush to ground, deposit clipped limbs cut side away from trail)
Full Performance qualifications:
- Use pruning and brushing techniques to maximize safety, minimize visual impacts, and support healthy trailside vegetation (i.e. avoid damage to growth collar of pruned limbs, cut saplings flush to ground, deposit clipped limbs cut side away from trail) independently
Expert Level qualifications:
- Assess, plan and manage an efficient and safe pruning and brushing operation
Corridor Clearing: Felling/tree removal; Chainsaw/ Crosscut
Felling, brushing, bucking and limbing logs of various sizes safely using proper, well-maintained equipment
Entry Level qualifications:
- Use proper PPE and work safe distance from felling zone
- Perform brushing, bucking and limbing logs of various sizes in minimally complex situations
- Work with a close supervision on felling in minimally complex situations
Full Performance qualifications:
- Demonstrate industry standards of safety, PPE use, and implementation for all chainsaw and crosscut activities for non-complex felling and bucking
Expert Level qualifications:
- Use industry standards to safely assess a highly complex or hazardous felling/bucking situation, creating and efficiently executing the plan
Corridor Clearing: Material and Debris Management
Materials and debris removal from corridor using low impact techniques, according to project and resource protection requirements
Entry Level qualifications:
- Deposit materials and debris removed from corridor using low impact techniques, according to project permits or other resource protection requirements, with supervision
- Demonstrate understanding of low impact techniques related to material and debris management, including reuse of suitable excavated mineral soil and rock for tread building
Full Performance qualifications:
- Deposit materials from corridor using low impact techniques that do not alter natural hydrologic flow independently
- Distinguish natural materials to be used for construction and stage for future use accordingly
Expert Level qualifications:
- Deposit debris from corridor clearing using low impact techniques, taking into account impacts due to erosion, visual impacts, and natural hydrologic flow
- Efficiently select natural materials from those being cleared and stage for maximum construction efficiency and minimum impact
Hand-Built Trail Construction
Using hand tools, construct a trail with a full bench, raised tread, and/or combination that meets the construction specifications and minimizes off trail impacts
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of the concepts of full bench, partial bench, and raised tread trail
- Safely use hand tools to construct trail in various stages and incorporate sustainability principles, with active direct supervision
Full Performance qualifications:
- Safely use hand tools to construct a trail with a full bench, raised tread, and/or combination that meets the construction specifications and trail sustainability principles independently across multiple types of terrain, soils and ground conditions
Expert Level qualifications:
- Efficiently and effectively use hand tools to construct a trail, drawing from a variety of techniques to create a full bench, raised tread or combination trail that meets construction specifications and sustainability principles across numerous types of terrain, soils and ground conditions including difficult and challenging types.
Mechanized Trail Construction
Safely use and maintain mechanized trail construction equipment (e.g., mini-excavators, skid steers, trail dozers, compactors) to construct trail that meets construction specifications and minimizes off trail impacts
Entry Level qualifications:
- Safely work around mechanized trailbuilding equipment/crews
- Operate basic mechanized equipment (e.g. mechanized wheelbarrow, plate compactor, tracked dumper), with supervision
- Perform basic maintenance on equipment
- Minimize unintended impacts on and off trail, and use techniques to repair unintended impacts with supervision
Full Performance qualifications:
- Safely use and maintain mechanized trail construction equipment to construct full sections of trail that meet construction specifications independently across multiple types of terrain, soils and ground conditions
- Successfully minimize and remediate unintended impacts on and off trail
Expert Level qualifications:
- Utilize a suite of mechanized equipment and techniques to efficiently and effectively construct trail that meet the construction specifications across numerous types of terrain, soils and ground conditions including difficult and challenging types.
- Perform equipment fleet or assemblage safety and maintenance, including field repairs
- Demonstrate precision and accuracy with equipment tasks and/or organization without any unintended off trail impacts
Trail Finishwork
Utilize tools, often mechanical (i.e. excavators, harrow rakes, compact utility loaders, compactors), to meet specifications for final tread surface and backslope preparation and compaction, construction spoils management, and erosion control stabilization
Entry Level qualifications:
- Use hand tools for final shaping of tread, backslope, construction spoils, and other features with supervision
- Use plate compactor for compaction if required with supervision
Full Performance qualifications:
- Use a variety of hand or mechanical tools and techniques to meet specifications for final tread surface, refine shaping, and complete backslope finishing and compaction independently across multiple types of terrain, soils and ground conditions
Expert Level qualifications:
- Plan the trail finishwork to use a variety of hand and/or mechanical tools and techniques
- Ensure that the product meets specifications for final tread surface, refine shaping, and complete backslope finishing and compaction
Water Management/Drainage Features
Construct drainage features that decrease erosion and increase sheet flow, including grade reversals, rolling grade dips, berms, ditches, and sheet drains
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of basic natural and stormwater induced drainage effects on trails
- Construct all types of drainage features with supervision
Full Performance qualifications:
- Understand the application of different drainage features for managing water volumes and velocities
- Identify locations and the appropriate drainage feature
- Construct the full suite of drainage features independently and/or with a team across multiple types of terrain, soils and ground conditions
Expert Level qualifications:
- Implement a comprehensive drainage plan for a trail and/or trail system across numerous types of terrain, soils and ground conditions including difficult and challenging types.
Water Crossing Structures
Develop a water crossing structure (e.g., boardwalk, puncheon, turnpike, bridge, ford) to span drainageways or wetland areas and raise the trail above the high water line while maintaining uninterrupted hydrology beneath the constructed feature
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of basic physical signs of water flow and/or inundation
- Identify different types of water crossing structures and their appropriation application
- Perform tasks to further the construction of a water crossing structure (i.e. install decking, measure and cut lumber, haul materials) with supervision
Full Performance qualifications:
- Construct a variety of water crossing structures to meet the hydrologic conditions and construction specifications/engineering plans
Expert Level qualifications:
- Work with engineering plans, drawings, etc. to construct structures according to specifications
- Identify the appropriate water crossing structure if not specified -Implement appropriate tools and techniques to efficiently and effectively construct water crossing features
- Plan to transport and stockpile the appropriate materials for efficient and safe implementation
Retaining Walls
Construct stone or wood retaining walls to bolster unconsolidated soils, gain elevation, or transition tread from rocks/natural barriers
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of basic retaining wall construction technique (material preparation, stacking, joinery, and fill)
- Safely perform tasks to further the construction of a stone or wood retaining wall with supervision
- Stabilize (set) stone or wood materials with supervision
Full Performance qualifications:
- Safely work to construct a stone or wood retaining wall in an identified location, to construction specifications independently
Expert Level qualifications:
- Provide layout and planning, identifying and/or applying identified construction specifications to retaining wall construction
- Interpret construction specification to be site specific, and plan accordingly (rise/run, batter, core material, etc.)
Tread Hardening and Surfacing
Install the appropriate treadway hardening technique for a trail given the slopes, soils, available material (e.g., wood, rock, gravel) and designed use, including advanced hardening techniques including but not limited to aggregate addition, various types of rock armoring, turnpiking, rock culverts, boulder causeway, rock drains and chemical additives
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of a variety of tread hardening treatments and the trail issues each technique addresses and when hardening is needed and when it isn't
- Safely perform a variety of tasks to further basic tread hardening construction projects, such as materials quarrying, staging, and application with supervision
- Stabilize (set) rocks and wood and perform basic carpentry and rockwork with supervision
Full Performance qualifications:
- Implement construction specifications for all types of tread hardening structures in identified location independently
- Manage crew safety and efficiency
Expert Level qualifications:
- Interpret construction specification to be site specific (if provided) -Identify and implement the appropriate tools and techniques to efficiently and effectively harden trail tread, ranging from basic to complex techniques including surfacing with aggregate addition, various types of rock armoring, turnpiking, rock culverts, boulder causeway, rock drains, chemical additives, etc.
Decommissioning Trails
Demonstrated ability to plan and implement the closure, reclamation, and revegetation of a trail segment
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of the basic techniques of trail decommissioning including stabilizing and revegetating
- Perform material management, staging, tread stabilization including recontouring old trail to original slope as appropriate, and revegetation with supervision
Full Performance qualifications:
- Perform material management, staging, tread stabilization including recontouring old trail to original slope as appropriate, independently
Expert Level qualifications:
- Assess and plan the closure, reclamation, and revegetation toward natural hydrology, slope, and vegetation, along with planning management techniques to minimize further use.
Trail Maintenance
Experience Details:Trail maintenance experience with SCA, RMYC, USFS, NPS, PCTA, ATA, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, and contracting work.
Skill Self-Assessment
Trail Sustainability Principles
Understand and apply principles of trail sustainability to all components of trail maintenance
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of trail sustainability as it relates to physical durability, resource conservation, user expectations and experience, and ongoing management
Full Performance qualifications:
- Apply trail sustainability principles to trail maintenance projects (i.e. drainage, sheet flow, slope, soil types, users, maintainability)
Expert Level qualifications:
- Assess and integrate local conditions and situations into the application of sustainability principles (i.e. trail users types/skill levels, soil type, localized weather trends, resource concerns, management regimes, stewardship capacity, etc.)
Safety/Site Management
Plan and manage the trail maintenance site to meet safety and resource protection goals and requirements
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of and use necessary PPE, site and environmental safety precautions, situational awareness, and incident preparedness
- Demonstrate understanding of the areas of resource protection that intersect the trail development process
- Perform maintenance tasks that meet resource protection goals with supervision
Full Performance qualifications:
- Implement and manage the site safety program
- Implement required site activities to protect resources and meet permitting requirements
Expert Level qualifications:
- Develop and manage a worksite safety program
- Develop and manage the resource protection plan to meet the land management goals and permitting requirements
Maintenance Specifications
Understand and apply common maintenance specifications, including corridor height/width, tread width, cross/outslope, protrusions, obstacles, and water management techniques
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of and use terminology common to trail maintenance specifications
- Apply trail maintenance standards, guidelines and specifications in the field with supervision
Full Performance qualifications:
- Apply trail maintenance specifications in the field independently
Expert Level qualifications:
- Identify appropriate trail specifications for managed uses
- Assess trail conformance with the trail specifications and identify any necessary measures to bring the trail/system into conformance and/or alter specifications as appropriate.
Corridor Clearing/Site Preparation
Clear the corridor and prepare the site (brushing, logging out, hazard tree removal, rock/stump removal) in preparation for maintenance using proper pruning techniques
Entry Level qualifications:
- Safely remove rocks, stumps, and debris from identified trail corridor using appropriate hand tools with supervision
Full Performance qualifications:
- Use hand tools and power tools, to safely and efficiently remove rocks, stumps, debris and deposit appropriately in preparation for maintenance independently.
Expert Level qualifications:
- Assess the project corridor clearing needs and select and use the most efficient tools and techniques to safely remove/stage rocks, stumps and debris in preparation for maintenance
Corridor Clearing: Pruning/ Side-Cutting/ Brushing
Use pruning and brushing techniques to maximize safety, minimize visual impacts and support healthy trailside vegetation
Entry Level qualifications:
- Use pruning and brushing techniques to maximize safety, minimize visual impacts and support healthy trailside vegetation with supervision (i.e. avoid damage to growth collar of pruned limbs, cutting saplings flush to ground, deposit clipped limbs cut side away from trail)
Full Performance qualifications:
- Use pruning and brushing techniques to maximize safety, minimize visual impacts, and support healthy trailside vegetation (i.e. avoid damage to growth collar of pruned limbs, cutting saplings flush to ground, deposit clipped limbs cut side away from trail) independently
Expert Level qualifications:
- Assess, plan and manage an efficient and safe pruning and brushing operation
Corridor Clearing: Bucking, Felling/ Hazard Tree Removal; Chainsaw/ Crosscut
Felling, brushing, bucking and limbing logs of various sizes safely using proper, well-maintained equipment
Entry Level qualifications:
- Use proper PPE and work safe distance from felling zone
- Brushing, bucking and limbing logs of various sizes in minimally complex situations
- Work with a close supervision on felling in minimally complex situations
Full Performance qualifications:
- Demonstrate industry standards of safety, PPE use, and implementation for all chainsaw and crosscut activities for non-complex felling and bucking
Expert Level qualifications:
- Use industry standards to safely assess a highly complex felling/bucking situation, creating and efficiently executing the plan
Corridor Clearing: Material and Debris Management
Materials and debris removal from corridor using low impact techniques, according to project and resource protection requirements
Entry Level qualifications:
- Deposit materials and debris removed from corridor using low impact techniques, according to project permits, with supervision
- Demonstrate understanding of low impact techniques related to material and debris management
Full Performance qualifications:
- Deposit materials from corridor using low impact techniques that do not alter natural hydrologic flow
- Distinguish natural materials to be used for construction and stage accordingly
Expert Level qualifications:
- Deposit debris from corridor clearing using low impact techniques, taking into account impacts due to erosion, visual impacts, and natural hydrologic flow
- Efficiently select natural materials from those being cleared and stage for maximum construction efficiency
Tread Maintenance - Hand tools
Using hand tools, maintain a trail to its designed specifications for tread width, cross/outslope, protrusions, and obstacles using hand tools and minimizes off trail impacts
Entry Level qualifications:
- Safely use a variety of hand tools to perform effective maintenance on a range of trail types independently
- Identify the location and appropriate strategy to maintain the trail tread to its desired standards and specifications with supervision.
Full Performance qualifications:
- Safely use hand tools to maintain a trail that meets the maintenance specifications and trail sustainability principles independently
- Identify locations and the appropriate strategy to maintain the trail tread to the desired specifications independently.
Expert Level qualifications:
- Efficiently and effectively use hand tools to maintain a trail, drawing from a variety of techniques to meet maintenance specifications and sustainability principles.
- Implement a comprehensive maintenance plan for a trail and/or trail system
Tread Maintenance - Mechanized Equipment
Safely use mechanized trail equipment (e.g., mini-excavators, skid steers, trail dozers, compactors) to maintain trail to meet maintenance specifications for tread width, cross/outslope, protrusions and obstacles and minimizes off trail impacts
Entry Level qualifications:
- Safely work around mechanized trailbuilding equipment/crews
- Operate basic mechanized equipment (e.g. mechanized wheelbarrow, plate compactor, tracked dumper), with supervision
- Perform basic maintenance on equipment
- Minimize unintended impacts on and off trail, and use techniques to repair unintended impacts with supervision
Full Performance qualifications:
- Safely use and maintain mechanized trail construction equipment to construct full sections of trail that meet maintenance specifications independently
- Successfully minimize and remediate unintended impacts on and off trail
Expert Level qualifications:
- Utilize a suite of mechanized equipment and techniques to efficiently and effectively maintain a trail that meets the specifications.
- Demonstrate equipment fleet or assemblage safety and maintenance, including field repairs
- Demonstrate precision and accuracy with equipment tasks and/or organization without any unintended off trail impacts
Drainage Features/Water Management
Construct/restore trail drainage features that decrease erosion and increase sheet flow, including knicks, grade reversals, rolling grade dips, berms, ditches, and sheet drains
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of natural and stormwater induced drainage effects on trails
- Restore the function of existing trail drainage features by re-establishing outslope, de-berming, and clearing organic material and rocks out of drainage features
- Construct all types of drainage features with minimal supervision
- Identify locations and the appropriate drainage feature with supervision
Full Performance qualifications:
- Demonstrate understand the application of different drainage features for managing water volumes and velocities
- Identify locations for appropriate drainage feature independently
- Identify trail drainage features that are not functioning and need restoration independently
- Construct the full suite of drainage features independently
- Oversee a crew that is maintaining and installing drainage features on a trail segment/system.
Expert Level qualifications:
- Create and/or implement a comprehensive drainage plan for a trail and/or trail system
Project Planning and Design
Experience Details:2021-present: Recreation Management, Planning, and Design with Santa Catalina RD in Arizona. Scouting, developing a comprehensive trail plan for the district, collaborating with many trail partner groups. Manage staffing and operations at 2 Visitor Centers. Review NEPA for projects.
Skill Self-Assessment
Trail Sustainability Principles
Understand and apply principles of trail sustainability to all components of project planning and design
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of trail sustainability as it relates to physical durability, resource conservation, user expectations and experience, and ongoing management
- Demonstrate ability to read a contour map and interpret trail sustainability and control points (e.g.. identify fall-line trail, contour trail, stream crossings, etc)
Full Performance qualifications:
- Assess and integrate local conditions and situations into the application of sustainability principles (i.e. drainage, sheet flow, slope, soil types, user type/skill levels, maintainability, local weather conditions, management and stewardship capacity)
Expert Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate the ability to evaluate complex and challenging trail sustainability contexts
- Demonstrate ability to articulate and communicate the compromises and tradeoffs between multiple sustainability issues and principles and inform challenging or controversial management actions
Define Purpose, Need, and Feasibility of Project
Use primary data (e.g., stakeholder outreach, trail use data, trail counters) and secondary data (e.g., planning documents, natural and cultural resource survey information, and site-specific resource limitations including soils, hydrology, geology, slope) to define the purpose of the proposed project, the need that it will meet, and its feasibility
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of primary data (e.g., stakeholder outreach, trail use data, trail counters) and secondary data (e.g., planning documents, natural and cultural resource survey information, and site-specific resource limitations including soils, hydrology, geology, slope) that are considered when defining the project purpose, need, and feasibility
Full Performance qualifications:
- Demonstrate ability to define the project purpose, need and feasibility, integrating primary data, secondary data, and site-specific resource limitations.
Expert Level qualifications:
- Implement a cohesive and comprehensive planning process that results in defining a project purpose, the need that it will meet, and the project’s feasibility based on current and potential resources (human, skills, funding, etc), opportunities, and constraints
- Communicate the project purpose, need, and feasibility effectively to all stakeholders
Stakeholder Engagement
Identify stakeholders from interested individuals, agencies, and organizations to inform an outreach strategy and engage stakeholders in a transparent, authentic, and meaningful way
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of the stakeholder outreach strategy, and assist with stakeholder engagement processes with supervision.
Full Performance qualifications:
- Authentically engage with stakeholders, using a variety of inclusive strategies
- Communicate with stakeholders on how their input informs the planning and design
- Conduct public education on the project and its processes as necessary to further the stakeholder outreach process
Expert Level qualifications:
- Create exemplary processes for transparent, authentic, and meaningful stakeholder engagement that effectively collects input and data
- Model inclusivity and reduce barriers for engagement through strategies that embody JEDI Principles (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion)
- Integrate stakeholder data into the trail planning process and communicate with stakeholders about how their input informed the process, decision and outcomes.
Land Use Plan Alignment
Identify elements of the general management, forest, or comprehensive resource management plans as they relate to the trail project
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of the types of plans and guiding documents that should be integrated into trail planning (eg. land management plans, site-specific NEPA decisions that inform a trail planning project)
Full Performance qualifications:
- Demonstrate ability to integrate information from multiple land management plans into the trail planning process
- Identify opportunities and challenges that emerge through land management plan analysis and affect the feasibility of a trail project
Expert Level qualifications:
- Integrate opportunities and constraints identified through the land management plan analysis
- Engage natural and cultural resource specialists, and other related specialists that emerge through land management plan research, into the trail planning process to ensure alignment of the general, forest, and resource management plans and the trail plan
- Identify strategies and compromise to further project goals where/when guidance may provide conflict or discongruence.
Corridor Planning
Collect, analyze and integrate spatial data and field collected data to identify potential areas (broad corridors) that meet the project purpose and need, and establish potential areas of avoidance
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate ability to field check (ground truth) corridors identified through the spatial analysis and identify additional positive or negative control points, with supervision
- Demonstrate understanding of the spatial data that informs the field check of corridors (location maps, slope, soils, hydrology, natural and cultural resource data)
- Demonstrate ability to communicate the results of the field collected data with the project supervisor
Full Performance qualifications:
- - Interpret spatial data that informs the corridor identification including: location maps (boundaries, access), roads/access, topography, slope, soils, hydrology, and natural resource and cultural inventory data
- Demonstrate ability to field check (ground truth) corridors identified through the spatial analysis and identify additional positive or negative control points without supervision
- Implement and supervise the plan to field check (ground truth) potential corridors identified during spatial analysis
Expert Level qualifications:
- Analyze and evaluate complex spatial data (to identify trail corridors that are sustainable, avoid sensitive ecosystems, and meet the project purpose
- Create a plan to field check potential corridors based on the spatial data analysis including: access locations, parking, boundaries; sustainability principles; natural/cultural resource avoidance; special management areas; viewsheds, and adjacent land uses.
- Integrate and evaluate spatial data and field-collected data to identity and recommend trail corridors, delivering GPS coordinates and/or field flagging to the land manager
Trail Specifications
Identify trail specifications (i.e. tread surface, trail width, trail corridor height, grades, cross slope, turning radius, obstacles/protrusions, and structures) that match the project purpose, need, and resources
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate ability to interpret trail specifications (tread surface, trail width, trail corridor height, grades, cross slope, turning radius, obstacles/protrusions, and structures)
Full Performance qualifications:
- Identify appropriate trail specifications, types and/or level of development that match the project purpose, need and resources
Expert Level qualifications:
- Create or adapt trail specifications that match the project purpose, need and resources
- Integrate ABA/ADA//Universal design specifications when determined applicable by project purpose and land management agency policy or regulation
Conceptual Trail Plan Development
Integrate and assess the data collected during the trail planning process (i.e. trail use, stakeholder input, land use plans, spatial data/analysis and field data) to develop a conceptual trail plan that identifies trail corridor, site-specific trail specifications and matches the project need, purpose and resources
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of the data that informs the conceptual plan (i.e. trail use, stakeholder input, land use plans, spatial data/analysis and field data)
- Demonstrate understanding of the elements (trail corridor, trail specifications, opportunities and constraints) and utility of a conceptual plan
Full Performance qualifications:
- Create and collate elements of a conceptual trail plan based on analysis and evaluation of stakeholder outreach, land use plan alignment, spatial analysis, and field collected data
Expert Level qualifications:
- Create a cohesive and comprehensive conceptual trail plan that includes interpretation of all data collected through the planning process and provides trail corridor design and site-specific trail specifications, describes opportunities and constraints, and aligns with the project need, purpose and resources
- Evaluate project feasibility based on estimated cost, permitting requirements, project phases, and human resources
- Demonstrate ability to manage large and/or complex planning projects including coordination across multiple interested parties/stakeholders and potentially multiple land managers or jurisdictions
Field Design: Trail Alignment Identification and Marking
Delineate the trail alignment, width, height, grade and structures appropriate to the intended trail use in the field with field flagging and GPS
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate ability to use a clinometer and apply to trail sustainability principles
- Demonstrate ability to follow the broad trail corridor in the field
- Demonstrate ability to identify positive and negative control points within a trail corridor
Full Performance qualifications:
- Delineate the detailed trail alignment in the field (field flagging and/or GPS) integrating a suite of trail development components including: trail center line and feature location; turn location, size and type; location and type of water/wetland crossings; optimization of soil and slope field conditions; and other trail components defined in the conceptual plan
- Create site-based design, compilation and specifications for the full suite of trail development components for a large and/or diverse trail system
Expert Level qualifications:
Project Cost Estimation
Estimate the cost of project construction, maintenance and related oversight, permitting and planning (including tools, consumables, volunteer and staff time, contractors and consultants, equipment, materials)
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of line items included in a project cost estimate
Full Performance qualifications:
- Determine an estimated project cost for labor, materials, oversight, and equipment based on the concept design and field design
- Create an accurate cost estimate for the project that includes current rates for trail construction (based on trail specifications), structures, and features, as determined by the concept design and field design.
Expert Level qualifications:
- Provide recommendations on the strategy for drafting, soliciting and evaluating contract proposals, balancing cost and other proposal elements
- Demonstrate understanding of the current ‘market rates’ in the region to minimize divergence between the cost estimate and the contract proposals
- Effectively organize and communicate cost estimates, strategies to control and sequence a project towards implementation including guidance on grant or fundraising activities that may support project implementation.
Trail Plan Development
Transfer field-delineated trail design (location, alignment, structures), along with construction process, materials, notes, and special conditions into a trail planning document that will guide the trail development process
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of the elements (field-delineated trail design, construction process, materials, notes, special conditions) and purpose of the trail planning and design document
Full Performance qualifications:
- Compile planning process, findings and recommendations
- Create/furnish supporting maps, GIS data, and other materials to accompany written report
- Explain process/findings and recommendations to diverse stakeholders
Expert Level qualifications:
- Draft, share, and revise a a trail plan document that includes items needed for trail development: background documentation and data; detailed trail design spatial data; trail specifications; cost estimations and sub-project/phase prioritization; implementation schedules and strategies
- When needed, develop construction documentation that builds on the trail plan with additional specifications, spatial data, and construction process notes for permit submittal and/or the contracting process
Compliance and Permitting
Ensure compliance with applicable permitting requirements at the federal level (National Environmental Protection Act/NEPA, Section 106 of the Antiquities Act, the Historic Preservation Act, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System/NPDES, US Army Corps of Engineers) and state, regional, county and local level (Erosion & Sediment Control/E&SC, Stormwater Pollution Prevention/SWPP, and other regulations related to wildlife, natural heritage, archeological/cultural resources, and environmental resource protection)
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of the typical types of compliance and permitting that can apply to a trail project
- Demonstrate understanding of the permit systems and agencies and their potential site-based requirements as they relate to trail project implementation
Full Performance qualifications:
- Identify applicable permits and compliance review process on the local, state, or federal level including (but not limited to): National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), water/wetland crossing, and environmental review compliance.
Expert Level qualifications:
- Integrate knowledge of applicable compliance and permit reviews into the trail planning and design process to assess project feasibility, as well as guide timelines/phases and cost estimates
- Provide documentation to support compliance and permit review processes and identify additional resource surveys and inventories if necessary
- Adjust the trail plan as needed to work within guidance/feedback provided by the permitting agency
Implementation Plan
Accurately interpret specifications, construction process notes, and construction documents to develop an implementation plan based on available labor and funding
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of a project implementation plan including project scope, phases, and timeline
Full Performance qualifications:
- Assess sources and availability of labor and expertise, as well as funding to define project phases when needed
- Develop an implementation plan that matches available labor and funding with phases when needed
Expert Level qualifications:
- Create a phasing strategy that integrates site-specific conditions, connectivity, and progression
- Make recommendations to help identify future pools of labor and funding when needed
Interpretation
Identify specific interpretive and educational opportunities on trails to contextualize the visitor experience (e.g., history, habitats, scenery, flora/fauna), and make recommendations for interpretive method
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of how interpretation can be integrated into a trail planning process
Full Performance qualifications:
- Identify specific interpretive and educational opportunities as control points during the trail planning process
Expert Level qualifications:
- Integrate interpretive elements as control points to be considered as part of the trail planning process and as guided by the project purpose
- Create recommendations for methods to interpret specific elements on the trail
Trail Inventory and Assessment
Inventory and assess existing trails and their conditions, identifying causes of trail degradation (e.g., water, grades, soil conditions, users, and/or use patterns) and the appropriate actions to address the deficiencies
Entry Level qualifications:
- Identify physical signs of water-caused and user-caused degradation
- Collect relevant data (trail condition, needs, and location) to assist with network inventory and assessment
Full Performance qualifications:
- Recommend trail network additions and closures, based on trail system goals and resources
- Identify causes of trail degradation and the appropriate prescription to match trail system specifications
Expert Level qualifications:
- Lead a full trail sustainability assessment, including all relevant physical, social, and managerial factors
- Integrate agency-specific systems when applicable (i.e. TRACS/TMOs)
Operations and Maintenance Plan Development
Transfer field data, spatial data, and land management plan information into an operations and maintenance plan that will direct ongoing trail management including: maintenance specifications, seasonal maintenance schedule, operational protocols, and risk management protocols
Entry Level qualifications:
- Understand the application and elements of an operations and maintenance plan
Full Performance qualifications:
- Create a seasonal maintenance schedule including recommendations on tracking maintenance status
- Compile a plan from inventory and assessment findings, including prioritized recommendations and optimizing solutions for long-term sustainability
Expert Level qualifications:
- Develop a comprehensive operations and maintenance plan that includes: seasonal maintenance actions, response to climatic events, implementation of ongoing data collection (created or agency-specific), and risk management protocols related to operations and maintenance
Crew Management
Experience Details:2011: Crew Leader with Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. 2013-2015: Volunteer Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy 2015-2018: Wilderness Crew Leader for North Park RD, OHV Crew Leader for Dillon RD. 2021-present: Recreation Manager for Santa Catalina RD, overseeing Developed Recreation, Dispersed Recreation, Trails, Partnership Coordination, Water Utilities, and Visitor Center teams.
Skill Self-Assessment
Crew Recruitment
Perform inclusive and proactive recruitment and hiring (i.e., hiring beyond basic knowledge, skills, and abilities) of diverse crew members and staff
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of the benefits of inclusive hiring practices
- Model inclusivity as a crew member with a safe and welcoming work environment
Full Performance qualifications:
- Engage with partner organizations to recruit diverse crews utilizing multiple hiring resources
- Demonstrate understanding of the spectrum of career pathways leading to becoming a crew member and the opportunities for advancement and specialization
- Develop a staffing/labor model to inform recruitment needs including 1-3yr work plan, leadership ratios and average tenure in role.
Expert Level qualifications:
- Create exemplary processes for inclusive hiring practices utilizing the broad landscape of resources and partner organizations and agencies
- Integrate strategies that embody JEDI Principles (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) through all hiring processes including writing job descriptions, applicant evaluation and new crew member training
- Develop criteria and a schedule to measure effectiveness in recruitment and staffing model and implement effective strategies for improvements
Crew Training
Implement a training program that provides crew members with the skills, knowledge, and behaviors that are necessary for high quality trail operations, the implementation of trail management goals, safe operations, overall effectiveness and team engagement
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate ability to identify and seek training opportunities that enable progression in one’s career
- Actively engage in the crew training program
Full Performance qualifications:
- Provide training to a larger crew or multiple smaller crews, including members with limited experience, adjusting teaching strategies if necessary to maximize crew learning
- Conduct training for new crew members that embodies DEI principles (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion)
- Identify the training needs of individual crew members and the team
Expert Level qualifications:
- Create a training plan that provides crew members with the knowledge, skills, and experience to perform entry level skills in trail construction and maintenance on a trail project
- Identify higher level training opportunities for crew members seeking to build their skills and specialities
- Build capability within the crew to facilitate training and share expertise
Crew Management
Schedule, assign specific tasks and general duties, ensure appropriate safety and operational equipment is assigned, and provide overall management of personnel in carrying out assigned project work
Entry Level qualifications:
- Manage a small crew working on routine, basic trail maintenance with supervision
- Perform tasks and provide direction to other crew members on complicated trail projects
- Model good behavior, work habits, and safe equipment use
- Build and communicate plans for the day, establish roles, and provide feedback.
- Build and communicate plans for the day, establish roles, and provide feedback.
- Demonstrate understanding of the implementation plan
Full Performance qualifications:
- Manage a larger crew or multiple smaller crews, including members with limited experience
- Provides crew with positive reinforcement to foster a sense of accomplishment and team
- Providing coaching to crew members on task and behavior.
Expert Level qualifications:
- Create an implementation plan that integrates multiple crews working across a large geographic area, including complex projects and higher risk environments
- Manage multiple crew leaders working on trail projects that span a large geographic area
- Manage interpersonal conflict and resolve concerning actions and behaviors
Jobsite Safety
Ensure a safe jobsite by conducting task- and site-specific hazard analysis, identifying and mitigating risks, demonstrating situational awareness, and responding to safety incidents
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of and use necessary personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Demonstrate understanding of job hazard analysis, site and environmental safety precautions, and incident preparedness
- Identify existing and potential risks and demonstrate situational awareness on a daily basis
Full Performance qualifications:
- Implement and manage a jobsite safety plan
- Conduct task-specific job hazard analysis/risk management assessment
- Ensure that all crew members understand the safety plan with consistent safety discussions
- Implement the actions identified in the safety plan in response to an onsite safety incident
- Navigate and mitigate unplanned risks/safety hazards.
Expert Level qualifications:
- Develop a jobsite safety plan that integrates project and site specific safety precautions and work hazards, a communications plan, emergency evacuation plan, regulations pertaining to project safety (federal, state, local), local resources including local law enforcement, EMT, search and rescue, and incident documentation.
- Evaluate the efficacy of the plan throughout and at the end of each project based on documentation
Performance Management
Create and utilize a systematic approach (criteria for evaluation) for oversight of personnel and volunteers to ensure skills, knowledge, and behaviors meet standards for high quality trail operations, the implementation of trail management goals, safe operations, and overall effectiveness
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of performance expectations and criteria
- Assess a simple trail project (i.e. maintenance scope, short timeline) using the performance objectives
Full Performance qualifications:
- Assess a crew’s capabilities and select projects appropriate for the skills of the crew.
- Evaluate, track and report performance outcomes using the criteria identified in the plan
- Communicate the scope of work establishing standards for crew performance
- Assess and correct crew performance in the field
Expert Level qualifications:
- Create and implement a plan that details the crew performance objectives as the criteria for evaluation, including an after action review to inform future projects
- Develop a schedule and plan to maximize crew performance with additional training, management, and ongoing review
- Correct or eliminate ongoing or recurring performance issues that affect crew safety or limit performance objectives
- Identify opportunities for crew members growth and development in roles to aid career advancement.
Program Administration
Experience Details:2021-present: Recreation Manager, Forest Service COR,
Skill Self-Assessment
Program and Project Budgeting
Determine the overall costs of trail programs and projects including tools, consumables, volunteer and staff time, contractors and consultants, equipment, materials
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of all the costs related to a trail project or program
Full Performance qualifications:
- Manage the budget including tracking progress, actuals vs projected, and reporting
- Conduct a budget analysis to provide recommendations on opportunities for cost efficiency
Expert Level qualifications:
- Create and implement an accurate budget for the program and/or project
- Create ongoing processes to assess program efficiency compared to available resources
Contract Administration
Provide management of trail-related contracts as well as oversight of contractor activities, deliverables, deadlines, and payments
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of the elements of trail-related contracts including the scope of work, line item budget, and timeline
Full Performance qualifications:
- Implement the plan to monitor project progress including quality and quantity of work product per the contracted scope
Expert Level qualifications:
- Develop the contract solicitation documents and process, conveying the project scope, trail specifications, implementation schedule, cost proposals, evaluation criteria, and other required contract elements (agency/organization specific)
- Evaluate the submitted documentation using the criteria to select and contract with the selected contractor
- Create and implement a plan to monitor progress in the field, invoices and payments, and reports per the contracted scope and timeline.
Funding/Grants
Identify funding sources that align with trail-related project/s; write and submit grants and grant reports; track grant fund expenditures; and communicate effectively with funders
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of the elements of a grant proposal related to a trail project
Full Performance qualifications:
- Identify funding sources for trail-related projects and create a submittal timeline
- Secure funding through effective grant writing
- Implement transparent and timely project reporting, financial tracking, and funding/funder communication
Expert Level qualifications:
- Manage a multi-year, multi-project grants program/plan including prioritization and integration of trail-related projects
- Build relationships and communicate with multiple funders, both existing and potential
- Demonstrate understanding of sources, solicitation of, and use/reporting requirements of Governmental (federal, state, and municipal), foundation, and private philanthropic funding opportunities to support project work
Communications
Effectively communicate trail and partnership information to trail administrators, trail managers, contractors and consultants, volunteers, and the public
Entry Level qualifications:
- Communicate the benefits of trails to the public including physical/mental health, economic development, community quality of life, and managed use
- Demonstrate ability to effectively and respectfully communicate with staff, volunteers, and the public at large
Full Performance qualifications:
- Demonstrate ability to effectively and respectfully communicate with staff, volunteers, community leaders, contractors and consultants, partners, and the public at large
- Implement elements of the communications plan
- Communicate on multiple levels about a trail project/program from the broad vision to the technical details
Expert Level qualifications:
- Create and implement a comprehensive communication plan that clearly conveys the vision and goals of a trail project or program
- Engage a broad set of stakeholders and partners through multiple communications strategies (social, email, in person, website, signage) to further community understanding and support
- Integrate strategies that embody JEDI Principles (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) throughout a communications plan
Education and Public Outreach
Develop and conduct workshops, seminars and other training for employees, public and private sector partners, volunteers, and the public on trail skills, land management issues and priorities, and policy that impacts trails
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of policy related to trail management including: threatened and endangered species, non-native invasive species, human history and prehistory artifacts, and Leave No Trace
- Demonstrate ability to teach volunteers simple trail construction and maintenance tasks
Full Performance qualifications:
- Implement trail educational programs that builds stewardship capacity through hands-on skill building
- Conduct public education on the program or project to build community support, identify stewardship support, and ensure that the public understands the management regime
Expert Level qualifications:
- Create and implement a comprehensive education program
- Integrate strategies that embody JEDI Principles (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) throughout the education plan
- Train all educators on teaching strategies that maximize impact with diverse learners
- Effectively communicate with the media to aid in trail management, convey educational information to the public, and manage trail related emergencies.
Inspections/Monitoring
Monitor and document trail use and conditions to determine impacts on natural, social/experiential, historic, and cultural resources
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding on how to collect trail use data using trail counters, trailhead assessment, and/or surveys
- Demonstrate understanding of the potential impacts that degrading trail conditions can have on user experience and natural, historic and cultural resources
Full Performance qualifications:
- Analyze trail use data to determine trail use patterns and quantity
- Conduct and document the conditions of a trail to identify areas of concern related to user experience and natural, historic and cultural resources including permit/compliance issues
- Implement monitoring programs at a variety of scales
Expert Level qualifications:
- Coordinate with resource specialists to identify site-based monitoring needs and develop monitoring plans
- Train personnel in the data collection and analysis included per the monitoring plan
- Evaluate data collection to assess potential trail use or condition issues and identify actions to reduce or eliminate threats
Visitor Use Management
Manage trails for a variety of uses and visitor experiences while meeting trail objectives
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of trail objectives and general desired conditions for the trail/trail system.
Full Performance qualifications:
- Identify strategies for determining the characteristics, expectations and demands of trail visitors
- Implement visitor use management strategies that align with trail objectives and desired conditions.
- Analyze visitor use data to recommend alternative management strategies when necessary
Expert Level qualifications:
- Create and implement a plan that details long-term strategies for providing access, connecting visitors to key visitor experiences, protecting resources, and managing visitor use.
- Assess the regional trail opportunities for a range of visitor experiences and recommend or decide on management approaches aligned with trail/trail system desired conditions to ensure a diversity of experiences and ability levels across the landscape
- Evaluate and adapt trail management policies and procedures to long-term use trends and changes in user behavior
Policy/Directives/Law
Apply knowledge of land management agency policies and law (including legislation, regulations, policy, planning, strategy, and management directives/guidelines) to the management of trails
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of foundational organizational policies and regulations for trails
Full Performance qualifications:
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of all related policies and procedures as they relate to trail management
- Provide management recommendations to decision makers
Expert Level qualifications:
- Apply understanding of law, regulation, and policy to recommend or make decisions related to visitor use management, trail and recreation priorities, and sustainable land management practices.
- Complete an analysis, devise new procedures, and provide recommendations on complex trail development problems using technical information or resource data
- Provide legislative testimony, feedback on public land management processes, and engage law/policy makers in conversations about policy changes or new policy related to outdoor recreation and sustainable trail development.
Partnership and Collaboration
Partner and collaborate effectively with a variety of user groups and organizations to bolster stewardship capacity and community support for trail projects and programs
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of land management specific policy/rules related to partnership management, including trail work and waiver requirements
Full Performance qualifications:
- Identify, build and maintain partnerships with individuals and groups of different backgrounds, ages and abilities
- Work collaboratively to identify partnership goals and deliverables, prioritizing opportunities to work together
Expert Level qualifications:
- Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with local, regional and/or national organizations that reflect diverse interests of various backgrounds, interests, and abilities
- Develop formalized partnership agreements collaboratively with partners that includes goals, objectives and deliverables
- Integrate strategies that embody JEDI Principles (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion), consensus and compromise throughout partnership communications
Agreement Development
Develop cooperative agreements or memoranda of understanding with land managers and partners that address the roles and responsibilities of all parties and define cooperative relationships
Entry Level qualifications:
- Demonstrate understanding of the typical elements of trail-related cooperative agreements or memoranda of understanding
- Implement specific agreement requirements for the trail
Full Performance qualifications:
- Develop formal agreements through agency or nonprofit agreement instruments
Expert Level qualifications:
- Develop and manage multi-year agreements that may involve multiple partners to accomplish mid to long-term goals
Agency Specific
Experience Details:Certified COR Level 1. Crosscut C-Bucker. Chainsaw B-Feller.
Skill Self-Assessment
Blasting Certification
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BLM Inventory, Assessment, Monitoring
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Bridge Inspection
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Contracting Officer Representative
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Sawyer Certification
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Specialty Skills
Experience Details:Extensive work with Arizona Trail Association. Some work with Pacific Crest Trail Association.
Skill Self-Assessment
IAM (Inventory, Assessment, and Monitoring)
Entry Level qualifications:
Full Performance qualifications:
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National Scenic Trail Designation and Planning
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National Historic Trail Designation and Planning
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National Recreation Trail Designation and Planning
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Rail Trail Designation and Planning
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Skill Profile
Member since Aug 2022
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