Natural Resource Management Education and Training for Eugene Area Youth Provided by Qualified Youth Services and Conservation Corps Organizations

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District (NWP) intends to enter into a cooperative agreement with a qualified youth service or conservation corps organization for land stewardship and restoration services on USACE land in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. This cooperative agreement will assist NWP in fulfilling environmental stewardship responsibilities consisting of restoration and management of native prairie landscapes and wildlife habitat at NWP Projects while providing education and training to youth from the local Eugene, Oregon community. The recipient’s participating youth (participants) will gain experience with project planning, development, and implementation. Projects will mainly focus on land stewardship, prairie and habitat restoration, and nursery and greenhouse maintenance at Fern Ridge. Additional work may occur at Lookout Point, Dexter, or Fall Creek Lakes. The cooperative agreement will be awarded pursuant to 33 U.S.C. § 2339(c) The preferred partner for this cooperative agreement is a qualified youth service or conservation corps that serves youth in the local Eugene community and has experience in land stewardship and restoration using small crews supervised by experienced crew leaders so that ecological concepts can be accurately conveyed to crew and leaders.