Kelsey Backiewicz Email & Phone Number

Longmont, Colorado, United States

Branson, Co

• Assist in the general care of cattle and horses: pasture rotation, feeding, vaccination, gathering via horseback and UTV, and culling herd. • Ranch maintenance including fence building and repair, tree removal, and outbuilding restoration.• Regular use of four-wheel-drive vehicles, UTVs, tractors, chainsaws, and trailers. Capable of navigating safely through rough terrain.• Assess ranch needs daily and adjust the schedule based on priority and weather conditions. Accustomed to… Show more • Assist in the general care of cattle and horses: pasture rotation, feeding, vaccination, gathering via horseback and UTV, and culling herd. • Ranch maintenance including fence building and repair, tree removal, and outbuilding restoration.• Regular use of four-wheel-drive vehicles, UTVs, tractors, chainsaws, and trailers. Capable of navigating safely through rough terrain.• Assess ranch needs daily and adjust the schedule based on priority and weather conditions. Accustomed to working long days and in adverse weather. • Problem-solving and ability to work under pressure in a rural environment with the closest resources located 60 miles away. Show less

Longmont, Co

•Led the monitoring/restoration crew by scheduling monitoring, restoration, and miscellaneous projects. Coordinated with permanent staff and other Park workgroups to determine priorities and goals.• Trained seasonal co-workers on plant identification, vegetation monitoring procedures, herbicide application, chainsaw and wood-chipper operation.• Conducted vegetation monitoring using line-point intercept, frequency, species presence, and soil stability. Projects included livestock grazing… Show more •Led the monitoring/restoration crew by scheduling monitoring, restoration, and miscellaneous projects. Coordinated with permanent staff and other Park workgroups to determine priorities and goals.• Trained seasonal co-workers on plant identification, vegetation monitoring procedures, herbicide application, chainsaw and wood-chipper operation.• Conducted vegetation monitoring using line-point intercept, frequency, species presence, and soil stability. Projects included livestock grazing effects on riparian habitat, condition of grassland ecosystems, the impact of elk browse on forest health, results of the Rejuvra herbicide and prescribed burn treatments on annual plant species, and progress of restoration efforts on ecosystems affected by the 2013 floods and the 2020 Cal-Wood Fire. • Improved multiple protocols to ensure consistent methodology and accurate data collection. Developed three new protocols: effects of livestock grazing in riparian habitat, survival of burned ponderosa pines, and vegetation recovery after the Cal-Wood fire. • Identified, mapped, and ground-truthed vegetation classes to alliance and association level of 178 acres to aid land management decisions focusing on vulnerable and imperiled plant communities. • Performed restoration through seeding, planting, noxious weed removal, and erosion control installation.• Made seed mixes for multiple ecosystems and management goals based on Pure Live Seed (PLS), environment, seeding method, and acreage.• Compiled field data and prepared graphs and tables for annual reports using Excel. • Created maps using ArcGIS and gathered field data using ESRI Collector and Data Point.• Assisted with the maintenance of the County native seed garden by planting native species, installing and servicing irrigation drip lines, tilling planting rows, laying landscape fabric, and weeding.• Led Youth Corps teams and volunteer groups in seed collections and restoration projects. Show less

Boulder, Colorado

• Managed relations with property owners to control noxious weeds using integrated pest management techniques and formulated treatment plans in accordance with the Colorado Noxious Weed Act and the Boulder County Noxious Weed Management Plan.• Identified affected parcels through site visits, followed up with property owners to ensure abatement, and as well as compliance code enforcement.

• Patrolled Park property, engaged with and educated the public on the park environment and safe camping/recreation practices.• Assessed potentially dangerous situations, de-escalated conflict, and efficiently communicated by radio with dispatch and coworkers.• Responded to emergencies safely and quickly. Assessed patient condition through verbal and physical exams and collected information of incident from witnesses. Performed basic first aid and assisted EMT during medical emergencies.

Broomfield, Co

• Inspected agricultural facilities to ensure compliance with the Worker Protection Standard and Pesticide Applicators Act. Conducted interviews with agricultural workers to determine the company’s performance concerning employee safety and training.• Directed educational meetings with business owners and managers describing federal and state pesticide safety requirements. Customized information dispensed based on the type of facility, pesticides used and method of application. This… Show more • Inspected agricultural facilities to ensure compliance with the Worker Protection Standard and Pesticide Applicators Act. Conducted interviews with agricultural workers to determine the company’s performance concerning employee safety and training.• Directed educational meetings with business owners and managers describing federal and state pesticide safety requirements. Customized information dispensed based on the type of facility, pesticides used and method of application. This required familiarity with hundreds of chemicals and the ability to interpret product labels for each unique situation.• Wrote comprehensive reports with supporting evidence to document infractions that enabled the enforcement team to determine appropriate penalties or legal action.• Worked independently and was responsible for scheduling meetings and inspections, writing reports, researching pesticides, and completing assignments in a timely manner. Coordinated with co-workers to plan and execute investigations, organize meetings and trainings, and communicate developments in the pesticide industry.• Planned and organized a bi-annual meeting for 60+ attendees; contacted industry experts to speak, created schedule, and provided snacks and lunch for all participants. Show less

Boulder, Colorado

• Restored degraded riparian, grassland, and forest habitats by planting ecotypic species, performing noxious weed eradication, installing erosion control, and trail closure. • Conducted weed control via chemical treatments using UTVs and backpack sprayers as well as mechanical methods including mowing tractor, chainsaw, and brush blade. Documented pesticide applications for city records.• Trained to operate heavy equipment including backhoe, tractor, mini-excavator, and… Show more • Restored degraded riparian, grassland, and forest habitats by planting ecotypic species, performing noxious weed eradication, installing erosion control, and trail closure. • Conducted weed control via chemical treatments using UTVs and backpack sprayers as well as mechanical methods including mowing tractor, chainsaw, and brush blade. Documented pesticide applications for city records.• Trained to operate heavy equipment including backhoe, tractor, mini-excavator, and skid-steer.• Thinned ponderosa stands using chainsaw and wood-chipper to prevent the encroachment of grasslands and improve habitat for ground-nesting birds.• Created maps using ArcGIS and collected field data using Trimble GPS unit.• Built buck and rail fencing to close social trails. Monitored habitat recovery and documented prohibited use.• Conducted surveys for rare plants including Spiranthes diluvialis and Viola pedatifida. Show less

Johnsonville, Co

• Delivered packages to urban and rural residents in Loveland, CO.• Navigated to drop off addresses in inclement weather.• Organized and loaded the van for efficient retrieval and delivery.

Susanville,Ca

• Surveyed post-fire stabilization and rehabilitation efforts by collecting data using line-point intercept, canopy gap, basal gap, and species inventory using the Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) protocol and Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health (IIRH).• Identified plants to species using the Jepson dichotomous key and collected and pressed unknown species for a more thorough review.• Performed data entry into the Database for Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment… Show more • Surveyed post-fire stabilization and rehabilitation efforts by collecting data using line-point intercept, canopy gap, basal gap, and species inventory using the Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) protocol and Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health (IIRH).• Identified plants to species using the Jepson dichotomous key and collected and pressed unknown species for a more thorough review.• Performed data entry into the Database for Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment (DIMA) Access-based database using quality control and assessment techniques.• Hiked off-trail to research plots in remote locations and rugged terrain using GPS unit and topographic maps. • Planned and organized equipment and personal supplies needed for eight-day camping trips. Show less

Fort Collins, Colorado Area

• Assisted office staff, students, and visitors by processing paperwork, answering phone calls, and providing campus directions.

• Management of noxious weeds through pesticide applications using backpack, UTV, and ATV rigs. Mixed, loaded, and applied herbicides in full accordance with the pesticide label to avoid exceeding application limits, use on correct species and ensure applicator safety.• Led volunteer groups in riparian and upland restoration plantings, fire recovery seeding, and invasive species control including common buckthorn removal.

Fort Collins, Colorado

• Assisted in testing different restoration methods to revive degraded landscapes in studies including insect herbivory of cheatgrass, mule deer habitat around gas pads, and revegetation after exotic species removal.• Identified plant species in different ecosystems including Pinyon-juniper, desert streams and shortgrass steppe using field guides and dichotomous keys.• Conducted line transects, measured vegetation cover, collected and weighed biomass in order to assist graduate students… Show more • Assisted in testing different restoration methods to revive degraded landscapes in studies including insect herbivory of cheatgrass, mule deer habitat around gas pads, and revegetation after exotic species removal.• Identified plant species in different ecosystems including Pinyon-juniper, desert streams and shortgrass steppe using field guides and dichotomous keys.• Conducted line transects, measured vegetation cover, collected and weighed biomass in order to assist graduate students in their research projects.• Identified and collected seeds from the federally threatened plant species of Dudley Bluffs twinpod (Physaria obcordata) and Dudley Bluffs bladderpod (Physaria congesta).• Aided in the organization and maintenance of greenhouse studies by seeding and watering test plots and monitoring and recording vegetation growth. Show less

Fort Collins, Colorado

• Edited plant specimen data on Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet) including the ecology, locality, collector, succession number and GPS coordinates.• Took digital images of plant mounts to be uploaded on the herbarium database using a Canon EOS Rebel SLR.• Prepared mounting sheets and arranged pressed plants in order to create a species mount that could be used in the herbarium repository and SEINet.

Fort Collins, Co

• Managed and edited documents for the NPS Integrated Resource Management Applications (IRMA) database using Microsoft Word, Excel and Acrobat Reader.• Converted data into readable and searchable documents to be uploaded onto IRMA thereby making it available to all National Parks.• Digitized cultural, historical and informational NPS documents for the IRMA database.

Afton, Wy

• Assessed potentially bad situations, calmed tense predicaments, communicated by radio with dispatch and coworkers, and issued violations for minor offenses.• Made contacts and educated the public on the Greater Yellowstone forest environment and safe and responsible camping/recreation practices.• Using a Garmin GPSMAP 76CSx, recorded illegal user created trails to create maps for the Ranger Districts reference.

West Yellowstone, Mt

• Located and documented weed infestation sites within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem using a HP IPAQ and applied herbicide using a 4 gallon SOLO backpack sprayer and ATV applicator• Assisted in timber harvest surveys by walking the tree stand and recording trees marked for removal and aided in grazing allotment surveys by writing down the degree of grazing, bare ground and erosion caused by cattle

Bachelor Of Science, Natural Resources Management

Activities and Societies: Range Club At CSU I studied Natural Resources Management with a focus on Botany. My courses were geared towards.

Associates, Liberal Arts

Activities and Societies: Beta Beta Beta, guitar, yoga and pilates Studied liberal arts with a focus on natural sciences