Watershed Restoration Intern
DESCRIPTION: The South River Federation, a local watershed monitoring and restoration organization based in Edgewater, Maryland is seeking one paid and one unpaid intern focused on watershed issues, restoration, and habitat management for the Spring, Summer, and Fall of 2016 (May 15 - November 1, negotiable). These are field-based positions, and involve outdoor work in challenging conditions. The Federation is seeking candidates who have knowledge and experience of ecology, conservation landscaping, stormwater and hydrology, and/or habitat restoration. We are seeking a diverse set of candidates who can aid the Federation in implementing our mission
INTERNSHIP OBJECTIVES. These 500-1000 hour internships will provide an opportunity to gain direct experience with the analysis of watershed issues and the hands-on restoration and adaptive management of watershed and habitat functions to the South River Watershed near Annapolis, Maryland. The interns will:
· Learn proper protocols for stream, river and wetland monitoring and assessment (vegetation, water quality, landforms, and topography)
· Assist in the restoration of wetland, stream and shoreline habitats
· Become familiar with concepts of restoration, retrofit, management and maintenance of wetland, stream, and stormwater sites
· Assist in the restoration of wetland, stream and shoreline habitats
· Become familiar with concepts of restoration, retrofit, management and maintenance of wetland, stream, and stormwater sites
INTERNSHIP TASKS. The interns will:
· Assist Federation staff with on-the-ground wetland, stream, and stormwater project maintenance and management
· Assist Federation staff with volunteer events focused on project maintenance and management
· Work independently on restoration sites to perform tasks, including installation of native plants, control of non-native plants, placement of erosion control rock, and other tasks to be determined
· Review at least one scientific journal article weekly about watershed and habitat degradation and restoration
· Visit sites and organizations outside of the watershed to better understand other approaches to watershed restoration and water management.
· Assist Federation staff with volunteer events focused on project maintenance and management
· Work independently on restoration sites to perform tasks, including installation of native plants, control of non-native plants, placement of erosion control rock, and other tasks to be determined
· Review at least one scientific journal article weekly about watershed and habitat degradation and restoration
· Visit sites and organizations outside of the watershed to better understand other approaches to watershed restoration and water management.
SCHEDULE. The interns will have a flexible schedule to accommodate his/her other responsibilities and also to accommodate occasional Federation volunteer events, however the Intern's core availability is as follows:
· 6 contiguous hours per day
· 1 or more 6 hour day per week
· At least 10 weeks
· Intern and Federation may elect to extend internships through a longer period, if funding is available and a candidate is interested in continuing his or her work.
· 1 or more 6 hour day per week
· At least 10 weeks
· Intern and Federation may elect to extend internships through a longer period, if funding is available and a candidate is interested in continuing his or her work.
COMPENSATION AND STANDARDS-PAID INTERNSHIP. The Federation anticipates paying $12/hour for the paid internship. A company vehicle will be available for field work. The successful candidate will be a recent graduate or rising senior in a 4-year environmental/natural resource program, or will have practical experience in landscaping, horticulture, or a similar contracting background, along with knowledge and interest in the outdoors.
COMPENSATION AND STANDARDS-UNPAID INTERNSHIP. This is an unpaid internship. However, beyond transportation to the Federation's office on days of work, and lunch on office days, we want to ensure that that the Intern does not incur any costs. A Federation vehicle (to and from work sites), a ride to/from work sites, or compensation for mileage to/from work sites will be offered in all cases. Meals will frequently but not always be provided in the field. The successful candidate will be a rising junior or senior in a 4-year environmental/natural resource program, or will have practical experience in landscaping, horticulture, or a similar contracting background, along with knowledge of and interest in the outdoors.
REQUIRED GEAR. The intern will need to have comfortable clothing for working outdoors in a variety of conditions, including hot weather, cold weather, and light rain.
SUPERVISION. The intern will generally be supervised by the Federation's Restoration Assistant Project Manager, however the intern can and will work under other Federation staff and the Riverkeeper.
To apply, please send an email with resume to Kirk Mantay, Director of Watershed Restoration, Kirk@southriverfederation.net by Friday May 6th. Include your name and "Internship Application" in the title of the email. Please no phone calls.