AmeriCorps Riparian Monitoring Stewardship Internship- Crew Member

Job Overview

Program Summary:

The Western Colorado Conservation Corps (WCCC) is a program of Mesa County Partners, a nonprofit organization based in Grand Junction, Colorado. As a 21st Century Conservation Corps we are accredited by the Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA) and The Corps Network (TCN).

RiversEdge West (REW) is a non-profit founded in 1999. RiversEdge West focuses on riparian (riverside) forest and floodplain health in the American West to address impacts from invasive riparian plants such as tamarisk and Russian olive, challenges associated with climate change and habitat fragmentation, and stressors that may result in diminished biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Position Summary:

The AmeriCorps Riparian Monitoring Team will serve with WCCC and REW to conduct rapid monitoring assessments along sites in the Grand Junction area to inform the ecological condition of vegetation in riparian areas that have received restoration activities, most commonly invasive species removal such as tamarisk and Russian olive. The primary responsibility of this two-person crew is to gather monitoring data on riparian sites along the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers and occasionally assist other conservation corps crews or land managers with maintenance work such as the treatment of invasive species and revegetation.

Training on the Rapid Monitoring Protocol and vegetation identification will be provided by REW. This crew is designed to be flexible to meet the evolving needs of partners associated with the Desert Rivers Collaborative, a partnership that is focused on the restoration of riverside lands in the Grand Junction Area.  Partners include federal and state land managers, Mesa County, and municipalities with differing needs. The AmeriCorps members will be exposed to multiple restoration techniques, become acquainted with a wide-variety of land managers, and be exceptionally detail-oriented while collecting spatial data.

WCCC does not provide accommodations off-hitch and Crew Leaders and members will be responsible for their own accommodations during that time.

Monitoring members will assist in conservation projects while instilling interpersonal skills and leadership skills. Crew leaders will also be responsible for leading crews in environmental stewardship, i.e. Leave No Trace, and risk management. A variety of soft skills and technical competencies are required to be successful in this role. See below for core competencies:

For the health and safety of our crews, staff and communities, projects may be postponed due to COVID-19.  The information provided is an outline of how our program has typically been operating, however is subject to change. As this situation develops, and decisions are made, we will provide updates. We encourage you to continue with the application process and we will keep consistent and direct communication with all applicants.

Responsibilities: 

• Project Management, Safety & Implementation 
• Complete AmeriCorps orientation and CPR/First Aid Training.
• Efficiently complete conservation projects and monitoring on a variety of land ownership types in the Grand Junction Area.
• Manage the on-the-ground quality and quantity of project work.
• Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems.
• Communicate effectively & coordinate logistics with project partners, other monitoring interns and WCCC AmeriCorps members, & WCCC/REW staff.
• Exhibit strong situational awareness & promote a culture of safety.
• Administration 
• Responsible for all project related outcomes and deliverables.

Essential Functions: 

• Frequently required to walk, hike, sit and talk or listen.
• Spend long days walking in riparian areas of sometimes dense vegetation.
• Required to operate a tablet operating GIS software.
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally operate a chainsaw and apply herbicide through backpack or hand sprayers.
• Must be able to speak, understand, read, and write English.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience conducting field work and comfortable with long days in exposed environmental conditions.
• Teaching, facilitation, and team-building experience with diverse groups of people.
• Strong conflict resolution skills.
• ArcGIS certification or experience, including use of ArcMap, ArcGIS Online, Arc Collector, and Survey123.
• Experience performing vegetation surveys or monitoring or in riparian plant identification.
• Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Strong time-management skills and ability to work independently as well as with others.
• Ability to manage all aspects of crew life and production effectively and efficiently within a 40-hour service week.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to serve in a fluid, changing work environment.
• Willingness to learn and be a part of a dynamic community of peer leaders.
• Willingness to commit fully to the program through its duration and complete its mission.
• Physically capable of standing and hiking (6-10 miles/day on rough, uneven terrain), bending, crouching, and stooping for long periods of time, and lifting/carrying items that weigh up to 50 pounds, in upwards of 90+ degree (F) heat.
• Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, often in remote areas on unimproved roads. Willingness to constantly teach and demonstrate best driving practices.
• Botanical identification training/experience.
• Must be between the ages of 18-28 (Leader ages 21-28), have a clean driving record (insurable by WCCC), a current driver’s license, and have had a valid driver’s license for at least 3 years.
• Pass a 3-part National Criminal History Check (State, Sex offender, and Federal).