Watershed Outreach and Restoration Coordinator

Program Overview: River Science is the lead organization for River Corps and is a 501c(3) nonprofit located in Canon City, CO. The River Corps program places AmeriCorps Members at organizations and agencies throughout Colorado to focus on helping the efficiency, efficacy, and scale or healthy rivers and watersheds. To thrive in these technical positions, Members will receive comprehensive training and ongoing support in low-tech process-based river restoration (LTPBR), water quality sampling, in-stream flow (ISF), on-the-ground project monitoring, and essential watershed coordination techniques to ensure they are adding valuable capacity to watershed actions and initiatives across Colorado.

Service Site Overview: The Fountain Creek Watershed District (FCWD) serves the 927-square-mile Fountain Creek Watershed, spanning El Paso and Pueblo Counties. Established to protect, enhance, and restore watershed health, FCWD leads on-the-ground restoration projects, community engagement, environmental education, and multi-jurisdictional coordination. The District works closely with local governments, landowners, watershed coalitions, partner nonprofits, and community groups to address erosion, water quality, flooding, riparian habitat, and ecosystem resilience. This position will support FCWD’s efforts to expand watershed stewardship, restore degraded creek systems, engage volunteers and underserved communities, improve access to environmental education, and build long-term monitoring and restoration capacity throughout the watershed.

Service Position Summary: The Watershed Outreach & Restoration Coordinator will assist FCWD with on-the-ground restoration, monitoring, water quality sampling, community outreach, education, volunteer coordination, and project support. The member will help deliver key stewardship programs—including Creek Week, Great American Cleanup, raingarden installations, and Generation Wild partnership activities—while also supporting restoration monitoring and data collection at District project sites. This position strengthens FCWD’s capacity to serve the community, expand watershed education, and implement equitable and science-based stewardship across the watershed.

Essential Functions (Primary Responsibilities):

• Support on-the-ground restoration activities such as willow staking, erosion assessments, invasive species removal, and project documentation.
• Assist with project planning tasks: maps, data compilation, permitting prep, landowner coordination.
• Support FCWD outreach programs including Creek Week, Great American Cleanup, Raingarden installations, and Brewshed® Alliance events.
• Help facilitate watershed education programs for schools, volunteers, and community groups.
• Coordinate volunteers for stewardship events and educational activities.
• Support Generation Wild coalition outreach, youth engagement, and barrier-free access initiatives.
• Assist with communications: newsletter content, social media, interpretive materials, project stories, before/after documentation.
• Support the In-Lieu Fee Program through site reconnaissance, mapping, data gathering, and stakeholder communication.
• Track project metrics, organize monitoring data, and help prepare reports for staff, committees, and funders.

Marginal Functions (Secondary Responsibilities):

• Assist with developing and implementing a volunteer program.
• Support community science initiatives.
• Help with public meetings, open houses, and outreach events.
• Participate in cross-training with partner organizations (e.g., Trout Unlimited, CSU Extension).
• Contribute to District content such as fact sheets, outreach materials, signage, and web resources.

Physical, Emotional, and Intellectual Demands:

• Ability to perform fieldwork in outdoor environments including uneven terrain, heat, cold, or creek settings.
• Comfort engaging with diverse community members, landowners, volunteers, and youth.
• Ability to balance fieldwork, community outreach, data entry, and administrative tasks.
• Willingness to occasionally lift equipment up to ~25 lbs.
• Flexibility and problem-solving in dynamic watershed and community settings.

Qualifications:

Knowledge

• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Google Suite.
• Familiarity or interest in watersheds, ecology, environmental science, or natural resource management.

Skills

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to engage with the public and build relationships.
• Ability to coordinate volunteers and assist with community events.
• Ability to follow scientific protocols and collect accurate field data.
• Strong organizational skills for tracking metrics, data, and project information.

Abilities

• Desire to learn and serve in the watershed field.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to travel throughout the watershed using reliable personal transportation and valid driver’s license.

AmeriCorps Required Qualifications:

• At least 18 years old at start of service
• Must be a high school graduate, GED recipient, or working toward attaining a high school diploma or GED during the term of service. Members must obtain either a diploma or GED before using an education award.
• Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States
• Able to pass a National Service Criminal History Check (state, FBI, and National Sex Offender Public Website checks) per 45 CFR 2540.202

Term of Service / Time Commitment: This is a Three Quarter Time (TQT) national and community service position requiring, at a minimum, a total of 1200 hours during the year (approximately 37-40 hours per week). The position begins February 16, 2026 and ends September 30, 2026. While the position service will occur mostly between Monday to Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm, flexible hours may be required including occasional evening and weekend commitments. Within these hours, there will be sufficient opportunity to fulfill the full term of 1200 hours, including holidays, time off, and missed hours to makeup.

Training and Support Provided: River Corps members receive significant training and experience in technical skillsets (e.g. water quality data collection, assessment with GIS) and community engagement (e.g. watershed coordination, stakeholder communication). Up to 20% of total hours served may be spent in applicable approved trainings. Members will be supervised and supported by Alli Schuch, Executive Director, Fountain Creek Watershed District, 719.650.7474, fountainckdist@gmail.com, as well as by Allison Palmasano, River Corps Program Director, allison@river.science / 719.429.3707. The cohort of members serving throughout the region will act as additional resources and support for each other. 

Location and Service Conditions: This position is based at The Colorado Springs Sustainacenter 702 E. Boulder Street #100, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 or remote from home.    

Benefits:

• A living allowance of $17,500 will be made every other week (on Fridays) payments of $1060.61. Taxes are deducted and the living allowance is distributed by direct deposit to the member.
• An education award of $5,176.50 upon successful completion of term of service
• Training certificates in Water Quality & Ecology, and Hydrology Technician 1
• It is possible to temporarily postpone repayment of qualified student loans through forbearance while serving as an AmeriCorps member
• Mileage reimbursement for travel to required trainings and days of service
• Non-tangible benefits including valuable hands-on experiences, networking, opportunity to help river and watershed health in a local community.
• Alumni benefits include priority hiring with organizations that are part of Employers of National Service and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to eliminate educational debt.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

River jobshiringnearme.org Corps(RCC) recognizes the value of diversity and inclusiveness to advance environmental education. RCC defines diversity in its broadest sense and welcomes everyone including but not limited to people of all races, ethnicities, genders, gender expressions, sexual orientations, abilities, ages, national origins, socioeconomic status, religious affiliations, languages, and heritages.

Fountain Creek Watershed District shall not discriminate against any employee, volunteer or program participant on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, disability, political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender identity, gender expression, marital, parental, veteran or military status, political service, or membership, participation or association with any employee organization. We provide equal employment and volunteer opportunities to all individuals based on relevant qualifications and abilities