Watershed Research Specialist

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 of 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 San Miguel Watershed Coalition is a nonprofit watershed group working in the million-acre San Miguel Watershed. The mission of the Coalition is to advance the ecological health of the San Miguel River Watershed through the collaborative efforts of the watershed communities by giving the communities and stakeholders in the watershed a voice to direct the future management of watershed resources. The Coalition organizes for the purposes of monitoring, protecting, and improving water and sponsors and supports volunteer and educational activities related to the purposes of the Coalition. The mission of the Coalition is:

(a) To advance the ecological health of the San Miguel River Watershed through the collaborative efforts of the watershed communities;

(b) To give the communities and stakeholders in the watershed a voice to direct the future management of watershed resources;

(c) To sponsor and support volunteer and educational activities related to the purposes of the Coalition;

Service Position Summary: The Member will support two overall program areas: Water Quality/Conditions Monitoring and updating the State of the San Miguel Watershed Report story map. The Member will assist the Coalition’s water quality monitoring by conducting field sampling and organizing the data, focusing on temperature, pH, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen across 18 sites in the watershed. The Member will also support monthly sample collection for evaluating mine tailings cleanup in collaboration with the Water Quality Control Division and Mountain Studies Institute. Additionally, the member will contribute to streamflow and water temperature monitoring initiatives, help develop grants, and update the State of the San Miguel Watershed Report using Esri GIS tools.

Essential Functions (Primary Responsibilities):

Water Quality/Conditions Monitoring 

• Support the existing Coalition water quality monitoring program with field-based sampling events and organization/analysis of the Coalition’s water quality dataset.
  • Conduct monitoring at 18 sites around the watershed during high and low flows. Field parameters collected include temperature, pH, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen.
  • Metal and/or nutrient samples will be collected and sent to the lab for analysis depending on sampling location characteristics and 303(d) listings for impaired waters.
• Support the Water Quality Control Division of CDPHE’s Measurable Results Program (MRP) in collaboration with the Mountain Studies Institute. The Coalition collects three samples Monthly from June through October on the Telluride Valley Floor to evaluate the success of mine tailings cleanups on the Valley floor. The AmeriCorps member will support this program by collecting and sending these samples to the state laboratory.
• Support the development of two initiatives from the San Miguel Stream Management Plan: Streamflow Gauge Network Support and Real-Time Water Temperature Monitoring.
  • Support planning for installation of a network of low tech, (relatively) low-cost stream gauges across the watershed to supplement USGS stations.
  • to permanently add a temperature probe to Placerville USGS gauge. Explore options to add additional temp loggers around the watershed, potentially at locations identified in the SMP bracketing Leopard Creek on the mainstem San Miguel to alert anglers of high temps on the river to protect fishery.
  • Grant development for above programs.

2025 State of the San Miguel Watershed Report

• The AmeriCorps member will work with Coalition staff to update the existing 2020 Story Map with recent data.
• Work with numerous state and federal agencies, local governments.
• Work with many spatial datasets in the public domain. This project requires basic understanding of Esri GIS products including ArcOnline, ArcPro, and Esri Storymaps.
• This project is a great opportunity to learn these foundational GIS and spatial analysis skills.

Marginal Functions (Secondary Responsibilities):

• Newsletters and social media related to projects
• Administrative work associated with projects including clerical tasks, scheduling/coordination, cost tracking, record keeping and communication.
• Events and stakeholder meetings related to projects

Physical, Emotional, and Intellectual Demands:

• Ability to complete light field work associated with water quality monitoring, i.e. walking to sites with water quality monitoring equipment and wading in streams to complete measurements during safe conditions.
• Work and communicate effectively with numerous project partners including state and federal agencies.
• Manage large datasets.
• Work in multiple project areas that require basic interdisciplinary watershed knowledge.
• Manage living in an expensive Colorado ski town.
• Willing to work outside which may involve inclement weather.

Qualifications:

• Reliable means of transportation to the Coalition office (if the Member lives in the town of Telluride it is possible this could be achieved via public transit and/or biking).
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel
• Technical writing skills
• Environmental/STEM background
• Basic understanding of GIS (QGIS or Arc/ESRI)
• Basic understanding of water quality a plus, but not necessary
• Understanding of Google Workspace (gmail, drive, calendar, meet)
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Passion for watershed/river conservation
• Desire to learn new skills
• Professional interpersonal skills to manage/develop stakeholder relations
• At least 17 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 national and community service position requiring, at a minimum, a total of 1200 hours during the year (approximately 35-40 hours per week). The position begins March 3, 2025 and ends November 21, 2025. While the position service will occur mostly between Monday to Friday, 8:30 am – 5:30 pm, flexible hours may be required including occasional evening and weekend commitments. Within these hours, there will be sufficient opportunity to complete the 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 Adrian Bergere, SMWC Executive Director, 970.239.1275, as well as by Allison Palmasano, River Corps Project 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 San Miguel Watershed Coalition office at 305 Society Drive, Ste C-3, Telluride, CO and will involve completing field work around the watershed and regional meetings with project partners. The AmeriCorps member will complete their work at the Coalition Office at 305 Society Drive, Ste C-3, Telluride, CO and in the field at Watershed Coalition water quality monitoring locations around the San Miguel Watershed in San Miguel and Montrose County. The AmeriCorps member will also complete work at meetings with regional partners and potentially at field locations related to their projects.

Benefits:

• A living allowance of $17,500 will be made in bi-weekly (every other Friday) payments of $921.05 before taxes. Taxes are deducted and the living allowance is distributed by direct deposit to the member.
• An education award of $5176.50 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.

Diversity and Equal Opportunity Statement:

In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, there shall not be any discrimination against an 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 organization. We provide equal employment, volunteer, and experience opportunities to all individuals based on relevant qualifications and abilities. River Science prohibits any such discrimination or harassment.

River Science will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, unless doing so would result in an undue hardship. This policy governs all aspects of the position, including: selection, assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training. If you believe you need an accommodation due to a disability, contact the Executive Director immediately. Members with questions or concerns about discrimination in the workplace are encouraged to bring these issues to the attention of the Executive Director(Luke Javernick, luke@river.science).

What does this mean? Beware of fundraising limitations.

USGS gages are often funded by partner organizations, not directly through the USGS. San Miguel County funds the Placerville gage on an annual basis through a number of funding partners. Administration of this funding mechanism is difficult and time consuming and presenting a barrier to added water quality parameter modeling at this site. Developing a more streamlined funding mechanism may help to increase monitored parameters.