Watershed Restoration & Stewardship Associate

This is a diverse, interdisciplinary position with responsibilities that will evolve throughout the year based on seasonal conditions, project schedules, grant awards/commitments, and organizational priorities. The member may spend some weeks primarily engaged in field restoration, water-quality monitoring, and ecological stewardship, while other times may emphasize environmental education, community engagement, events, project coordination with related administration, and outreach.

The successful candidate will bring curiosity, creativity, adaptability, and initiative to a role that offers opportunities to develop both technical expertise and a broad understanding of collaborative watershed management. The position is well suited to someone who enjoys variety, embraces new challenges and is equally comfortable working outdoors, collaborating with project partners and engaging with the public.

Program Overview: River Science is the lead organization for River Corps and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Cañon 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 Middle Colorado Watershed Council (MCWC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that works with communities and partners to protect and improve the health of the Middle Colorado River watershed through collaboration, education and stewardship. MCWC also convenes the Colorado River Wildfire Collaborative, a partnership of nearly 40 agencies, fire districts, utilities, municipalities, and other stakeholders working to improve wildfire resilience and protect communities, watersheds, and critical water supplies. MCWC serves a 2,200-square-mile watershed encompassing 75 miles of the Colorado River from the east end of Glenwood Canyon to De Beque, Colo. More at midcowatershed.org.

Service Position Summary: The Middle Colorado Watershed Council seeks a curious, adaptable, and motivated River Corps AmeriCorps member to support a diverse portfolio of watershed restoration, monitoring, education, and community stewardship initiatives throughout the Middle Colorado River watershed.

This position combines hands-on ecological restoration and watershed science with environmental education, community outreach, and nonprofit program support. The member will work alongside MCWC staff, scientists, technical experts, restoration professionals, landowners, volunteers, and community partners to advance projects that improve watershed health, protect aquatic and riparian habitat and strengthen community connections to local waterways.

The member has the option to reside at Powers Ranch along Rifle Creek, a working landscape with a long history of wetland and riparian restoration. The ranch will serve as an important learning and service site, providing opportunities to participate in low-tech process-based restoration (LTPBR), ecological monitoring, native vegetation management, and working-lands stewardship.

Primary Responsibilities

1.Watershed Restoration and Field Implementation

• Support restoration activities along Rifle Creek, Government Creek, and other priority project areas.
• Monitor existing beaver dam analogs (BDAs), post-assisted log structures (PALS), rock structures, and other LTPBR treatments, documenting changes in channel conditions, sediment, vegetation, and water movement.
• Assist with planning, installation and maintenance of additional LTPBR structures in 2027.
• Support riparian and wetland restoration, native revegetation, invasive species management, and habitat improvements.
• Participate in field assessments, project documentation, and coordination with restoration contractors and partners.

2. Water Quality, Watershed Science and Monitoring

• Support MCWC’s River Watch program, including monthly water sampling, stream measurements, data collection, and documentation.
• Conduct photo-point monitoring, field surveys and other project effectiveness assessments.
• Assist with GIS mapping, data management, and reporting.
• Collaborate with Colorado Natural Heritage Program and Colorado State University students on ecological monitoring and research activities, during their Powers Ranch stay in summer 2027.
• Support biodiversity monitoring, native plant identification and citizen science initiatives, including iNaturalist.

3. Working-Lands Stewardship

• Participate in ongoing ecological restoration and monitoring at Powers Ranch, potentially one to two days per week depending on seasonal needs.
• Gain practical experience with irrigation systems, water rights, agricultural water management and the relationship between water delivery, wetlands and habitat.
• Assist with native plant establishment, invasive species control, and riparian habitat maintenance.
• Support appropriate fencing, vegetation protection exclosures and land stewardship activities.
• Develop safe and effective skills using hand tools, power tools and restoration equipment, with appropriate training and supervision.
• Learn how agricultural operations, wildlife habitat, water management and conservation practices intersect on a working ranch.

4. Environmental Education and Community Engagement

• Assist with staffing and operations at MCWC’s River Stop education center, one to two days per week depending upon other seasonal responsibilities.
• Engage visitors, students and community members in watershed education and river stewardship at River Stop.
• Support school programs, volunteer activities, citizen science and community restoration events.
• Assist with event planning and execution, including educational presentations, field tours, speaker programs and the Wild & Scenic Film Festival and Fire & Water Speaker Series.
• Contribute to MCWC’s outreach and communications through photography, storytelling, social media and other educational content.

5. Project Coordination and Organizational Support

• Assist MCWC staff with project scheduling, documentation, partner communications and grant-related reporting.
• Organize field records, monitoring results, photographs and project information.
• Support volunteer coordination, event logistics and program administration.
• Participate in staff and partner meetings and contribute ideas to improve project implementation and community engagement.
• Support emerging watershed initiatives and other mission-related activities as priorities evolve.

Qualifications and Attributes

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Passion for watershed science, ecological restoration, natural resource management and community conservation.
• Familiarity with or willingness to learn field monitoring, GIS, restoration methods, and data collection.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Curiosity, creativity, initiative and the ability to adapt to changing responsibilities.
• Comfort working both independently and collaboratively with diverse partners.
• Willingness to perform physically active outdoor work in variable weather and terrain.
• Interest in environmental education, community outreach and public engagement.
• Ability to balance field responsibilities with administrative and program-support activities.
• Google Suite and Microsoft Suite familiarity and aptitude

AmeriCorps Required Qualifications:

• 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 full-time national and community service position requiring, at a minimum, a total of 1700 hours during the year (approximately 35 hours per week). The position begins Monday, January 11, 2027 and ends Friday, December 24, 2027. While 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 1700 hours, including holidays, time off, and making up missed hours.

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 Kate Collins, Executive Director, Middle Colorado Watershed Council, 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 River Stop interpretive center at 200 Lion’s Park Circle, Rifle, Colorado and will involve service in the Middle Colorado Watershed Council service footprint from the east end of Glenwood Canyon to De Beque, Colorado.

Benefits:

• A total living allowance of $27,000, paid in 25 biweekly installments of $1,080 (on Fridays). Taxes are deducted and the living allowance is distributed by direct deposit to the member.
• Healthcare for the duration of your term.
• An education award of $7,395 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.
• 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 Corps recognizes the value of diversity and inclusiveness to advance environmental education. River Corps 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.

Middle Colorado Watershed Council shall not discriminate against any employee, AmeriCorps member, 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, service, and volunteer opportunities to all individuals based on relevant qualifications and abilities.

Reasonable Accommodation: River Corps and its host sites are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Applicants or members who need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the Application process or to perform the essential functions of the position should contact Allison Palmasano, River Corps Program Director, at allison@river.science or 719.429.3707.