Sageland Collaborative
Riverscape Restoration Ecology Internship (2 positions)
Description:
Sageland Collaborative serves as a leading source of conservation science in Utah and surrounding regions. Our mission is to provide science-based strategies for wildlife and land conservation. We focus on promoting habitat connectivity, protecting species in conservation need, and restoring vital habitat. We work toward these goals by applying objective conservation science, establishing strategic partnerships, and facilitating community engagement. The staff of Sageland Collaborative consists of dedicated and skilled scientists and communication specialists focused on advancing our mission. With an active board of directors and a growing base of hundreds of supporters and volunteers, Sageland Collaborative is poised to significantly increase its impact and reach in the coming years to benefit wildlife and lands throughout the West.
We are seeking to hire up to two summer ecology interns with our Riverscape Restoration Program. This program’s goals are to implement low-tech process-based restoration projects and study the ecological and hydrologic outcomes of these practices. Restoration sites are located across Utah on the ancestral lands of the Ute, Goshute, and Shoshone Peoples.
Interns can expect to hone skills in riparian plant identification, stream and riparian field monitoring methods, data management best practices, spatial data collection, as well as professional experience working for a small nonprofit organization. Interns can expect opportunities to network with a diversity of project partners, contribute meaningfully to ongoing riverscape restoration projects through monitoring, and gain exposure to the many facets of our restoration program, from stakeholder outreach and community support to permitting and implementation.
Duties
Mapping and ecological data collection assessing stream and riparian habitat conditions, data entry, report generation, and logistical support of stream restoration projects.
Required Qualifications:
- Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student at USU’s Quinney College of Natural Resources
- Reliability, timeliness, and dedication to work tasks, ability to work and collaborate with a team and problem-solve on the fly.
- Driving: This position requires driving a provided 4wd vehicle on unpaved and unimproved roads. A valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and ability to complete defensive driver training are required.
- Level of physical demand: The work requires 3-5 days a week working outdoors, often in backcountry settings. Applicants must be comfortable working outdoors for up to 8h at a time, carrying up to 10lbs of gear, often in hot weather conditions. Must be able to safely navigate backcountry settings and deal with terrain challenges such as off trail hiking, crossing swift creeks, wading through beaver ponds, and maneuvering around wood jams.
What you will practice and learn:
- How to gather ecological data in the field.
- How to design, implement, and monitor low-tech process-based riverscape restoration projects.
- Identification of plants, birds, fish, amphibians, and insects of the Intermountain West.
- Microsoft Word and Excel.
- Basic mapping with ArcGIS Pro
Benefits/Description
- Dates: May 19-August 8. Exact start and end dates negotiable. Typical hours are M-F, 9am-5pm with longer or shorter days possible.
- Salary: $20.70/h
- Credits /hours: Successful applicants are required to enroll for 1 credit each in NR 4151 (in the Spring 2025 2nd 7-week session) and NR 4152 (in the Fall 1st 7-week session). Successful applicants may also enroll for up to 3 summer credit hours during the internship. Honors Program participants may enroll for points. Individuals would work with a USU advisor to develop and complete an academic assignment during the internship.
- Housing: Modest housing stipends may be available for students who need to relocate to Salt Lake City for the summer.
- Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Apply to the QCNR Summer internship program here
Application Deadline: January 29, 2025