Watershed Assessment / Engineering Intern

Watershed Assessment/
Engineering Intern

Summer 2009 — full time — paid


The Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is a political subdivision of the State of Ohio with a mission to provide educational and technical services for the conservation and protection of soil and water resources. Cuyahoga SWCD is located in Valley View, Ohio.

The successful candidate for this internship will assist the staff in conducting a Storm Water Retrofit Inventory (see project summary at the end of the position description) in multiple locations throughout the Rocky River and Euclid Creek Watersheds. This individual will learn how to work collaboratively in a small office and will develop skills useful in securing employment in the environmental field. The intern will have professional feedback from senior staff, who will work as mentors with the candidate.

The best candidate should want to work in a fast-paced environment and must be available for occasional evening and weekend work. The candidate will be a highly-motivated, self-starter who is willing to network with community leaders, project partners and volunteers.

Starting date: Mid/late-June 2009
Duration: 10-12 weeks

Summary

· Reports to the Watershed Coordinators of Cuyahoga SWCD

· Position will be structured as an Internship for a current qualified college student or qualified college graduate

· Schedule: 30-40 hours per week

· Paid: $10-$12/hour (based on qualifications), no benefits except for duty-related mileage reimbursement



Required Qualifications

· College graduate with a B.S. or B.A., or current college student interested in a formal Internship assignment; college GPA of 2.7 or better.

· Attention to detail and superior analytical ability.

· Ability to work outdoors in various weather conditions and to traverse uneven terrain.

· Interest in the environment and natural resource management.

· Proficiency in word processing and spreadsheets/databases. ARC/GIS is a plus.

· A personal commitment to attaining consistent levels of superior performance.

· Must have personal transportation, have a valid driver’s license, and have auto insurance.



Preferred Qualifications
· Completed coursework in the areas of environmental/civil engineering, environmental science, natural resource management, the physical sciences, or a related field preferred – however, persons with or seeking degrees in urban planning/studies, geography or a related field are also encouraged to apply.

· Strong verbal and written communications skills.



Duties
· Primarily responsible for performing the field inventory and the evaluation of potential storm water retrofit locations (training provided).

· Data management (spreadsheet/database).

· Present data, results and progress to project partners.

· Other office duties and outdoor event duties as assigned


Send letter of interest (email preferred) with resume
by June 26, 2009 to:

Jared Bartley, Rocky River Watershed Coordinator
Cuyahoga SWCD
6100 West Canal Road
Valley View, Ohio 44125

216-524-6580, ext. 14
fax: 216-524-6584

Email: jbartley@cuyahogaswcd.org
website: www.cuyahogaswcd.org

Project Summary

Cuyahoga County is the most highly urbanized county in the state of Ohio, with nearly 90% of the land area considered developed. The vast majority of this development occurred before any state or local regulations requiring storm water management were in place, leading to widespread degraded water quality and stream habitat conditions, especially in headwater stream systems. This degradation is caused by the effects of storm water runoff generated by the increased impervious area (such as parking lots, rooftops, and roads) that accompanies urban and suburban development. Specifically, the increased quantity of water delivered to the stream system and the increased speed at which this water is delivered lead to large spikes in stream flow, even during common rain events. This increased flow scours the stream bed and erodes stream banks, both of which result in increased sediment loads and poor habitat conditions for fish and benthic macroinvertebrates, as well as increased flood frequency. Increased loading of nonpoint source pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorus that are carried in the storm water runoff or in the sediment from the eroded bank material further contributes to the ecological degradation of these urban and suburban stream systems.

The proposed project will advance restoration in the targeted subwatersheds by identifying locations where storm water Best Management Practices (BMPs) could be retrofit into the landscape, determining which BMPs are most appropriate given conditions at the subwatershed and catchment level, prioritizing identified retrofit BMPs and providing preliminary designs for the highest priorities. The ongoing implementation of the prescribed BMPs will lead directly to water quality and stream habitat improvements.

Storm water retrofits are a series of structural storm water practices designed to mitigate erosive flows, reduce pollutants in storm water runoff, and promote conditions for improved aquatic habitat that are constructed in developed watersheds after development has already occurred. The retrofit inventory will focus on public, commercial, industrial and institutional properties.

Jared A. Bartley
Rocky River Watershed Coordinator
Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District
6100 West Canal Road
Valley View, OH 44125-3330
Ph: 216-524-6580 x14
Cell: 216-904-6019
Fax: 216-524-6584

jbartley@cuyahogaswcd.org
www.cuyahogaswcd.org
www.MyRockyRiver.org