Invasive Species Internship

Invasive Species Internship
Project Location:  8600 NE 117th Avenue, Vancouver, Washington 98668
Start date: Position available starting in June.  Full-time start date flexible.

Position Summary:
The watershed enhancement program at Clark Public Utilities began in 1992 and has grown to become a regionally recognized environmental restoration effort.  Since the program’s inception, volunteers from a variety of backgrounds have planted over 700,000 native trees to bring salmon back to Salmon Creek.  Unfortunately a variety of non-native invasive plant species threaten these important riparian ecosystems.  

The Invasive Species Intern will support the Utilities’ Eradication Nation program.  This program is focused on controlling invasive Japanese knotweed and other invasive plant species in the Salmon Creek watershed.  This internship will provide the opportunity to develop a number of natural resource management skills that focus on invasive species control. 

General Responsibilities (vary based on time of year and include, but are not limited to):

• Conduct knotweed surveys with staff and volunteers along streams and roads using GPS technology to map locations of infestations.
• Conduct knotweed control activities with staff and volunteers including the application of herbicides during specified treatment windows.
• Conduct follow-up monitoring activities for treated infestations.
• Assist with education and outreach activities including: direct mailings, participation in community-wide events, community presentations and leading volunteer events.
• Successfully pass Washington State Department of Agriculture pesticide exams with the assistance and training of program staff.
• Maintain detailed data records for knotweed surveys, treatment and monitoring.
• The intern will have the opportunity to develop the following skills: non-native invasive plant ecology, taxonomy and identification; invasive species management practices including surveys, mapping, treatment; community outreach and education; Global Positioning Systems (GPS) data collection; and Microsoft Office and Microsoft Excel use. 

Click here to download the complete job description and application details.

---