SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION

 

 

February 5th, 2008

 

IN-STREAM FLOW SPECIALIST: Announcement No. LEFW8012. A permanent, full-time position. Pay: $3,962 - $5,799 monthly.

Location: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Fish Division, Salem, Oregon.

Qual: 4 years of natural resources experience with at least one year of experience with responsibility for planning, directing and coordinating complex projects and/or programs that affect fish or wildlife; AND A Bachelor’s degree in Hydrology or Geomorphology, or a closely related degree with emphasis on stream flow or stream morphology, Fisheries or Wildlife Science or a related biological/ecological sciences degree, or three years of natural resources experience performing studies or research. A Master’s degree in Hydrology or Geomorphology, or a closely-related Master’s degree with emphasis on stream flow or stream morphology, Fisheries or Wildlife Science, or a related Master’s degree in biological/ecological sciences, will substitute for up to one year of required experience and a Doctorate in Hydrology or Geomorphology or a closely related degree with emphasis on stream flow or stream morphology, Fisheries or Wildlife Science, or a closely-related Doctorate in biological/ecological sciences, will substitute for up to 2 years of required experience. Applicants who have obtained a Master’s degree or Doctorate that includes work experience from an internship, work/study, or similar program may list this experience in their resume to receive credit for the work experience. The Master’s degree/Doctorate and applicable work experience will be reviewed separately and both the education and applicable experience may count toward minimum qualifications.

Duties: Review or assist district staff in review and analysis of water right applications, transfers and extensions. Develop recommendations on conditioning water rights to protect the state’s fish and wildlife resources for both low flow minimums as well as peak and elevated flows for channel maintenance. Participate in discussions and negotiations to resolve conflicts between water right use and fish and wildlife protections. Research and prepare reports about in-stream flow needs for department administrators, legislators, and the public. Serve as principal department representative on the technical aspects of applying flow methodologies to state and federal in-stream flow issues, (except for the Columbia River).  Serve on task forces and committees dealing with in-stream flow issues.  Present the department’s technical review, analysis and evaluation of in-stream flow studies and water use impacts.  Identify and assist regions in making requests for additional information and appropriate studies for determining needed flows for protecting fish and wildlife and their habitat.  Provide technical expertise and policy consultation to other department staff on in-stream flow methodologies and protection of in-stream flows and/or water rights. Develop, design and implement in-stream flow studies using most appropriate method. Use experience, knowledge and training in in-stream flow methodologies, hydraulics, river mechanics, geomorphologic processes, hydrology and fish biology to develop, design and implement studies. Seek funds from state, federal and other sources to implement studies. Manage temporary or seasonal staff to collect and compile data. Analyze data using in-stream flow modeling techniques. Determine in-stream flow levels necessary for fish and/or wildlife. Prepare and apply to the Water Resources Department for in-stream water rights using appropriate flow studies to determine the flow levels needed to protect fish, wildlife and their habitat.  Organize, maintain, store and make available in-stream water rights which have been issued by WRD or applied for by the department. Make recommendations to and work with WRD and ODFW staff to improve the in-stream water right application process and protecting in-stream water rights. Work extensively with the department’s hydropower program, hydroelectric operators and their consultants to evaluate and review flow studies used to establish the necessary flows needed to protect fish and wildlife during the hydroelectric licensing process. Work with regional hydroelectric coordinators to provide comments and recommendations on how to improve studies to more successfully describe the flows necessary for the protection of fish, wildlife and their habitat.  Participate in negotiations with operators when establishing required flows for hydroelectric licenses.  Advise regional hydroelectric coordinators on adequacies of flow studies and flow needs and constraints. Work with the Water Program Policy Coordinator and section manager to develop the department’s policies for application of in-stream and flow restoration needs. Work with regional staff to maintain statewide consistency in the interpretation and application of in-stream flow policies, technical applications and needs. Work with the Water Program Manager and Policy Coordinator to establish strategies and priorities for requesting in-stream flows, defending and resolving protested in-stream water right applications and developing strategies for restoring adequate flows to the state’s streams. Represent the State of Oregon as its technical expert in interactions with other states, federal agencies and at conferences on in-stream flow policies, strategies and methodologies. Serve as the department expert witness on in-stream flow methods as used in determining flow requirements of fish and wildlife for In-stream Water Rights applications. Provide the technical justification and defend the appropriateness of flows requested by the department through the in-stream water rights application process.  Represent the technical aspects of flows requested by the department during legal proceedings involving protests of the in-stream water right requested. Develop and maintain close familiarity with research and development of in-stream flow assessment methodologies through published and unpublished literature, personal contacts, field studies, training courses and conferences. Develop and test innovations and improvements in in-stream flow methods through field studies, data analysis and modeling. Apply recent advancements and improvements in in-stream flow assessment to department studies to improve department flow recommendations and in-stream water right requests. Develop and provide training to department field staff in in-stream flow assessment and how to understand, review and use results of in-stream flow studies.  Provides guidance to staff on the use of study results in making in-stream flow recommendations.

Appl: Must submit Oregon Application Form available at www.oregonjobs.org:

Contact: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Human Resources Division, 3406 Cherry Avenue NE, Salem, OR 97303. Ph: 503-947-6055, Fax: 503-947-6050.

Filing Date: 02/19/08.

 

January 14th, 2008

 

REGIONAL WATERSHED OUTREACH SPECIALIST: A permanent, part-time position.

Location: University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension, Madison, Wisconsin.

Qual: Bachelor’s degree in a field that relates to the responsibilities of this position such as adult education, program evaluation, natural resource management, land use planning, agriculture, or life sciences communication, and significant natural resources related experience. Demonstrated success in designing, promoting, and evaluating educational programs related to natural resources, agriculture, land use planning, or other fields that lend themselves to water resource management. Demonstrated ability to teach and present ideas effectively, i.e. verbally, in writing and through educational technology, to communities, adults and youth. Demonstrated skill using computers including the internet, word processing, spreadsheets, and database management programs. Ability and desire to work in a context of individual and cultural differences. Ability to plan collaboratively and execute independently. Strong organizational and leadership skills. Strong interpersonal skills in a team setting and on an individual basis. Excellent skills in mentoring and helping others improve their team building, problem solving and interpersonal communication skills. Preferred: Master’s or other graduate degree with at least one degree in a field that relates to the responsibilities of this position such as adult education, program evaluation, natural resource management, land use planning, agriculture, or life sciences communication. Experience with watershed management and/or watershed planning. Experience with a broad range of distance education methodologies. Knowledge of complex political environments in which Cooperative Extension works, particularly at state and local levels, and successful experience in these environments. Familiarity with securing external funding. Paid or volunteer experience working with people from culturally diverse groups.

Duties: This position works with land grant colleges and universities and their partners in the upper Midwest Great Lakes states to build the capacity of watershed managers to use social science and targeted outreach practices to improve water quality. This position works primarily with a multi-state team of researchers and Extension educators. This position is funded by grants from the federal Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES). For administrative purposes, this position is located in the University of Wisconsin-Extension’s (UWEX) Environmental Resources Center (ERC) located on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.  It is part of the Community, Natural Resources and Economic Development (CNRED) program area in Wisconsin Cooperative Extension, a division within UWEX.  This position interacts collegially with appropriate Cooperative Extension teams, programs, units, and centers, including the Cooperative Extension Program Development and Evaluation Unit, the ERC Evaluation Unit, and related CNRED issue teams. The primary focus of the position is to work with a multi-state team to build the capacity of watershed leaders and outreach professionals in selected watersheds to 1) use appropriate social information in their programs, and 2) implement and evaluate effective outreach programs.   This position will also support the multi-state team in maintaining effective communication with watershed projects and keeping track of watershed information pertinent to research and outreach programs.  A detailed position description including identified ADA essential job functions is available.

Appl: Send resume, cover letter, and 3 references to

Contact: Angie Koppen, UW-Cooperative Extension, 432 North Lake Street, Room 249, Madison, WI 53706. Ph: 608-263-1945, Fax: 608-262-9462, Email: angie.koppen@uwex.edu Website: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/hr/

Filing Date: 01/15/08.