"Clark County
Position Description
Name: Department: Land Conservation
Title: Conservation Intern Reports to: County Conservationist
Wage: $10.00/hr.- $12.00/hr. Start date: Flexible- May 30th to June 4th
Hours/wk: Not to exceed 40 hours
Flexible scheduling
Term Length: Not to exceed 520 hours
GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:
Monitors and inventories countywide natural resource status and trends.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:
This is a temporary, internship position with term length not to exceed 520 hours. The
Conservation Intern will assist department staff with design, inspection, and maintenance of local
conservation infrastructure. The work requires self-directed and independent decision-making
tasks. Data entry and computer usage is common for this job. Intern will also assist staff with
educational programming. Fieldwork may occur during inclement weather. The Conservation
Intern works under the direct supervision of the Land Conservation Department Staff.
EXAMPLES OF WORK: (Illustrative only)
Contacts landowners and explains program objectives.
Gathers land use and water quality data.
Enters and maintains data on county computer system.
Performs surveys, inspections, and maintenance on conservation projects.
Assists with conservation educational programming.
Works independently or in small groups to accomplish daily activities.
Conducts work in a pleasant and professional manner.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Knowledge of the principles and practices of soil and water conservation.
Knowledge of agricultural operations.
Knowledge of surveying techniques.
Ability to use and operate a wide range of computer programs, including GIS, AutoCad, Snap-
Plus, RUSLEII, and Microsoft Office Suite.
Possession of a valid Wisconsin driver’s license.
APPLICATION:
Due by May 1st, 2012
Resume and county application required
Submit application materials to Clark LCD, 517 Court St. Rm 102, Neillsville, WI 54456"
"Position Title: Mead Lake Watershed Intern
Employer: Clark County Land Conservation Department
Duration: Summer (2012)
Background: Mead Lake is a shallow, eutrophic impoundment of the South Fork Eau Claire River (Hydrologic Unit Code
07050006, Wisconsin Waterbody Identification Code 2137000). The Mead Lake watershed drains 248 km2 (61,282 acres)
of west central Wisconsin. Approximately 99 percent of the watershed is within Clark County, with the remaining one
percent in Taylor County. The South Fork Eau Claire River is the primary source of surface water inflow to Mead Lake.
The lake was placed on the Wisconsin 303(d) impaired waters list in 1998 due to sediment and phosphorus. In 2008, the
303(d) list was updated to reflect that the pollutants of sediment and phosphorus are leading to impairments of degraded
habitat, pH criteria exceedances, and excess algal growth in summer which result in limited body contact recreational use.
In 2008, a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) was written for the lake by the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources. The
goal of this TMDL is to achieve the following: reduce phosphorus and sediment loadings to Mead Lake; to address pH
criteria exceedances; decrease algal blooms in summer; and address degraded habitat so Mead Lake can be improved for
recreational purposes. Since there are no incorporated municipalities in the 100 sq mile Mead Lake Watershed, reductions
of phosphorus will come from rural landowners, principally agricultural producers. The landowners in the watershed are
very diverse and many of the farmers are Amish or Mennonite, which tend to rely on using internal sources (members
within their own church district) for assistance, instead of using external sources (government) for assistance.
The Mead Lake and Watershed Partnership was organized in 2008 to, among other tasks, oversee efforts to improve the
water quality of the lake and its tributary streams. This Partnership includes the WDNR, Clark Co. Land Conservation
Department, Mead Lake District, UW-Extension, County and Town Supervisors, and citizens within the watershed. The
intern will directly collaborate with this partnership.
1) Job Duties: Job duties will revolve around working with farmers on how they manage their land and how their
management decisions positively or negatively affect the water quality within the Mead Lake Watershed. Some of
the job duties may include visual surveys of farming operations, soil sampling, Phosphorus Index modeling,
assisting with workshops focusing on nutrient management, surface and groundwater sampling, and other duties,
as necessary. Duties will also include working with lake residents to assess the water quality impact of how they
manage their lake lots. The position will also involve earning the trust of the landowners in the watershed.
2) Knowledge: The intern will need a working knowledge of agricultural systems and “farm life”. Basic knowledge
of hydrology, soil erosion and water quality will also be needed. Other skills include a basic understanding of GIS
technology, work documentation, and software applications such as Word, Power Point, and Excel.
3) Abilities: The intern should have the ability to talk with people from many cultural backgrounds and a desire to
understand how to approach these cultures. The intern will have specific tasks, but should be self-directed enough
to accomplish these tasks without constant supervision. Interested candidates will be able to engage in research
activities that may be supported by local and statewide natural resources professionals.
The intern will work for the Summer (2012) and ideally be able to return for up to two more summers under the same
working conditions and guidelines to continue the work begun in the first year. This position will be challenging, but offers
a great “outdoor laboratory” learning environment for the right candidate. Landowner trust is important in order to
facilitate continued discussions about changing management behaviors that negatively influence water quality into
management behaviors that positively influence water quality. Often times environmental issues come down to people;
assisting them, teaching them, learning from them, and most importantly understanding and cooperating with them. This
position will present opportunities for the candidate to earn experience in all these facets of environmental work, and
provide a foundation for a Master’s Thesis, if the candidate is looking toward graduate work.
Application:
Due by May 1st, 2012
Resume and County Application Required
Submit to Clark LCD, 517 Court St. Rm 102, Neillsville, WI 54456
For more information contact: Matt Zoschke, County Conservationist at 715-743-5285 or matt.zoschke@co.clark.wi.us" |
Neilsville, WI - Lake Mead - May 1
Posted - 02/16/2012 : 09:28:07
