Lower Susquehanna Watershed Program Intern

Penn State University•Lower Swatara Township, PA

21h

About The Position

The Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center (AEC) was founded in 2008 by the College of Agricultural Sciences to enhance the communication and integration of science to inform policy and improve and build partnerships that benefit working landscapes across the Commonwealth. Over the last two decades, the AEC has helped establish Penn State as a leader in complex environmental problem solving, particularly related to agriculture and water quality, through initiatives such as the Ag 101 training modules, the Conewago Creek Initiative, Greening the Lower Susquehanna, the Lower Susquehanna Regional Partnership, and Pennsylvania in Balance. The AEC’s vision is to embody Penn State University’s land grant mission by integrating the College’s education, research, community outreach, and Extension assets to facilitate collaborative, partnership-based problem solving related to agriculture and the environment at multiple scales. The focus of the AEC’s work is one of the great environmental problems we face today: nonpoint source water pollution caused by land use and land management. This focus on the land and water interface helps position the College as a leader in land and water research, engaged scholarship, and extension and outreach. The AEC has two offices located at the University Park Campus and the Harrisburg Campus (Lower Susquehanna Office). Much of our Lower Susquehanna work takes place at the College’s Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center (SEAREC) in Lancaster County. The AEC is in need of two summer watershed program interns at its Lower Susquehanna Office. The interns will work collaboratively in a cohort of student summer interns at the AEC and the related Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training (CACAT) at Penn State Extension. The Lower Susquehanna Interns will assist AEC staff in delivering a multitude of projects and programs in the Lower Susquehanna region. In particular, the intern will work on projects and programs related to implementation of riparian buffers and green infrastructure and other conservation practices on agricultural and urban lands throughout the Lower Susquehanna. Much of the work will be performed at the SEAREC and in the surrounding Chiques, Conewago, Conoy, Little Conestoga, and Spring Creek watersheds in Lancaster, Dauphin and Lebanon Counties.

Requirements

Should have relevant major and interest in water resources, natural resources, and environmental and/or agricultural sciences
Have interest and skills in community and landowner engagement and outreach
Be undergraduate upper-class or in early stages of graduate school (rising to third year and above but all students are encouraged to apply and will be considered based on experience/background)
Have excellent writing and communication skills
Have ability to work from home
Be willing to work outside in variable weather and site conditions
Be able and willing to conduct occasional travel (valid driver’s license and reliable vehicle required)

Responsibilities

Managing and maintaining the Lower Susquehanna Native Tree Nursery at SEAREC
Maintaining native plant conservation practices at SEAREC, including forest riparian buffers and native meadows
Working with Penn State researchers to collect survival and growth data on research buffers
Visiting farmers, landowners, and municipalities to discuss opportunities for implementing conservation practices, riparian buffers and “turf to trees” reforestation projects and developing planting plans
Organizing and coordinating tree pickup for restoration projects in the Lower Susquehanna region
Assisting Penn State Extension and other technical partners in delivering green infrastructure trainings
Conduct field work on restoration and best management practice (BMP) implementation, and maintenance on riparian buffers, native meadows, rain gardens, and other green infrastructure practices
Assisting in water quality monitoring programs and watershed planning projects which often integrates agriculturally-based assessments for tillage, cover crops, and other conservation practices
Assisting AEC staff in facilitating and managing watershed based partnerships in the region, in particular in the adjacent priority watersheds in Lancaster, Dauphin and Lebanon Counties (through our Lower Susquehanna Regional Partnership)
Assisting in the delivery of outreach materials, events and approaches that build partnerships with entities involved in conservation work in the Lower Susquehanna region and beyond
Other duties (as assigned) to assist the AEC Director and other staff