Title: NPS Hydropower Program Fellowship
Stipend: $600.00 Weekly Living Stipend ($1,200.00 Biweekly deposited via Direct Deposit)
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Dates: 08/14/2023 - 08/09/2024Term: 52 weeks, full time
Reports To: National Park Service Hydropower Assistance Program Manager
Location: Remote Eligible, Partial in office, Washington DC
Status: 1700-hour AmeriCorps Service Term
Benefits: AmeriCorps Education Award of $6,345.00 and will be eligible for Public Land Corps Hiring Authority after successful completion of term. Health insurance will be offer by Conservation Legacy.
Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps’ Mission:
It is the mission of the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps to lead our nations back to cultural and ecological well-being. The Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps has offices in Acoma Pueblo, Isleta Pueblo, Gallup NM (Navajo Nation), Zuni Pueblo, and Hopi Tribe. ALCC also serves Indigenous Youth across the country through its Individual Placements Program. *Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps serves local tribal communities in the regions we operate and across the Unites States. Native American applicants are preferred. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.
National Park Service Mission:
The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The NPS cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.
In addition to protecting and managing America's 423 national parks, the NPS also operates programs that extend throughout the nation to connect all Americans to their parks, trails, rivers, and other special places. NPS has responsibilities for a number of Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Programs including the Office of Outdoor Recreation, Hydropower Assistance Program, Wild and Scenic Rivers Program, and Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program which are managed through the Washington DC Headquarters Office.
NPS Hydropower Assistance Program Overview:
The NPS Hydropower Assistance Program (HAP) provides expertise and technical assistance in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) hydropower licensing proceedings to help NPS staff and others engage more effectively and ensure projects provide for enhanced conservation and outdoor recreation opportunities. As hydropower licenses are typically issued for 40-50 years, the relicensing process is often a once-in-a-generation opportunity to provide recommendations for improving the balance of natural, cultural, and recreation resources with energy production resulting from these projects.
NPS Hydropower Assistance Program Fellowship Overview:
The fellow will assist the NPS Hydropower Assistance program by developing and managing geospatial tools, outreach and communication products, and guidance documents which will benefit communities and the environment through staff's effective engagement in hydropower proceedings. The fellow will work with NPS hydropower staff to manage the hydropower database, develop an annual report, update a story map and other communication products that illustrate the program's accomplishments. The fellow's work will also involve research and analysis which will help to inform the development of tools and guidance for staff and partners related to recreation and conservation in FERC proceedings with the goal of supporting protection of rivers and providing for outdoor recreation opportunities for communities accessing lands and waters near hydropower projects across the country.
Essential functions and responsibilities:
The fellow will work with NPS Hydropower Assistance Program staff to manage the hydropower database, develop an annual report, update a story map and other communication products that illustrates the program’s work. The goal is to develop and improve information sharing and tools for NPS to support protection of rivers and providing for outdoor recreation opportunities.
Work products will include program summaries and annual reports, short stories, database entry and management, training guidance materials, summary reports, excel databases, creation of new and expansion of existing geospatial databases, interactive and printable maps, and document summaries. The long-term benefits of the research products and tools will result in improved outdoor recreation and conservation opportunities for communities accessing water resources across the country.
Duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
- Provide oversight and support of geospatial and database tools for the hydropower program. Specific tasks could include quality control review of the database entries, data entry of project information, updating online tutorials, training and support to staff, and web map and application development.
- Develop and update a program summary and annual report.
- Update the story map for the Hydropower Assistance Program.
- Develop and expand on communication tools including developing success stories that illustrate the program’s work in river recreation and conservation.
- Research hydropower and outdoor recreation projects, develop products that summarize past results, and create recommendations for best practices. Research topics could include accessibility, welcoming/inclusive recreation, mitigation measures, adaptive management, and/or hydraulic models to support fish passage and instream flows. Research could also include best practices on incorporating traditional ecosystem knowledge, honoring tribal trust responsibilities, and conducting tribal consultation.
- Analyze results of research projects, create databases and develop summary reports to display work.
- Participate in team meetings and present results of work products.
- Support specific projects through literature reviews, site visits, researching the site location in relationship to NPS’s interest, review and summary of key project documents, and creation of baseline data reports.
Required Skills
Minimum Qualifications:
- Age under 30 years of age as of August 2023 (up to 35 for veterans)
- Bachelors or Masters degree in geography, geographic information systems, outdoor recreation, planning, law, hydrology, water resource engineering, landscape architecture, environmental education, environmental studies, or a related field.
- US citizenship or permanent residency. Interns must undergo a government background check if selected.
- Available to work full-time (40 hours per week)
- Reliable access to wi-fi and ability to work remotely.
Required Experience
Required Experience:
The ideal candidate:
- is proficient in and enjoys writing and communicating clearly;
- has experience with or ability to learn the following software programs is desirable: Adobe InDesign, Excel, ArcGIS.
- is organized, able to listen, ask questions, and think critically;
- has experience, education, or interest in rivers.
- has confidence in their ability to conduct literature review and carry out independent research.
It is not expected that prospective candidates have experience in all of these areas. An interest in developing these skills and some experience through work and/or education in at least one of these areas is required.
This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion,
sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental
status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible
to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take
reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in
appropriate languages.
To apply, please submit an updated resume and letter of interest along with the online application on our
online application portal. Questions contact: Shonto Greyeyes, ALCC IP Program Coordinator,
sgreyeyes@conservationlegacy.org
