Internship - Habitat management and wildlife monitoring at the Rivers Project Office

Position Summary

Intern will work with natural resource managers on habitat management and wildlife monitoring along the Mississippi River for the US Army Corps of Engineers at the Rivers Project Office, consisting of 49,000 acres of public lands including rivers, lakes, wetlands, prairies, and bottomland forests.

Schedule

March 3, 2025 - July 27, 2025

Key Duties and Responsibilities

a. Pollinator Surveys and Vegetation Sampling – The intern will assist staff with sampling efforts as part of the Great Rivers Pollinator Habitat Partnership. Tasks include setting survey transact lines, pollinator ID, plant ID, and data collection, map creation in GIS applications.

b. Grassland Avian Surveys – Conducting ongoing point count surveys for birds and vegetation transects as part of project evaluating vegetation and bird community changes after the 2019 Mississippi River flood. The intern will assist with collection of data, bird call ID, quality assurance of data, and entry of information into databases.

c. Integrated Waterbird Management and Monitoring – This is the protocol used at the Rivers Project Office for monitoring waterfowl use of managed wetlands. The intern would assist with data entry and quality assurance.

d. Bat Monitoring – Biologists conduct annual surveys for endangered bat species using mist nets, radio telemetry, acoustic detectors, and emergence counts. The intern would provide support to these projects by monitoring contractor work as well as deploying bat acoustic detectors and storing collected acoustic data.

e. Sturgeon Monitoring – In a cooperative effort with the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Rivers Project monitors populations of endangered Lake Sturgeon in the Mississippi River, and monitors water quality and spawning activity below the Mel Price Lock & Dam. The intern will assist in recording data for these monitoring efforts, and gain experience collaborating with a state agency on TNE species conservation and monitoring.

f. Invasive species removal – Invasive plants are invading grassland and wetland habitats on Corps lands. The intern would assist with mechanical removal of various plant species using mowing, disking, hand pulling, digging, and cutting as well as chemical removal through herbicide treatment.

Marginal Duties

Other work may include field work as need by project site.

Required Qualifications

The intern should have moderate knowledge of standard wildlife survey methodologies and wildlife indication skills. The intern will also gain experience with natural resource management activities such as fisheries management, wetland management, prairie restoration, and invasive species management.

Must be 18 years of age or older.

Must possess and maintain valid driver’s license.

Must possess good verbal and written communications skills.

Must not be averse to irritating plants or insects.

Familiarity with GIS/GPS data collection and Microsoft Office

Preferred Qualifications

Good physical ability required to navigate uneven terrain and work outdoors during adverse conditions such as heat, cold or rain. Must be physically able to carry weighted equipment such as backpack sprayers, chainsaws, or backpack blowers for prolonged periods of time during field work. Must have the physical ability to spend time bent over or crouched for such field activities as invasive weed pulling or seed collection.

Hours

40 per week

Living Accommodations

Housing is not provided at the site for this internship.

Compensation

Living Allowance - $450/week

Housing Allowance - $1,000/month

Commuting Allowance - $25/week

Relocation Travel Allowance - $650*

• Internship positions with the US Army Corps of Engineers receive a relocation travel grant as a reimbursement, based upon the actual roundtrip travel costs from the intern’s ‘home’ location to the site. The reimbursement amount is calculated by the distance travelled (mileage) and current federal per diem rates. Interns are required to submit an expense report to SCA with documented round-trip travel costs for reimbursement. The relocation travel grant is capped at $650.
  

This position is not eligible for an AmeriCorps Education Award.

All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.

Personal Vehicle Information

Required

Additional Benefits

AmeriCorps: Not Eligible

Equal Opportunity Statement

SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members. SCA is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere in which people of diverse backgrounds and lifestyles may grow personally and professionally. The Student Conservation Association, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

Physical requirements and working conditions specific to the position are available in the full job description.