Program Summary:

The Western Colorado Conservation Corps (WCCC) is a program of Mesa County Partners, a nonprofit organization based in Grand Junction, Colorado. As a 21st Century Conservation Corps we are accredited by the Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA) and The Corps Network (TCN).

RiversEdge West (REW) is a non-profit organization founded in 1999, with a mission to restore riverside (riparian) ecosystems through education, collaboration, and technical assistance. A key part of this mission, and primary goal of the Strike Team, is to restore native riparian vegetation by removing invasive plants like tamarisk and Russian olive and re-establishing native plant communities.

The Riparian Restoration Strike Team was developed through a partnership between REW and WCCC to conduct invasive vegetation treatments and perform site maintenance (including follow-up treatments and revegetating with native plants) on riparian restoration sites throughout western Colorado. Sites are located along the Colorado, Dolores, Gunnison, Uncompahgre, and White rivers. Restoration efforts are carried out in collaboration with partners in the Desert Rivers Collaborative (DRC), Dolores River Restoration Partnership (DRRP), and White River Partnership (WRP) and others to cooperatively restore and maintain healthy river corridors.

The team works with a diverse group of partners, including federal and state land managers, local governments, non-profits, and private landowners. This Strike Team is designed to be flexible to adapt to the evolving needs of partners associated with the DRC, DRRP, and WRP, ensuring effective and ongoing riparian restoration.

Position Summary:

The AmeriCorps Riparian Restoration Strike Team will serve with WCCC to implement initial and follow-up invasive plant treatments. This will involve using chainsaws, hand tools, herbicide, and herbicide application equipment such as hand-held pump sprayers and backpack sprayers. Revegetating restoration sites with native plants through planting and seeding may also be required. The Strike Team will also map daily progress using tablets, provide photo documentation of progress (e.g. before-and-after photos), and complete short weekly and/or daily project summaries.

The Strike Team is based in Grand Junction, CO and will serve at restoration sites throughout western CO. Approximately 75% of the sites will require camping on or near the site for the week, while other sites are local to the Grand Junction area, allowing Strike Team members to go home each night. Accessing restoration sites will require hiking with tools and herbicide application equipment. Some restoration sites may require access via boats.

At times throughout the season, the Strike Team will temporarily join our general conservation crews for one or more weeks to complete non-Strike Team projects due to the timing, needs, and nature of Restoration Strike Team projects, as dictated by the specific project needs and timelines of RiversEdge West. 

WCCC does not provide housing accommodations off-hitch and Crew Leaders and members will be responsible for their own accommodation during that time.

The Strike Team will assist with conservation projects while developing interpersonal and leadership skills. A variety of soft skills and technical competencies are required to be successful in this role. See below for core competencies.

Responsibilities: 

• Must be willing and able to camp at least 4 nights per week.
• Complete 9 hours of service a day for 5 days while camping in a variety of outdoor conditions, including inclement weather for the duration of term.
• Successfully complete AmeriCorps member Orientation and CPR/First Aid Training.
• Must be motivated, responsible, and have a positive attitude.
• Willing to cook and clean up at the camp site when necessary.
• Participate in WCCC-wide volunteer events.
• Participate in rig-up and rig-down procedures.
• Live, work, and serve closely with a diverse group of people.
• Must adhere to the rules and regulations of WCCC and AmeriCorps, which includes abstaining from the use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco as well as other rules, regulations, and risk management protocol.
• Frequently required to walk, hike, sit and talk or listen.
• Spend long days serving in riparian areas with dense vegetation and variable conditions and temperatures.
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and operate a chainsaw and apply herbicide through backpack or hand sprayers.
• Must be able to speak, understand, read, and write English.

Required Qualifications:

• Be a United States citizen or national or lawful permanent resident.
• Be available full-time between the dates specified on the Member Service Agreement.
• Be able to pass a pre-service National Criminal History check (State, Sex Offender, and Federal).
• High School Diploma or GED required (AmeriCorps) or in the process of obtaining
• Physically capable of standing and hiking (6-10 miles/day on rough, uneven terrain), bending, crouching, and stooping for long periods of time, and lifting/carrying items that weigh up to 50 pounds, in upwards of 90+ degree heat
• Must be between the ages of 18 - 28 years of age

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience conducting field work and comfortable with long days in exposed environmental conditions.
• Experience operating chainsaws and hand tools in remote settings.
• Strong conflict resolution skills. 
• Strong communication skills.
• Knowledge of or interest in learning about western riparian and river systems, ecology, or plant identification.
• Strong time-management skills and ability to serve independently as well as with others.  
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to serve in a fluid, changing service environment.
• Willingness to commit fully to the program through its duration and completing its mission.
• Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others.