About the Upper Susquehanna Coalition: The Upper Susquehanna Coalition (USC) is a coalition of 22 Soil & Water Conservation Districts within New York & Pennsylvania that collectively make up the headwaters of the Susquehanna River, and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Our goal is to protect and improve water quality and natural resources in the Upper Susquehanna River Basin with the involvement of citizens and agencies through planning, education, coordination, funding, project implementation, and advocating for our water resources. The USC operates out of the Tioga County Soil & Water District office in Owego, NY. 

Position Description: 
The riparian buffer intern will support the implementation of riparian forest buffers throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed in New York. This position will support the USC Buffer Team and Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) staff with buffer implementation and other tasks supporting the Trees for Tributaries (T4T) program. Riparian and young forest restoration is a priority for water and habitat quality within the Chesapeake Bay. This is a great opportunity to become involved in the work of SWCDs and Chesapeake Bay watershed restoration. This position is temporary, with potential for extension at USC or SWCDs after the end of the internship. 

Riparian buffer intern tasks will include: 

• Perform riparian buffer implementation, including the installation and maintenance of streamside buffers with potential to provide planning and design assistance. Buffer maintenance includes weeding tree tubes, pruning, replacing protective materials, weed wacking, mowing, and management oversight.
• Perform tasks associated with riparian and young forest establishment, including data collection, monitoring, development of management activities, and oversight of management. 
• Support the buffer team with caring for planting stock and reporting for the Trees for Tributaries program.
• Provide direct, one-on-one assistance to landowners on buffer implementation and maintenance.
• Assist with outreach and education related to the Trees for Tributaries program and riparian forest buffers in general. 

Qualifications include: Excellent verbal communication skills with interest in working with the public, valid NYS Driver’s License with reliable transportation, ability to perform physically demanding work in an outdoor setting, flexibility to occasionally work weekend hours, and interest in forestry, habitat restoration or public outreach. Ability to utilize ArcGIS is preferred. The ability to lift 50lbs is necessary. Experience driving a truck and trailer is preferred.

Supervision/Location: Intern will be based at the Tioga County Soil & Water Conservation District office in Owego (183 Corporate Drive, Owego, NY) and will report to the USC Buffer Team. 

Schedule: This position is temporary, full-time (40 hours per week) beginning in September and ending in December, with a potential for extension. Weekend work may be required, but it will likely be seldom. 

Travel: Travel will be limited to within the Chesapeake Bay watershed in NY. Travel is limited to day trips using a work-assigned vehicle.