Riparian Tree Inventory Volunteer Internship

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Riparian trees provide habitat and shading for Eugene’s urban waterways. Managing for temperature of the water within urban channels and reducing the urban heat island (UHI) effect is important to maintaining the health of our urban waterways. Interns will collect attributes of existing trees along these waterways and track it using mobile GIS technology. Interns will also identify future potential planting sites and help to determine planting priorities moving forward.

Purpose:

Eugene’s riparian forests provide a diversity of ecosystem services essential for current and future generations. Shading and providing habitat along our urban waterways are two crucial functions of this key resource. Your role will be to assess the current state and help to improve this vital resource, which in turn will benefit our urban waterways.

Essential Duties:

• Data collection on attributes of native trees along riparian corridors.
• Assist with identifying priority stream reaches for data collection.
• Identify potential planting spaces and associated priority.
• Assist with outreach/education efforts to engage volunteer groups in inventory.
• Maintain good working relationships with City staff and other volunteers/interns.
• Perform additional tasks as requested.

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Strong interest in or knowledge of native trees and their relationship to waterways.
• Strong interest in or knowledge of GIS mobile technology.
• Ability to follow instructions and pay attention to detail.
• Willingness to work in inclement weather conditions.
• Ability to be flexible, cooperative, and to work as part of a group or individually.
• Commitment to being respectful of others at all times.
• Capacity to provide their own transportation to work sites.
• Ability to perform field work, including standing and walking for long periods, and lifting.

Time Commitment: Time commitments can be geared to meet the needs of each intern to the degree that the days and times match the supporting staff’s work schedule. The position(s) will begin in late spring after budding occurs and continue through the growing season.

Training Provided: On-the-job training will be provided in the areas of native tree identification, inventory methods and recording metrics, using mobile GIS technology and field safety.

Individuals interested in the Riparian Tree Inventory Internship should send a resume and cover letter describing how this internship fits with their educational/career goals to Carrie Karl at carrie.l.karl@ci.eugene.or.us. For more information email or call Carrie at 541-682-4850.