Internship Dates: mid-June through August (dates are flexible)
Contact:
To apply, please send a current resume and cover letter to Bob Gale, Ecologist & Public Lands Director at bob@mountaintrue.org. This application closes June 15.
Description:
The Sandy Bottom Forest Wetland near Asheville, NC is a protected area containing federal- and state-listed (rare and threatened) salamanders and reptiles. Several invasive exotic plants occur there, which threaten to displace native species and harm the wetland ecosystem that supports the wildlife community. MountainTrue has inventoried the invasive plant populations and locations on the tract and employed Interns over the last few years to implement a management plan to control these invasions and restore the native ecosystem. Previous Interns produced Final Reports with Recommendations on future management of Sandy Bottom invasive plant control. We are again enlisting the help of interns to continue management during the summer of 2018 to implement the past recommendations, along with advice and direction from the MountainTrue Ecologist. Much restoration work has been accomplished at Sandy Bottom and we look forward to keeping this progress going.
Restoring natural habitat through invasive exotic plant control is an important part of our organization’s Strategic Plan. MountainTrue focuses much of its forest restoration work in the area of invasive exotic plant inventory and control for over a decade, and our organization has developed extensive expertise in successful invasive plant control in mountain communities. This Internship would further our organizational goals and help to restore an important ecosystem.
Responsibilities:
The Intern(s) will work to implement the management plan by working on their own and/or coordinating and supervising volunteers occasionally to perform various control treatments on the mapped populations of invasive exotic plants in the Sandy Bottom Wetland. The Interns will communicate with volunteers, schedule work days, train volunteers on invasive exotic plant identification, control methods, and safety. They will determine/obtain the types and amount of tools and materials needed from MountainTrue’s storage facility and make these available at the project site. The Interns will provide the MountainTrue Ecologist with reports (verbal or via email) as needed, on estimated percentage of areas treated per week, and observations on any need for retreatment. The Interns will accompany the MountainTrue Ecologist in any in presentations or workshops given during the internship and may be asked to give a co-presentation regarding Sandy Bottom activities. On days when project site work is not scheduled, the Interns will compile the above reports and may perform research on invasive plant issues, as well as participating in other MountainTrue environmental opportunities (See “Additional Information” below).The Interns will use a GPS unit (provided by MountainTrue) for some of this field work and will be instructed in this, if needed. They may also participate in other MountainTrue invasive plant control event days, occasionally.
Expected Products
The Intern(s) will compile a final report on the number of localized areas treated during the internship; the estimated percent of Sandy Bottom wetland that was treated, and the recommendations, based upon the Interns’ experience, as to future management objectives, including what worked well, and what might be done to improve future management of the site.
Qualifications:
An advance knowledge, interest, and/or education in environmental science, ecology, biology is required. Knowledge of botany (plant identification/taxonomy) non-native invasive plants is desired. Students in environmental policy who are interested in performing intensive field work would also benefit from this internship. Experience with invasive plant control is also plus for this internship, but is not required. The Interns will be given such training by the MountainTrue Ecologist. They will be required to take the N.C. Department of Agriculture herbicide certification training as part of this internship and MountainTrue is able to help with the registration costs. Interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate well with others is important to this work. Experience with GIS mapping is not required, but would be a beneficial skill that could be used to expand the overall scope of work and contributions to this project.
Transportation: Required
Other Possible Opportunities:
- Expertise in identifying, inventorying, and controlling 15 species of exotic invasive plants that threaten western North Carolina; first hand expertise and solid field experience in controlling 5 specific problem plants in the Sandy Bottom
- Opportunities to accompany MountainTrue Field Biologist and our Ecologist on proposed Forest Service timber sale site
- Opportunities to participate in MountainTrue RiverKeeper program involving water quality sampling/testing of the French Broad
- Opportunities to attend meetings involving local, state, federal agencies, and NGO’s regarding environmental policies such as land management, protection, and
- Participation in MountainTrue hikes, river paddling trips, and other events geared toward involving citizens in the natural and recreational amenities of the western North Carolina mountains.
- Possible Graduate study opportunities that could evolve from this internship include Sandy Bottom-related projects involving herpetology (amphibians and reptiles inhabiting the site); invasive exotic plant response to wetland soils specific to this site; impacts from Highway 191 road runoff to Sandy Bottom (this highway is expected to be 4-laned within the next five years); Studies relating to the unique hydrology that sustains this wetland; other
Finances:
- This is an unpaid internship, however MountainTrue will cover exam registration costs and can offer additional financial help toward some expenses such as mileage. (For more information about financial help, contact Bob Gale bob@mountaintrue.org.) MountainTrue’s Ecologist & Public Lands Director will also sign any college credit forms that an intern may need documenting their summer work.