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Watershed Planning Internship

Colorado Springs Utilities
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Watershed Planning Internship

Colorado Springs Utilities’ Watershed Planning group works to manage landscapes with various partners to restore and enhance ecosystems for the protection of Utilities’ water supply and system infrastructure. The Watershed Planning group is offering a unique opportunity for college students to learn forest management, watershed sciences, and source water protection at a landscape level. This work will have unique opportunities of working in the field supporting vegetation management projects, source water monitoring and protection projects, and supporting overall operations as it relates to watershed management in the summer months.    

Specific details and opportunities Watershed Planning internship offers:

  • Exposure to environmental stewardship and the daily skills needed for careers to be effective in natural resources management and conservation
  • Overview of forest and watershed management, operations and recreation
  • Support in the development of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as it relates to the development of forest management projects, plans, and monitoring of watershed level forest and vegetation conditions
  • Supporting watershed related water projects to support stream channel restoration, stream flow management, and water quality monitoring
  • Extensive training and field work in remote watershed areas and natural environments supporting the design, layout and implementation of vegetation management, forestry, and fire related projects on municipal watershed lands

In this internship the Watershed Planning Intern will have direct involvement and assist in ongoing projects while helping develop new projects for future work as it relates to watershed health and the protection of resources within a watershed landscape. The intern will have the opportunity to work closely to understand where our water comes from, the value of water, and the impacts associated to forest fire, recreation uses, and water quality. The Watershed Planning group will share the best practices of each unique program and the science related to the specific projects and how they connect to protect critical watershed systems. Please review the duties below regarding the details of the internship position:

  • Forest Management Program  -  50%    
    • Support the forest management program with forestry related project, planning, stand data collection, forest inventory, vegetation and noxious weeds wildfire modeling, and project implementation on the municipal watershed lands and development of the Forest Management Plan
  • Fountain Creek Watershed Program  -  20%    
    • Support project planning and water related projects in municipal watersheds and along fountain creek
  • Source Water Protection Program  -  20%    
    • Support source water protection projects as it relates to water quality and recreation on municipal watershed lands. Assist in recreation events and impacts to water from recreation
  • General Watershed Related Tasks  - 10%
    • Support the Watershed Planning group in overall operations and mapping for watershed management. Support and learn from other workgroups within the section as it relates to water, electric, and water conservation.

Who You Are...highly qualified students will be working towards a degree with a focus in Natural Resource Management, Forestry, Wildland Fire Science, Hydrology, Environmental Science or Watershed Management.

*This is a summer only internship from May 27th through August 8th or 15th depending on school schedule; the majority of the effort will be needed between June and July as much of the work is field related and weather conditions are favorable.    
*This is an on-site, non-remote/non-telecommuting position 
*Hourly rate is dependent on year completed of academic degree, e.g., second year complete, third year complete, etc. 
*Candidates MUST be enrolled in a degree seeking program (Associates/Bachelors/Masters) and be able to provide documentation if requested.  Enrollment in a certification program does not qualify. 
*A valid, unrestricted driver's license is required for this position

Who We Are...Colorado Springs Utilities is the largest community owned, not-for-profit, four-service utility in the nation. For 100 years, we have provided Colorado Springs with safe, reliable and competitively-priced electric, natural gas, water and wastewater services. We care about our community's well-being, support local business and have an interest in all things that help make Colorado Springs a great place to live, work and play 

Our Commitment to Our Employees…
Our people are the heart and soul of Colorado Springs Utilities.  They keep the lights on, gas flowing, water coming in, and wastewater leaving.  We do not just say people are important – we prove it!  That’s why we are honored to invest in protecting the health and financial security of our employees and their families through our rich benefits program. As a Temporary employee you will enjoy the following benefits:

  • Time Off – Because everybody needs time off to recharge
    • Vacation –New employees accrue 13 days of paid time off to start, while our more tenured employees accrue 24 days per year
    • Paid Holidays –12 paid holidays per year
    • Sick Leave – Accrue 12 days of sick leave annually for those days when you or a family member is feeling under the weather
    • Vacation Buy – Purchase up to 40 hours of additional vacation time
  • Pension Plan – Looking forward to a comfortable lifestyle once you’re done working? The Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) provides you with retirement benefits and peace of mind when you retire
  • Medical – Select from three comprehensive medical plans, starting at $0 per month.  Employees also enjoy access to a Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA). (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
  • Wellness Program – Voluntary wellness program that allows you and your spouse to each earn up to $500 to use towards healthcare expenses, $100 in Visa gift cards, and up to $400 in gym membership reimbursements
  • Dental – Select from two dental plans, with in-network PPO preventive care covered at 100% and access to orthodontia coverage (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
  • Vision – Voluntary plan that covers full vision care services and discounts on LASIK eye surgery (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
  • Retirement Saving Programs – Supplement your pension plan with voluntary retirement programs such as the PERAPlus 401(k) and MissionSquare’s Roth IRA and 457 plans
  • Disability Coverage – Short-Term (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance available for purchase (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Makes the going a little easier by aiding with mental health, stress management, work-life balance, financial and legal matters, and much more
  • Long-Term Care Insurance (LTC) – Whether it's due to an accident or a serious illness, LTC insurance is available for purchase to help you and your loved ones (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
  • Life Insurance – Company-paid life insurance and supplemental coverage available (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)