Aquatics Specialist & PFAS Technician

Program Overview: River Science is the lead organization for River Corps and is a 501c(3) nonprofit located in Canon City, CO. The River Corps program places AmeriCorps Members at organizations and agencies throughout Colorado to focus on helping the efficiency, efficacy, and scale or healthy rivers and watersheds. To thrive in these technical positions, Members will receive comprehensive training and ongoing support in low-tech process-based river restoration (LTPBR), water quality sampling, in-stream flow (ISF), on-the-ground project monitoring, and essential watershed coordination techniques to ensure they are adding valuable capacity to watershed actions and initiatives across Colorado.

Service Site Overview: This position will be based in Craig, CO with the Bureau of Land Management’s Colorado Northwest District Office (CNDO), which is responsible for managing approximately 3.15 million surface acres and is comprised of the Kremmling, Little Snake, and White River field offices. The District includes the upper Colorado River corridor along with the White and Yampa rivers. It is home to some of the largest deer and elk herds in the area, along with pronghorn, bighorn sheep and a wide variety of other wildlife. The Northwest District contains the majority of the Colorado range of the Greater Sage Grouse. The Northwest District also manages 7.1 million acres of subsurface minerals, which includes some of the most productive oil and natural gas fields in the state, four of Colorado’s nine coal mines and vast deposits of oil shale.

Service Position Summary: This position will support both the Bureau of Land Management and River Science’s 2026 PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) outreach.

Bureau of Land Management ( ~50% of the time): This position is under the aquatics program, primarily performing duties related to riparian/wetlands, fisheries, and hydrology. Secondary duties may include support to other programs such as weeds, wildlife, and range as these programs work closely with the aquatics program and often impact aquatic resources. This is primarily a field position with a wide variety of duties in a wide range of settings. Duties will often be performed solo; however, some of the work will be performed as part of a team.

River Science PFAS Program ( ~50% of the time): This Member will support various water treatment plants as they prepare for upcoming PFAS compliance. This member will focus on the education, outreach, training, and support to various water treatment operations in Colorado, with a special focus on rural. Support can include

• Contacting and working directly with specific public water systems.
• Provide drinking water operators with information to effectively characterize PFAS contamination in public water systems
• Through direct outreach, educate and empower the drinking water operator to prepare, collect, ship, review analyses, and report PFAS data
• Specific details to train them on completing forms (i.e. chain of custody), label samples correctly, and shipping.
• Provide guidance towards solutions to protect the public from water sources with PFAS contamination.

Essential Functions (Primary Responsibilities):

BLM:

• Assist with aquatic wildlife surveys (fish and amphibians).
• Perform water resources monitoring and data collection, sometimes using electronic loggers.
• Work with an interdisciplinary team to assist with proper functioning condition assessments of riparian and wetland areas.
• Assist with the implementation, monitoring and maintenance of riparian and wetland improvement projects (including processed based restoration), vegetation treatments (including herbicide application), livestock fencing, travel management infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, etc.

PFAS:

• Outreach and communication
• Educate on upcoming PFAS compliance
• PFAS sample collection and shipping
• Coordination among other AmeriCorps members who are sampling PFAS
• Collate PFAS data
• Update GIS datasets for PFAS geographic data
• Prepare reports

Marginal Functions (Secondary Responsibilities):

BLM

• Assist other programs within the NDO.  Opportunities exist to cross train with other programs.
• Data processing and reporting.
• Monitor livestock use in riparian areas.
• Perform and document monitoring of riparian and wetland vegetation, including livestock utilization.

PFAS:

• Collect other water quality data (metals, nutrients, macroinvertebrate)
• Collect water quantity data (stream flow measurements)

Physical, Emotional, and Intellectual Demands:

• Strong interpersonal communication skills (written and oral)
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and work within a team
• Ability to routinely lift and carry over 50 pounds.
• Ability to work in adverse weather conditions.
• Ability to work in remote, backcountry settings, with hazards such as insects, wildlife, deep and moving water.
• Ability to work long hours.
• Ability to hike moderately long distances

Qualifications:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Have their driver’s license, their own vehicle, and proof of auto insurance
• Must be a high school graduate, GED recipient, or working toward attaining a high school diploma or GED during the term of service. Members must obtain either a diploma or GED before using an education award.
• Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States
• Able to pass a National Service Criminal History Check (state, FBI, and National Sex Offender Public Website checks)

Additional Knowledge/Skills/Abilities necessary for this position.

• Effective time management and how to prioritize various tasks
• Strong algebra skills
• Basic computer skills:
• Microsoft Word and Excel
• Email
• Managing a shared calendar
• Desire to learn
• Ability to engage with the public and build relationships

AmeriCorps Required Qualifications:

• At least 17 years old at start of service [may adjust to 18 years old per program design]
• Must be a high school graduate, GED recipient, or working toward attaining a high school diploma or GED during the term of service. Members must obtain either a diploma or GED before using an education award.
• Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States
• Able to pass a National Service Criminal History Check (state, FBI, and National Sex Offender Public Website checks) per 45 CFR 2540.202

Term of Service / Time Commitment: This is a Three Quarter Time (TQT) national and community service position requiring, at a minimum, a total of 1200 hours during the year (approximately 37-40 hours per week). The position begins February 16, 2026 and ends September 30, 2026. While the position service will occur mostly between Monday to Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm, flexible hours may be required including occasional evening and weekend commitments. Within these hours, there will be sufficient opportunity to fulfill the full term of 1200 hours, including holidays, time off, and missed hours to makeup.

Training and Support Provided: River Corps members receive significant training and experience in technical skillsets (e.g. water quality data collection, assessment with GIS) and community engagement (e.g. watershed coordination, stakeholder communication). Up to 20% of total hours served may be spent in applicable approved trainings. Members will be supervised and supported by BLM’s Stephen Hampton (shampton@blm.gov) as well as by Allison Palmasano, Project Director, allison@river.science / 719.429.3707. The cohort of members serving throughout the region will act as additional resources and support for each other  

Location and Service Conditions: This position is based at BLM Northwest District Office – 455 Emerson St. Craig, CO 81625

Benefits:

• A living allowance of $17,500 will be made every other week (on Fridays) payments of $1060.61. Taxes are deducted and the living allowance is distributed by direct deposit to the member.
• An education award of $5,176.50 upon successful completion of term of service
• Training certificates in Water Quality & Ecology, and Hydrology Technician 1
• It is possible to temporarily postpone repayment of qualified student loans through forbearance while serving as an AmeriCorps member
• Mileage reimbursement for travel to required trainings and days of service
• Non-tangible benefits including valuable hands-on experiences, networking, opportunity to help river and watershed health in a local community.
• Alumni benefits include priority hiring with organizations that are part of Employers of National Service and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to eliminate educational debt.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

River Conservation Corps (RCC) recognizes the value of diversity and inclusiveness to advance environmental education. RCC defines diversity in its broadest sense and welcomes everyone including but not limited to people of all races, ethnicities, genders, gender expressions, sexual orientations, abilities, ages, national origins, socioeconomic status, religious affiliations, languages, and heritages.

River Science shall not discriminate against any employee, volunteer or program participant on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, disability, political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender identity, gender expression, marital, parental, veteran or military status, political service, or membership, participation or association with any employee organization. We provide equal employment and volunteer opportunities to all individuals based on relevant qualifications and abilities