Riparian Restoration Strike Team

The Western Colorado Conservation Corps (WCCC) is a program of Mesa County Partners, a nonprofit organization based in Grand Junction, Colorado. As a 21st Century Conservation Corps we are accredited by the Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA) and The Corps Network (TCN).

RiversEdge West (REW) is a non-profit organization founded in 1999, with a mission to restore riverside (riparian) ecosystems through education, collaboration, and technical assistance. A key part of this mission, and primary goal of the Strike Team, is to restore native riparian vegetation by removing invasive plants like tamarisk and Russian olive and re-establishing native plant communities.

The Riparian Restoration Strike Team was developed through a partnership between REW and WCCC to conduct invasive vegetation treatments and perform site maintenance (including follow-up treatments and revegetating with native plants) on Riparian restoration sites throughout western Colorado. Sites are located along the Colorado, Dolores, Gunnison, Uncompahgre, and White rivers. Restoration efforts are carried out in collaboration with partners in the Desert Rivers Collaborative (DRC), Dolores River Restoration Partnership (DRRP), and White River Partnership (WRP) and others to cooperatively restore and maintain healthy river corridors.

The team works with a diverse group of partners, including federal and state land managers, local governments, non-profits, and private landowners. This Strike Team is designed to be flexible to adapt to the evolving needs of partners associated with the DRC, DRRP, and WRP, ensuring effective and ongoing riparian restoration.

Position Summary:

The AmeriCorps Riparian Restoration Strike Team will serve with WCCC to implement initial and follow-up invasive plant treatments. This will involve using chainsaws, hand tools, herbicide, and herbicide application equipment such as hand-held pump sprayers and backpack sprayers. Revegetating restoration sites with native plants through planting and seeding may also be required. The Strike Team will also map daily progress using tablets, provide photo documentation of progress (e.g. before-and-after photos), and complete short weekly and/or daily project summaries.

The Strike Team is based in Grand Junction, CO and will serve at restoration sites throughout western CO. Approximately 75% of the sites will require camping on or near the site for the week, while other sites are local to the Grand Junction area, allowing Strike Team members to go home each night. Accessing restoration sites will require hiking with tools and herbicide application equipment. Some restoration sites may require access via boats.

WCCC does not provide housing accommodations off-hitch and Crew Leaders and members will be responsible for their own accommodation during that time.

The Strike Team will assist with conservation projects while developing interpersonal and leadership skills. The Crew Leader will be responsible for leading crews in environmental stewardship, i.e., Leave No Trace, and risk management. A variety of soft skills and technical competencies are required to be successful in this role. See below for core competencies.

Responsibilities: 

• Leaders
• Utilizing skills gained through training on service-site and facilitating intentional discussions via informal lessons to contribute to the crew’s personal growth and group dynamics.
• Promote individual corps member development and a healthy community.

Must be willing to follow and enforce all WCCC policies, maintain professional boundaries, and appropriately represent WCCC and REW.

• Complete AmeriCorps orientation, chainsaw training (S212), and CPR/First Aid Training.
• Efficiently complete conservation projects and mapping on a variety of land ownership types in Western Colorado.
• Manage the on-the-ground quality and quantity of project work.
• Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems.
• Communicate effectively & coordinate logistics with project partners, and WCCC crew members, & WCCC/REW staff.
• Exhibit strong situational awareness & promote a culture of safety.
• Project Management and Safety
• Responsible for all project-related outcomes and deliverables.

Leader and Member

• Must be willing and able to camp at least 4 nights per week.
• Complete 9 hours of service a day for 5 days while camping in a variety of outdoor conditions, including inclement weather for the duration of term.
• Successfully complete AmeriCorps member Orientation and CPR/First Aid Training.
• Must be motivated, responsible, and have a positive attitude.
• Willing to cook and clean up at the camp site when necessary.
• Participate in WCCC-wide volunteer events.
• Participate in rig-up and rig-down procedures.
• Live, work, and serve closely with a diverse group of people.
• Must adhere to and enforce the rules and regulations of WCCC and AmeriCorps, which includes abstaining from the use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco as well as other rules, regulations, and risk management protocol.
• Frequently required to walk, hike, sit and talk or listen.
• Spend long days serving in riparian areas with dense vegetation and variable conditions and temperatures.
• Map daily and weekly progress in the field using handheld tablets and field-mapping software (WCCC and/or REW will provide training)
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and operate a chainsaw and apply herbicide through backpack or hand sprayers.
• Must be able to speak, understand, read, and write English.