Stream Technical Specialist

Distinguishing Features of the Class: The Stream Technical Specialist will serve as the primary point of contact and coordinator for tasks related to identification, design, construction and monitoring of stream restoration projects. This role will support the identification and implementation of stream restoration projects that align with programmatic goals established by the UCSWCD and NYCDEP, in accordance with the revised 2017 Filtration Avoidance Determination (FAD) and natural channel design principles. The incumbent is responsible for technical duties as needed by the AWSMP, ranging from stream assessment and monitoring and development of stream management plans to construction implementation to assisting with stream restoration design. The incumbent will coordinate all the work performed for this part of the program as part of a five-year agreement between the UCSWCD and the NYCDEP, in support of the New York City Water Supply FAD. Work is performed under the direct supervision of the UCSWCD Executive Director and the UCSWCD Project Manager. General supervision is exercised over field technical staff, project assistants, interns and volunteers. The Stream Technical Specialist will assist in related work as 
required.

Typical Work Activities: The typical work activities listed below, while providing representative examples 
of the variety of work assignments in the title, do not describe any individual position. Incumbents in this 
title may perform some or all the following, as well as other related activities not described.

Stream Assessment and Monitoring (40%)

• Complete project monitoring, summarize data, complete project status reports and identify necessary maintenance.
• Completion of stream feature inventories (SFIs) that will be focused on the identification of reaches deemed major contributors of turbidity for the selection of future stream restoration projects, using survey grade GPS, drone surveys and digital photography as a part of the data collection process. Training and oversite of junior technical staff and interns to complete the assessment work performing topographic and channel surveys to determine erosion rates and other hydraulic and hydrological variables using survey grade GPS, LIDAR, drone-based ariel imagery and other surveying techniques.
• General topographic and stream channel surveying of stream restoration project sites and control reaches.
• GPS-based reconnaissance mapping, fluvial geomorphic surveys/ monitoring, and riparian vegetation assessment and monitoring as needed.
• Performing stream channel geomorphic surveys/assessments such as cross sectional and longitudinal profile surveys, as well as pebble counts.
• Assisting with the identification and mapping of potential riparian vegetation restoration sites and bioengineering designs.

Construction Oversight (15%)

• Aiding the UCSWCD Project Manager and the UCSWCD Stream Design Engineer with construction implementation quality assurance of stream restoration projects.
• Assisting as needed on the preparation of design, permitting documents, RFPs and requests for bid.

Data Synthesis, Management, and Report Writing (30%)

• Maintenance and management of geodatabases pertaining to stream assessment and
• Preparing post construction monitoring and associated reports.
• Assist in the development of annual Stream Assessment and Monitoring Plans
• Oversee the production of stream diagnostic assessment reports for each assessed stream, detailing the assessment findings and management recommendations.
• Writes and edits reports to assist in the preparation of presentations, permit applications and grant proposals
• Organizes and converts data into usable formats from various field work sources, i.e. stream inventory and data collection, assessment of geomorphic stability and geological health of streams, vegetation monitoring and the establishment and monitoring of experimental treatment projects

Public Outreach (15%)

• Solicits private landowners for participation and permission toward the activities of the program (i.e. monitoring activities, SFIs, and stream restoration projects).
• Participates in an AWSMP Stream Ecosystem Working Group.
• Hosts and participates in workshops with the NYCDEP and CCE/UC and may include preparation of written and/or materials for presentation.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Good knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, rules and requirements relating to watershed and water conservation programs; good knowledge of the principles, practices and procedures of watershed and stream geomorphic assessment (with preference for experience with Rosgen methods); experience developing and overseeing an engineered project; contract and intern management experience;working knowledge of equipment and software including, GIS, GPS, RIVERmorph and CAD and field assessment techniques for collecting, analyzing and interpreting statistical data; working knowledge of natural channel design and restoration techniques using applied fluvial geomorphology; skilled in the use of a variety electronic data instruments; ability to become familiar with local geography and physical resources; ability to secure the cooperation of others and to deal effectively with a wide variety of governmental agencies, municipalities or individuals; ability to prepare and present statistical and narrative reports both orally and in writing; tact; courtesy; resourcefulness; physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Either:

A. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management, Forestry, Landscape Design, Environmental Science, or a closely related field specifically to watershed management or natural resource planning, and two (2) years of work experience in water resource management,; OR

B. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with an associate’s degree in Natural Resources Management, Forestry, Landscape Design, Environmental Science or a closely related field specifically related to watershed management or natural resource planning, and four (4) years of work experience in water resource management.

C. An equivalent combination of training and experience as designated in A and B above.