Washington Water Trust, Sustainable Water Intern, Summer 2022
Description of agency:
Washington Water Trust (WWT) is a non-regulatory, 501(c)(3) nonprofit leader in river and streamflow restoration. We use voluntary, market-based transactions and cooperative partnerships to develop solutions to meet our mission of improving flows in Washington’s most endangered rivers and streams. The Water Innovation Intern joins a talented technical team whose members bring many years of experience in natural resource management, stream flow restoration, multi-stakeholder conservation projects, water banking and implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects.
Washington has experienced dramatic water supply challenges for both instream salmon habitat and out-of-stream users like agriculture, which comprises more than 60% of all freshwater used. To address these challenges and impacts of climate change on water supply, WWT is undertaking a range of projects which the Sustainable Water Intern will be engaged with; the Sustainable Water Agriculture Practices initiative, assessing forestry practices for watershed benefit and targeted acquisitions for restoration in small streams. Interns may assist in each of these project areas conducting community engagement, research, water rights prioritization, as well as the WWT response to drought conditions. As much as possible, specific responsibilities of the intern on these projects will be tailored to their interests and skills.
- Research water rights documents to prioritize water rights for purchase to improve streamflows in salmon critical basins
- Support the dry year leasing program, in response to emergent drought conditions, including landowner outreach, data management, and (if in person) monitoring
- Develop and write a research paper on an emerging water sustainability tool which has been identified as a potential new program area of WWT
- Conduct public outreach and education at Sustainable Water Agriculture Practices or other WWT project events
- Gain competency, or use existing, to create a project map on GIS to communicate stream needs or potential project benefits
Eligibility:
Bill Lane Center internships are part of Cardinal Quarter opportunities and we encourage students from all disciplines to apply to our opportunities. The opportunities are full-time (35-40 hours a week) for 10-weeks during the summer. Specific start and end dates can be coordinated directly with the supervisor.
Preference will be given to rising juniors or seniors, however we would consider freshmen students who can demonstrate experience with the subject matter. Potential majors of interest might include Environmental Sciences, Geology, Biology, Earth Systems, Environmental Systems Engineering, Science Technology and Society, Sustainability.
Note: Students are only eligible for one Stanford-funded full-time experiential learning opportunity during the 2021-22 academic year (inclusive of summer).
For more helpful application advice, please visit the BLC’s FAQs page.
Required Skills:
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Knowledge of Word and Excel
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Research skills
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Confident in written and spoken communications
Desired Skills:
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Applicable experience in environmental sciences, natural resource management, and water policy
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GIS experience
Selection of applicants:
Complete applications are screened and finalists are contacted for an interview with staff from the Bill Lane Center for the American West. The top candidates for each position are forwarded to the agency for direct interviews with their potential supervisors and other agency staff. Host agencies will then notify the Lane Center of their preferred candidate and that applicant will receive an internship offer by email. The applicant is expected to respond promptly (within 48 hours) via email to the offer, or the offer will be rescinded. Once an applicant accepts an offer, the student should promptly notify all other Stanford and non-Stanford programs to which they have applied that they have accepted another offer and to withdraw their candidacy.
