Henry's Fork Foundation Internship, Summer 2023

Every summer, The Bill Lane Center for the American West offers many opportunities for Stanford undergraduates (including graduating seniors and co-terms) to work with organizations throughout the West. Through these internships, students can explore careers in natural history, conservation, land use, museum curation, resource management, energy and more.

All internships are full-time and last ten consecutive weeks during the summer. They are fully funded by the Lane Center.

The Lane Center has placed over 200 interns in positions across the West since 2005. As such, we have developed strong relationships with host organizations and work hard to ensure interns have successful and enriching experiences.

For more information about our internship program, please visit our FAQs page, or email Education Manager Corinne Thomas.

Read more about past interns' experiences here.

Stipend Information:

The Bill Lane Center will provide a base stipend of $7,500 with additional funding for student financial aid and cost of living adjustments for the internship location, if applicable.

Description of the Organization and the Internships available: 

Henry’s Fork Foundation (HFF) is a non-profit organization that works to conserve, protect, and restore the unique fisheries, wildlife, and water resources of the Henry’s Fork Watershed and larger Upper Snake Basin. HFF uses a collaborative, science-based approach to achieve its mission and works closely with water users, hydroelectric power companies, government agencies, and other nonprofit groups.

There are three internship options to choose from at Henry's Fork and the application will ask for your top two choices.

Hydrology Internship

Mentors:

Rob Van Kirk, rob@henrysfork.org

Rob first fished the Henry's Fork in 1977, worked for Henry's Fork Anglers from 1981-1987, and was HFF's first research director, from 1994-1998. After 14 years as a mathematics and statistics professor, he returned to HFF in 2013. He has published over 30 peer-reviewed scientific papers and book chapters covering topics ranging from theoretical population biology to groundwater-surface water interactions. Rob is known for his expertise in the latter subject among hydrologists and water managers in the Intermountain West. Although he lives and breathes hydrology 24/7, he finds time to catch wild trout in the waters near his home in Ashton every month of the year and compete in bicycle road races. He and his wife Sheryl also enjoy gardening, canning, and backyard bird-watching.

Sarah Newcomb, sarahnewcomb@isu.edu 

Sarah is a graduate student working on her PhD in the Geosciences Department at Idaho State University and recently joined the Foundation as a Graduate Intern.  With a background in environmental science and ecology, Sarah now studies hydrology and, specifically, how vegetation-water interactions influence streamflow during and after drought.  One of the first hydrologic monitoring projects Sarah worked on was in the headwaters of the South Fork of the Snake River, and she is happy to have returned to the Snake River Basin to work in the Henry’s Fork. 

Description:

As a changing climate brings drought, more variable weather and less reliable water resources, HFF’s seasonal predictive models and real-time flow measurements provide vital streamflow information to river stakeholders and managers. Developed by Dr. Rob Van Kirk in 2017, HFF uses a computer simulation model to predict April-September streamflow, reservoir contents, and diversions based on spring and winter conditions.

For decades, these conditions, such as April 1st snow water equivalent (SWE) and October- March base-flow, have been significant predictors of April-September natural streamflow. However, as revealed by recent drought years, measures of soil moisture carried over from previous seasons can also impact streamflow.

The intern will:

1. Assist with an ongoing project to look at how natural streamflow in each of the sub-watersheds (Upper Henry’s Fork, Teton River, and Fall River) in the Henry’s Fork watershed respond to changes in annual amounts of snow water inputs, growing season length, evapotranspiration, and related measures and how long those changes have an impact across sequences of water years.

This information will be important for more accurately predicting how streamflow will respond to more variable weather patterns and what information is needed to make these predictions in each sub-watershed.

2. The internship will have a substantial computational and geospatial analysis component, but will also include time on other Henry’s Fork Foundation projects, alongside staff and/or other interns. These activities may vary from assisting with fencing to protect riparian areas to performing fieldwork related to other research projects.

3. The primary focus of the Hydrology Intern will be analyzing climate, streamflow, GIS, and remotely-sensed data for the Henry’s Fork sub-watersheds.

The intern will work with imagery and data collected from NASA satellites as well as meteorological, streamflow, and soil moisture data from federal agencies like the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and US Geological Survey. Using these datasets, the intern will be looking at how the three geologically and topographically-distinct upper sub-watersheds of the Henry’s Fork respond to drought.

Mentors: The intern will be mentored by HFF Senior Scientist Dr. Rob Van Kirk and Idaho State University Graduate Researcher Sarah Newcomb.

Tools & Learning: The intern will use ArcGIS Pro and the programming language R for quantitative analysis and data visualization, with training provided for R.

This internship is an opportunity to interact with water scientists and managers, gain familiarity with a wide range of datasets and types, and learn about hydrologic modeling.

Please note: This position will be 90% office work and 10% field work. The field work will usually occur when the intern joins fellow interns in the field on their projects.

The Hydrology Intern Will:

1. Assist with ongoing hydrology project
2. Conduct computational and geospatial analyses
3. Assist with riparian fencing and other projects as needed
4. Analyze climate, streamflow, GIS, and remotely-sensed data
5. Present a formal presentation at the end of HFF's Summer Seminar Series

Additional Work Expectations:

• The Intern may be asked to assist with other various Henry’s Fork Foundation projects including, but not limited to, restoration projects, water quality monitoring, outreach events, and various other activities.
• The intern will be expected to put together a presentation in a scientific conference framework during the final weeks of the Summer Seminar Series (described in the Work Schedule section below).  This presentation will be a summary of the work completed at HFF throughout the duration of the internship.

Additional Qualifications (also below in the Eligibility and Requirements section):

• Coursework or practical experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), specifically, ArcMap, or ArcPro (required)
• Remote sensing coursework or practical experience
• Basic knowledge or coursework in statistics, hydrology, and/or climatology or willingness to learn

Communications and Outreach Internship

Mentor: Jasper Davis, jasper@henrysfork.org

Jasper joined the Foundation in June 2022 as the Outreach and Communications Coordinator, where she will be running the youth education, volunteer, and internship programs and assisting with any Communication needs. Jasper has a B.S.E. degree from Arizona State University in Engineering, emphasis in Electrical, and a Minor in Applied Psychology. She has an M.S.T. degree from Arizona State University in Environmental Technology Management. She spent several years as a high school Math teacher, as well as spent 4 years working as a Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery consultant. In her free time, Jasper enjoys foraging, horseback riding, gardening, traveling, birdwatching, and spending time with her husband and animals.

Description:

To facilitate informed discussion and decision-making among all watershed stakeholders, HFF is currently expanding its outreach and communications programs. The Communications and Outreach intern will play an important role in this expansion by:

1. Producing high-quality photographs illustrating the scenic features of the watershed, people working and recreating there, and HFF’s scientific and stewardship work. Outdoor photography work will include early-morning and late-evening hours to take advantage of natural light and to photograph river users as they begin and end their day at access points.

2. Assist with the design of content for social media and newsletters.

3. Generate ideas for the creation and facilitation of exhibits for the Henry’s Fork Interpretive Center.

4. Help with facilitating educational events such as Youth on the Fly and our Summer/Fall Community River-Cleanups.

5. After initial training, the intern will perform tours of the Interpretive Center and HFF campus upon request. They will also direct visitors/members where they need to be as needed. This includes ensuring that the virtual reality boat is in working order and facilitating its use daily.

6. If time allows, the intern might search for and identify grants that HFF’s Education and Communications programs may qualify for.

The intern will work with Jasper Davis, HFF’s Communications and Outreach Coordinator, but will also need to work independently. Interns may be asked to assist with other HFF projects as needs arise.

Please note: This position will be 90% office work and 10% field work. The field work will usually occur when the intern joins fellow interns in the field on their projects.

The Communications and Outreach Intern Will:

1. Take pictures at various watershed locations as well as take pictures of field work
2. Assist with and help facilitate educational and outreach events such as Youth on the Fly and Community River Cleanups
3. Help perform tours of the Interpretive Center and HFF Campus upon request
4. Assist with social media content and newsletter content as needed
5. Research grants if time permits
6. Generate ideas for creation and facilitation of exhibits for HFF's Interpretive Center
7. Present a formal presentation at the end of HFF's Summer Seminar Series

Additional Work Expectations:

• The Intern may be asked to assist with other various Henry’s Fork Foundation projects including, but not limited to, restoration projects, water quality monitoring, outreach events, and various other activities.
• The intern will be expected to put together a presentation in a scientific conference framework during the final weeks of the Summer Seminar Series (described in the Work Schedule section below).  This presentation will be a summary of the work completed at HFF throughout the duration of the internship.

Additional Qualifications (also below in the Eligibility and Requirements section):

• Basic background in environmental science or related fields
• Technical proficiency in photography
• Artistic ability in visual and graphic media
• Ability to listen to, communicate, and interact with visitors to the HFF campus on a daily basis
• Basic knowledge of grant writing and proposals, or willingness to learn
• Intern will be expected to manage their own time and schedule effectively as they will be given a good deal of flexibility and autonomy

Field Work Internship

Mentor: Rob Van Kirk, rob@henrysfork.org

Rob first fished the Henry's Fork in 1977, worked for Henry's Fork Anglers from 1981-1987, and was HFF's first research director, from 1994-1998. After 14 years as a mathematics and statistics professor, he returned to HFF in 2013. He has published over 30 peer-reviewed scientific papers and book chapters covering topics ranging from theoretical population biology to groundwater-surface water interactions. Rob is known for his expertise in the latter subject among hydrologists and water managers in the Intermountain West. Although he lives and breathes hydrology 24/7, he finds time to catch wild trout in the waters near his home in Ashton every month of the year and compete in bicycle road races. He and his wife Sheryl also enjoy gardening, canning, and backyard bird-watching.

Description:

Science has formed the core of HFF’s fisheries conservation approach since it began funding university research in the 1980s. HFF hired its first research director in 1994, marking the founding of its in-house science program. From operating fish ladders to providing real-time water quality data to quantifying recreational use, HFF’s current science and technology team brings the latest information to a broad range of watershed stakeholders and issues. HFF’s scientific knowledge and data are translated into high-quality fishing experiences through collaborations with agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and water users such as hydroelectric companies and irrigators.

Please note: This position will be 10% office work and 90% field work.

The Field Work Intern will be focused on assisting with water quality monitoring and sampling needs at various sites. 

The Field Work Intern duties will include:

1. Water quality monitoring at Conant Creek (1 day per week).
2. The intern will assist with any South Fork needs (1 day per week).
3. Water Quality and reservoir sampling (1 day per week).
4. Assisting other interns with recreational use surveys and fence maintenance (1 day per week).
5. Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) streamflow measurements (1 day per week).

Additional Field Work Intern Work Expectations:

• The Intern may be asked to assist with other various Henry’s Fork Foundation projects including, but not limited to, restoration projects, water quality monitoring, outreach events, and various other activities.
• The intern will be expected to put together a presentation in a scientific conference framework during the final weeks of the Summer Seminar Series (described in the Work Schedule section below).  This presentation will be a summary of the work completed at HFF throughout the duration of the internship.

Additional Qualifications (also below in the Eligibility and Requirements section):

• Basic background in environmental science or related fields
• Experience in and around rafts, drift boats, and/or jet boats
• Basic knowledge of statistics, hydrology, and/or fish habitat, or willingness to learn

Internship Work Environment for all positions: What to Expect

*Past interns have asked about specific things that are useful to know, and those items are italicized. 

This full-time internship (any one of the three chosen) is in person only. The intern will be working directly with their supervisor/mentor.

The Watershed:

The 3,200-square mile Henry’s Fork watershed lies at the headwaters of the Snake River in eastern Idaho and western Wyoming. The Continental Divide, Yellowstone Plateau, and Teton Range form the watershed’s northern and eastern boundaries. Elevations range from 4,300 feet above sea level at the bottom of the watershed to over 10,000 feet along the Teton crest. Irrigated farms of potatoes, grains, and hay dominate land use in the lower half of the watershed. At higher elevations, National Forest and other public lands provide outstanding outdoor recreation, including hiking, climbing, camping, fishing, hunting, cycling, and snow sports. The watershed is very rural, with a total population of around 70,000 people. Agriculture and tourism are the largest economic sectors; HFF’s work seeks to maintain a balance between water use for agriculture and streamflow to support world-class fishing and related ecological resources.

Living Arrangements:

Interns from out of the Henry’s Fork area will live in a co-ed dorm space at HFF’s campus in Ashton, a farming community of 1,000 people. The campus is housed in Ashton’s old community hospital, which was completely refurbished in 2017 to house HFF’s offices, laboratory, interpretive center, and intern/graduate student housing.

The dorm space consists of two bunk rooms, two large bathroom/shower facilities, a large open kitchen, laundry facilities, and a living room. Bunk rooms and bathrooms will be gender-separated, but all other living space is shared. Housing, including linens and all kitchen implements, is provided by HFF, but interns are responsible for their own meals.

Please note: If any intern would like to live in separate housing, it is their responsibility to find and pay for separate housing arrangements before the internship begins. They will also be responsible for driving to and from HFF in their own vehicle without fuel reimbursement.

Location: Ashton, Idaho

Other than businesses oriented primarily toward tourism and agriculture (auto parts and repair, hardware, etc.), services in Ashton are limited to a small health clinic and pharmacy, one grocery store, a dollar store, and five small eating establishments (Mexican, three traditional American diners/drive-ins, and a pizza/sandwich shop). The grocery store is well stocked for a small town but does not carry much in the way of organic and natural foods and is difficult to access from HFF’s campus because of a busy highway crossing with no stoplight or pedestrian facilities. The nearest large supermarkets, Walmart, drug stores, and other business are located in Rexburg, about 25 miles southwest of Ashton. There are a few restaurants with broader menu options located in the tourist area of Island Park, 20-30 miles north of Ashton. The closest natural-food stores and restaurants, “finer” dining establishments, and “night life” (e.g., weekly outdoor concerts) are located in Teton Valley, 40-50 miles southeast of Ashton.

The closest regional airport is located in Idaho Falls 53 miles southwest of Ashton. The closest international airport is located in Salt Lake City (SLC) 220 miles south of Ashton. The Salt Lake Express shuttle runs from the airport Salt Lake City International Airport to Rexburg several times a day, but should be booked in advance.

The west entrance to Yellowstone National Park is a one-hour drive from Ashton, and Jackson, Wyoming is about a 90-minute drive. The best climbing and hiking opportunities are 45-60 minutes from Ashton, although outstanding fly fishing can be found 5 minutes away from the campus. An out-of-state fishing license costs $108. Some of HFF’s boats and rafts are available for intern recreational use after hours and on weekends, when not being used for HFF’s field work.

Having a car: HFF provides company vehicles for work but does not provide vehicles for interns to use on their personal time. Although not required, a personal vehicle is strongly recommended to allow full enjoyment of the area’s recreational opportunities. Interns without vehicles must rely on those with vehicles for transportation to and from shopping and activities.

The Work Schedule:

HFF is committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive workplace and to promoting careers in the environmental and natural-resource sciences among groups underrepresented in these professions. Thus, we will make every effort to adjust assignments to accommodate strong applicants who may initially be uncomfortable with the work requirements described below. However, these adjustments are much easier to make during the recruiting process rather than after interns arrive for the summer, which is why we request that applicants contact us with questions before applying.

*To see HFF’s full policy on nondiscrimination diversity and inclusion please click here.

Interns are expected to work 40 hours per week, on average. Work weeks start with mandatory staff meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Monday. The other mandatory weekly event for interns is seminar, held from 4:00-5:00 p.m. on Tuesday afternoons.

For additional information on HFF’s Summer Seminar Series and what they entail, please visit https://www.henrysfork.org/internship-program and click on the link under the Summer Seminar Series section.

For the first 2 weeks of the internship, expect to work more than 40 hours, including some evenings and weekends. These weeks will be filled with orientation and training events—including CPR and first aid for those not currently certified—and with Henry’s Fork Days, a week of HFF’s most important outreach and fundraising events. During that week, June 12th – 17th, all interns will be expected to assist the fundraising and event team with no fewer than three events, including a donor reception, HFF’s annual membership meeting, and a fundraising dinner and auction on Saturday the 18th attended by 600 of HFF’s most dedicated supporters. Work days during these first few weeks of the internship can begin as early as 6:30 a.m. and end as late as 10:30 p.m. Interns will be given extra time off around July 4 to compensate for the additional work time. Other than June 17th, weekend work will be rare, but it may be necessary to staff the interpretive center and accommodate availability of volunteers and shared equipment, vehicles, or lab space. During the first few weeks, all interns will also participate in educational short courses focused on hydrology and water rights, data analysis and statistics, fundraising, and communications.

After the business of the first few weeks (and it is equally busy for staff), interns will settle into a weekly routine of field, laboratory, and office work, with individual schedules dependent on the particular internship position. Not all internships will require field work.  For the internships that do require fieldwork, this can vary between 25% and 75% of the intern’s work hours. Field work occasionally begins as early as 7:00 a.m. All field work will require driving to/from field sites, usually 20-45 miles one way. Some field work will be done in teams with the intern’s mentor and possibly other interns, staff or volunteers, while other tasks will require the intern to work alone in remote, rural settings. If you think you will not be comfortable working alone, please request more information about the particular internship(s) of interest to you before you apply.

Depending on the internship position, field work could include conducting experiments in farm fields, measuring various ecological and physical parameters in the river, surveying river users, and maintaining fences to keep livestock away from streambanks. Field and laboratory work will include use of expensive high-technology equipment as well as boats, rafts, and other standard outdoor equipment and clothing. Field work will be done in all types of weather, aside from lightning and severe thunderstorms. In June, temperatures can be below freezing, and snow is possible at high elevations. During the rest of the summer, temperatures range from 40 degrees to 90 degrees, sometimes spanning that range in a single day. Expect wind, low humidity, and bright sun, all of which add to the physical stress of working at high elevations, especially for those not accustomed to the climate and altitude of the arid western U.S. At the same time, afternoon thunderstorms are possible on any given day, usually producing some combination of strong winds, heavy rain, hail, dangerous lightning, and sudden temperature drops of up to 40 degrees. Orientation and training will cover procedures for conduct under these conditions. If you have questions about field work and physical requirements of a particular internship, please request more information before you apply.

As a Henry’s Fork Foundation intern you must assist with fundraising and member events, education, outreach and other projects as needed, including water quality monitoring, field work in hydrology and stream ecology, maintaining fish passage facilities, installing/maintaining livestock fences, and staffing HFF’s interpretive center. Occasional evening and weekend work will be required on these tasks. Interns will contribute to the HFF intern blog where they will provide a weekly update on their work to our membership. Interns will prepare to present what they accomplished during their internship in a seminar session structured like a professional conference, with a 5-10-minute presentation followed by a 5-minute period for questions. This seminar session will be scheduled near the end of the internship period.