POSITION DETAILS
Position Title: Natural Resource Management Assistant
Park Unit: Water Resources Division
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
Number of positions available: 2
Can this position be fully remote: NO
INTERNSHIP DATES AND LENGTH
Duration: 20 Weeks (not flexible)
Start Date: 04/28/2025
Flexible Start Date: YES
LIVING AND RELOCATION ALLOWANCE:
Weekly Stipend: $665.00
Relocation Allowance: $400.00
CURRENT NUMBER OF APPLICANTS: Under 75 (This posting will close after receiving 75 complete applications or at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, 16 June, whichever occurs first.)
POSITION DESCRIPTION
These positions will begin in late spring of 2025. Interns will conduct creel surveys (surveys of anglers) in several National Park units around the country using a pre-approved NPS survey. These surveys will focus on what species of fish that anglers are targeting and catching, number of fish caught, and size of fish. Travel will be required, and interns may be required to camp for multiple nights. Interns will be trained in how to conduct surveys and how to appropriately interact with the public. Interns will be responsible for data collection (paper and electronic) and, depending on park needs, interns may assist with pre-survey preparation at parks and/or data analysis after surveys have been conducted.
POSITION IMPACT
Creel surveys are a common fishery management technique designed to determine the angler's catch of each species and the fishing time required to catch the fish. The objective of this collection is to educate Park managers about a park’s angling population and provide information on angling’s potential effects on park resources. Fisheries managers rely on creel surveys to gather biological information, monitor trends, and assess angler satisfaction. The surveys are also used to estimate the number and size of fish caught by species, to help determine the total harvest in terms of yield and the information collected describes angler use, fishing pressure, fish harvest, and distribution of several important species of fish. Angler creel surveys are vital in monitoring and gauging the health of recreational fisheries. The information will be gathered through interviews and will be used to assess current fisheries regulations and fish management in a park. The NPS may use the information to provide qualitative, quantitative, or graphical descriptions of a variety of angling metrics including but not limited to angler use and fish harvest.
DELIVERABLES
Deliverables include completed creel surveys and, depending on the park, may include a database of creel information and a summary of data collected.
DESIRED INTERN QUALIFICATIONS
Currently pursuing or completed a degree in Fisheries Science, Marine Science, Biology, Ecology, or related field. A basic understanding of recreational fishing and fish biology are desired. Must have excellent organizational and communication skills and must be comfortable interacting with the public. Must be self-directed, organized, and be able to work well independently and with others. Research and analysis skills are desired. Must have a clean driving record, and the ability to rent a vehicle is required. Interns must be willing and able to camp for multiple nights.
The applicant must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. legal permanent resident (“Green Card holder”). Prior to starting this position, a government security background clearance will be required. The applicant must be available to participate for 20 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
WORK SETTING
Work will be conducted in both office and field settings. In the field, interns will be required to travel to multiple parks around the country and will be required to work outside in all types of weather. Interns may be required to camp for multiple nights. Conditions may vary from extremely hot and humid to cold and wet, and weekend work will be required. Long days with long periods of standing can be expected. While at the Fort Collins office, the work environment is primarily an office setting and can require long periods of sitting. Fort Collins, Colorado is located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and sits at an altitude of approximately 5,000 feet. The weather in Fort Collins is generally mild in the spring and hot/dry in the summer. There is great access to hiking, biking, fishing, and other outdoor activities, although a car may be needed to enjoy some of these activities. It is considered a bike-friendly community, with miles of bike trails throughout the city. Because Fort Collins is a college town, there are many great restaurants and breweries to explore, and plenty of grocery stores and shopping opportunities. The nearest airport is in Denver, which is a little over an hour away.
VEHICLE AND DRIVERS LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
- Applicant must have a valid driver's license to drive a government vehicle.
- A personal vehicle is recommended for this position.
HOUSING
Park housing is NOT available. The intern will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area. Nearby housing options in Fort Collins and the surrounding towns include both apartments and room rentals. Rent costs start at around $600/month for a room rental and vary depending on furnishings, amenities, and location. Because Fort Collins is home to both Colorado State University and Front Range Community College, there may be sublet options available. One website for local rentals is: FortCollins.CraigsList.org
KEYWORDS
creel survey; angler; fisheries; recreational fishing; biology; ecology; management
IMPORTANT NOTICES
This posting will close after receiving 75 complete applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, 16 June, whichever occurs first. Once you begin applying for a position, the application must be completed in one sitting. You cannot save and return later to complete it. Applicants can apply for up to five Scientists in Parks Intern positions per winter. You need to complete a separate application for each position in order to be considered. You should receive a confirmation email after successfully submitting an application. Sometimes institutional email filters/settings can redirect or block emails related to the application. We recommend watching spam, junk, and promotional email folders in case your service delivers messages there. Please visit How to Apply for additional resources and information about applying (i.e., learn what materials to have ready for applying, find a worksheet that previews application questions, etc.)
LEARN MORE
https://www.scientistsinparks.org/