This draft of the Iowa Great Lakes Management Plan is for comment purposes. If you would reveiw and get thoughts, ideas, or changes to the Clean Water Alliance, it would be helpful.
POSITION – IOWA GREAT LAKES WATERSHED COORDINATOR
PROGRAM AND POSITION OBJECTIVES—Improve the water quality of the Iowa Great Lakes.
PAY: Salary starting at $28,000 to $35,000 per year plus benefits (retirement, holiday and vacation pay, sick pay, Social Security, health insurance, and Worker’s Compensation). This is a funding-dependent position (currently up to 5 years funding), which may be continued for a longer period contingent on receipt of additional funding and performance of the program and of individual employees.
LOCATION OF POSITION: Spirit Lake, IA. Daily work direction will be provided by the Soil and Water Conservation District and the NRCS District Conservationist.
WHO MAY APPLY: Anyone meeting the qualifications below.
HOW TO APPLY: Send or email letter of interest and resume (with at least 2 references and phone #’s) to:
Dickinson SWCD
2412 17th Street
Spirit Lake, IA 51360
Email: john.wills@ia.nacdnet.net
CLOSING DATE: Applications must be received by: January 26, 2010.
SELECTION PROCEDURES: The best-qualified applicants will be invited for an interview.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Under general supervision, the employee will manage and coordinate the implementation of the objectives of a water quality conservation project and activities, conservation planning and application of practices, information and education and other related activities essential to the district and NRCS. The activities will address areas of environmental concern that may include but are not limited to sedimentation, nutrients, pesticides, proper development, run off control and other water quality issues. This will involve planning and carrying out group meetings as well as meeting one on one with cooperators and sponsors. Employee will perform professional and technical duties that relate to water quality monitoring, information education and implementing of urban and agricultural best management practices. Employee will be responsible for anticipating and solving potential problems and maximizing communication with all project participants.
THE INDIVIDUAL SELECTED WILL BE EXPECTED TO:
- 40% — Implement and promote the use of best management practices that are designed to maintain or improve the quality of water in urban and agricultural areas. Examples of best management practices to be promoted and implemented may include sediment basins, grassed waterways, wetlands, rain gardens, infiltration trenches, grass seeding, fabric matting and other management practices.
- 40% — Assist government entities, developers and home builders with erosion problems and develop sound water and erosion control plans using best management practices. Plan and conduct an information and education program to raise the awareness and encourage the implementation of best management practices.
- 20% — Report activities, accomplishments and prepare reports. Maintains a comprehensive, current knowledge and awareness of applicable laws/regulations: maintains an awareness of new trends and advances in the profession: read professional literature, maintains professional affiliations and attends workshops and training sessions as appropriate. Promote information education through the use of news articles, mailings and informational meetings.
-Maintain valid state driver’s license.
-Assist with other various duties as assigned.
-All duties and actions taken by the incumbent of this position while on official duty will be performed in a safe and healthful manner and will be of a nature to reflect favorably on the Dickinson Soil and Water Conservation District.
CORE COMPETENCIES AND SPECIAL ABILITY REQUIREMENTS
We expect the person in this position to accept varied and changing responsibilities in the job, develop and sustain cooperative working relationships with partner agencies and the public, effectively communicate both orally and in writing, develop solutions to solve problems, employ computer technology to enhance work quality, understand needs of landowner-customers, and to work evenings, Saturdays and Sundays on occasion when the job situation demands.
QUALIFICATIONS
Applicant must demonstrate successful completion of a college course of study with a bachelors or higher degree with a major in the field of natural resource management or agriculture or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Course work or experience should include at least: a) crops, plant science, or soils and other natural resource agriculture forestry botany or agronomy courses, OR b) wildlife or fisheries biology, zoology, and ecology courses and botany courses, AND c) All candidates should have experience with soil properties. Candidates should have a general understanding of agricultural systems in the Midwest including basic knowledge of Federal Farm Conservation Programs, installation of soil and water conservation and wildlife conservation practices, and/or experience with working on agricultural lands and with agricultural producers. This work may require regular and recurring physical exertion related to conservation work, exposure to operating agricultural equipment or earth moving operations, and adverse weather.
Applicant must be an innovative and resourceful self-starter with excellent communication skills, work effectively with agencies and landowners, and be able to work with minimal supervision developing projects and plans. Candidates must be able to communicate effectively with a variety of landowners individually and in group forums explaining various conservation treatments, conservation programs and options that meet both the landowners’ and partners’ objectives for resource protection. Candidates must possess an ability to motivate landowners to adopt conservation practices for their lands to help treat identified resource concerns and attain landowners’ objectives.
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
SWCD’s will be employers and positions will be managed consistent with SWCD and NRCS cooperative agreements. Employees will work with landowners in planning and applying resource management systems resulting in improved wildlife habitat and water quality, and report those accomplishments. Technical and other training will be provided by NRCS, DSC, DNR or other partners.
CIVIL RIGHTS REQUIREMENTS
Employment and delivery of programs and services is carried out without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age or handicap.
Click on the following link to download the report. Be patient as this is a large PDF file. iglwqreport_all_3-2-09
This presention will give the viewer a summary view of the Iowa Great Lakes Assessment.
iowa-great-lakes-watershed-assessment (this is a PDF File and may take a few moments to load based on your internet connection speed.)
Below see the the IOWATER Watershed Sampling Report for Dickinson County for the years 2003 to 2008. The samples come from volunteers who monitor select sites on our Dickinson County water bodies. These monitoring sites were selected to provide the best data that tells us the overall quality of our water. The volunteers are dedicated and a great deal of thanks goes out to all who have helped in this endeavor.
