8-hour days: 50%
10-hour days: 45%
>10-hour days: 5%
In the field: 40%
In the office: 60%
H2O Monitoring: 20%
GIS Mapping: 15%
Computer Modeling (Hydrograph/Shade): 15%
Habitat Surveys: 12%
Data Entry: 10%
Volunteer Management: 10%
Education and Outreach: 8%
Commuting To/From Field Sites: 5%
Sediment Surveys: 3%
Seining: 2%
The Vision Statement of the NCRWQCB is “Healthy Watersheds, Effective Regulation, and Strong Partnerships.” NCRWQCB uses regulatory authorities and non-regulatory tools to protect and restore water quality conditions in the North Coast Region's watersheds to support human and ecological uses of water. By addressing water quality issues, the NCRWCB supports resource agency, land and water managers, and landowner partners in restoring habitat and protecting threatened and endangered species. Staff manage scientific studies by collecting and analyzing water quality and survey data; coordinate with external partners including tribes, agencies, nonprofits, and the public; write scientific reports; and develop science-based policy and regulations. CMs work alongside NCRWQCB staff and external partners to help execute these tasks. CMs enhance the NCRWQCB's capacity for scientific investigations by being dedicated field data collectors and data analysts, providing year-to-year regularity. CM assistance on technical assignments accelerates the rate at which the NCRWQCB's accomplishes its mission. CMs also help maintain relationships between the
NCRWQCB and local entities through their volunteer events and education outreach. CMs will also participate in the Estuaries Marine Protected Areas (EMPA) monitoring program with the Hughes Lab from Sonoma State University. By hosting CMs, the NCRWQCB provides an opportunity for professional development and on-the-job training which helps advance CM's careers, possibly including full-time employment with the Water Boards when there are vacant positions.
CMs work as a team on projects throughout their term. One Mentor leads each project and will train CMs on field and analytical skills; provide guidance in the office and in the field; review and comment on work products; and engage CMs in outreach activities. Regarding EMPA, Mentors will attend initial monitoring trips to ensure compliance to WSP policy. Thereafter, Joel Huckeba—Hughes Lab staff and designated Field Leader—will coordinate with Mentors as needed. The EMPA monitoring seasons are September - November and March - May. SSU partners understand that CMs start in October. CMs receive EMPA background literature on their start date and on-site field training in the first or second week.
CMs and Mentors meet weekly for a Health and Safety/Coordination meeting, including reporting all safety topics discussed while performing EMPA and other monitoring projects. CMs will have weekly project meetings with Mentors, and meeting frequencies can be adjusted as needed to accommodate other duties or if CMs require less supervision.
Project meetings either have CMs reporting progress updates or are working meetings where Mentors will help CMs troubleshoot any difficulties encountered. NCRWQCB is a hybrid workplace, and at least one Mentor (or the Site Supervisor) will be present on site each day of the week to supervise or otherwise provide guidance. Mentors meet regularly to discuss CM performance and to coordinate CM work assignments.
The North Coast Water Board is set in beautiful Sonoma County, with ready access to beaches, redwoods, oak woodlands, coastal rivers, fine food, hiking/biking trails, and paddling/surfing. It is a gateway to the beautiful natural landscapes to the north and the dynamic cultural offerings of the San Francisco Bay area to the south. The North Coast Water Board staff are uniquely friendly, outgoing, and are frequently generating new ideas for engagement inside and outside the office. Many staff are WSP alumni, including two of the Mentors. The North Coast Water Board has developed clear and productive partnerships with Tribal organizations throughout the region, particularly in the Klamath Basin. The Waterboards have a Training Academy through which CMs can take classes ranging broadly from basic skills with Microsoft Office software; water quality policy and regulation; GIS and other analytical tools; project management and communication and others.
The North Coast Water Board work environment offers opportunities to be part of efforts to develop monitoring questions, study designs, and environmental policy in the emerging area of climate change and its effect on water quality and watershed health. Current policy areas of interest include development of water quality objectives for stream flow; designation of tribal cultural and subsistence fishing beneficial uses of water; development of an innovative strategy to control pollutant sources in the Laguna de Santa Rosa, while simultaneously establishing a robust program of watershed restoration; and innovating the next generation of office-wide cross-program coordination on a prioritized basis for the purpose of bringing the maximum value of our regulatory and non-regulatory tools to the topic of climate change. The North Coast Water Board is known among the nine regional water board offices as a leader in policy innovation.
New to the NCRWQCB Placement Site is a partnership with the Hughes Lab and Sonoma State University. This partnership provides CMs with field work when NCRWQCB staff are winding down or have not yet started their field season. CMs immediately get to know the North Coast Region as the estuaries monitoring program spans multiple watersheds. The core strengths of the NCRWQCB Placement Site remain from previous terms. The Mentors' diverse skillsets expose CMs to the wide array of work in an environmental protection agency. The work here connects data
collection to analysis to policy integration. CMs complete their term with work products that bear their names and directly contribute to the NCRWQCB's mission.
Experience and/or interest in field work, including flow and water quality monitoring; familiarity or curiosity about the small and large watersheds of the North Coast Region
Experience and/or interest in developing/applying skills in GIS analysis and computer modeling; building analytical/technical skills relevant to monitoring, data analysis, and scientific study
Experience and/or interest in collaborating closely with other water resource professionals; learning the skills of communication, facilitation, and problem solving; learning and applying ecological thinking and watershed stewardship
Interest in building/expanding skills in research and technical writing; producing reports and/or presentations to share analytical results with a broader audience; exploring both the technical and narrative tools useful to crafting successful written communication that broadens understanding and supports development and implementation of effective environmental policy and sound environmental decision making.
Ability to self-advocate and work independently once trained
Basic familiarity with desktop computing for file management, word processing, and data management (e.g., software such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel)