8-hour days: 75%
10-hour days: 15%
>10-hour days: 10% Housing Offered: No
In the field: 75%
In the office: 25%
Education & Outreach: 20%
Snorkel Surveys: 15%
Data Entry: 10%
Commuting To/From Field Sites: 10%
Native Planting: 8%
H2O Monitoring: 8%
Habitat Surveys: 1%
Seining: 5%
Volunteer Management: 5%
Invasive Plant Removal: 1%
Post-Restoration Monitoring/Maintenance: 6%
Spawner/Redd Surveys: 1%
E-Fishing: 0.5%
Biological Sample Analysis Lab Work: 5%
CRAM or RIP RAM: 0.5%
GIS Mapping: 0.5%
Weir Operation/Maintenance: 0.5%
DIDSON Installation/Monitoring: 0.5%
Water Conservation Projects: 1%
Storm Water Mitigation: 1%
Field PIT Tagging: 0.5%
The RCDSMM has been conducting research and restoration projects focused on recovering endangered Southern California Steelhead Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) since 2001. The CM placed with the RCDSMM participates in a wide variety of projects, such as on-going restoration of riparian, oak woodland, and wetland habitat, monthly snorkel, and spawner surveys, as well as assist in a variety of studies to help understand the complexity of coastal salmonid life cycles. The CM will work with neighboring WSP Placement Site (CDFW) in Santa Barbara to learn about mark-recapture, DIDSON and instream antenna monitoring, and weir trapping. Because the RCDSMM takes a watershed approach to research, CM will also participate in annual stream surveys focused on amphibian population abundance and distribution and assist with on-going monitoring of western pond turtles. CM will play a key role in riparian tree monitoring effort and oak riparian forest restoration. CM will also lead events involving invasive species removal and community-based Stream Team events, continue upper watershed tree and turtle monitoring, perform drought and storm event monitoring, and coordinate community science projects. The combination of research, monitoring and restoration experience not only will benefit the CM but provide essential personnel to support these efforts.
For education, the WSP CM can help create and lead environmental education lessons focused on various topics including watersheds, climate change, community science as well as flora and fauna of the Santa Monica Mountains. Lessons are available to K-12 students with most lessons being taught to 3rd – 6th graders. The CM will also participate in and lead outdoor field education programs at our 3 field sites where students engage in science-based hands-on learning in nature.
The RCD of the Santa Monica Mountains has three Mentors. Marilyn Brody French is the RCD’s Director of Education & Engagement and will ensure the CM is well equipped to lead the RCD’s various online distance learning and outdoor science-based education programs and will help foster and grow the CM’s leadership and educational instructor skills. Alyssa Morgan (Conservation Biologist & Project Manager) and Jamie King (Senior Conservation Biologist) will be the CM’s field-based Mentors, leading all biological projects. Together this mentorship team brings a supportive, encouraging, and independent attitude along with a connection to an extensive network of watershed professionals throughout southern California. This site provides quality mentorship under a wide variety of projects and exposure to many facets of resource monitoring and management, and community engagement.
RCD is a unique Placement Site because the CM does not have a site partner. However, this is not necessarily a problem, as CM is involved in numerous projects very quickly alongside a multitude of young career scientists and can therefore grow within our community as well as independently as an individual. With multiple grants occurring simultaneously, CM will gain experience in a breadth of topics including direct fisheries work, tree surveys, stream surveys, and riparian habitat mapping. There are opportunities to publish peer-reviewed papers because of the work the CM will be involved in, which offers a great steppingstone to apply to graduate school. The jurisdiction of the Santa Monica Mountains is quite large, and there are many opportunities to attend interesting management meetings. The combination of urban and wildland areas in such proximity helps develop an understanding of land use planning and avoiding anthropogenic impacts on wildlife.
The southern region also has a unique situation when it comes to climate, where several local creeks will dry in sections or entirely by the end of the summer. Lagoons are connected to the ocean for short periods of time, and there are few anadromous fish coming into the system. This means that it is very busy during the short rainy season, and the CM will get to experience the monitoring of several lagoons at the RCDSMM.
Ability to swim with confidence
Desire to engage with community members including students
Ability/desire to work 1-2 weekend days a month