Announcement of GIS Intern at Ecology in Bellevue (fwd)

[Richard Roth]

This is a wonderful opportunity for graduate students, or any of you who
have just graduated or maybe are about to graduate (if you talk your way
in)


 The Department of Ecology's Northwest Regional Office in Bellevue
(NWRO) currently offering a nine-month internship for qualified graduate
students and recent graduates that have technical training and course work
concentrating on Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

The highest GIS priority at this time is to support Watershed Planning
pursuant to ESHB 2514 (Ch. 90.82 RCW-Watershed Management Act of 1998).
This planning is progressing in several watersheds in NWRO (Nooksack, San
Juan, Skagit, Island, Snohomish, and Kitsap).  The Skagit Watershed has been
selected as having the most pressing GIS needs.  The Water Programs, and
principally Water Resources, have GIS needs that are driven by legislative
mandates to provide technical assistance to the watershed planning efforts.
The Water Resources Program is responsible for providing water rights data
to watershed planning and needs to have GIS-supported water resources
information readily available.  Implementing the standard GIS approach taken
by the other Ecology regional Water Resource offices would be one of the
first tasks for the intern position.  Other Water Programs at NWRO will also
benefit from the intern with potential applications in wetlands and
non-point source water pollution control.  

The intern will be supervised by Rod Sakrsion, Skagit Watershed Lead.  If
you have any questions regarding the intern position please address them to
Rod Sakrison at (425) 649-4447.

THE FOLLOWING MUST BE SUBMITTED.
1.	Cover letter stating your interest in the intern position.
2.	Resume
3. 	State of Washington Employment Application (Form SF-0573)  The
application form can be downloaded from the Department of Personnel Website
(www.wa.gov/dop).  The file should be saved to disk and opened using Windows
Explorer.  If you have difficulties retrieving the file, contact Department
of Personnel at 350-664-6243.

Application materials must be received by February 7, 2000.  Send to:

Rod Sakrison
Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program
Washington Department of Ecology, Northwest Regional Office
3190 160th Ave. S.E.
Bellevue, WA 98008-5452

THE FOLLOWING IS A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE INTERN POSITION:

Program:  Shorelands & Environmental Assistance    Location:  NWRO

Supervisor:  Rod Sakrison	Phone #:   (425) 649-4447

This position will be an Administrative Assistant 3 (completion of at least
one quarter graduate school after receiving a BA or BS from an accredited
college or university)

1.	Dates of Internship:  from February 22, 2000 to November 21, 2000
				        29 Step E ($11.05/hour--$12.67/hour)
			        Intern will work at least 20 hours week.

2.	Brief description of duties:  Assist in the management and
development of a geographical information system for the Northwest Regional
Office (NWRO).  Provide dedicated support to the implement a GIS system for
watershed-based planning and implementation efforts.  Develop GIS
applications and data management procedures that implement
legislatively-mandated watershed planning objectives pursuant to ESHB 2514
(Watershed Planning Act of 1998).   Provide computer support and training to
other water program initiatives and department staff as time allows.  The
position will work primarily with SEA Program Watershed Leads assigned to
watershed planning in various basins, and with other staff designated by the
Water Regional Management Team (WRMT - collectively the Regional Director,
Director of the Bellingham Field Office, Program Managers from the
Shorelands and Environmental Assistance, Water Resources, Water Quality and
Watershed  Leads.).  Job duties will be in the following general areas:  

		A.	Manage and develop a GIS program for the NWRO under
the direction of the WRMT.  
*	Take lead in managing a GIS program at NWRO that will meet the needs
of the water programs (Shorelands & Environmental Assistance, Water
Resources, and Water Quality). 
*	Assists WRMT and Watershed Leads in defining information and
decision-support needs, and to make best use of agency resources in
developing GIS capability.   Adapts existing file structures and current
department protocols to serve NWRO data control needs.  Works closely with
CICs to insure that GIS computer system is compatible with other computer
systems at NWRO.
*	Assist on an ongoing and dedicated basis the Watershed Leads to
provide GIS technical services to meet the objectives and requirements of
the Watershed Act of 1998 (Ch. 90.82 RCW, also know as ESHB 2514). 
*	Assists on an ongoing and dedicated basis the Water Resources
Program to implement a GIS capability for water resources data at the
watershed scale by incorporating water rights, water well,
compliance/enforcement and other relevant water resources data to a GIS
platform.  
*	Provides technical assistance to Planning Units engaged in watershed
planning pursuant to ESHB 2514 to assess the status of the water resources
of their watersheds.  Provides technical interface with staff and technical
services hired by the Planning Units to address water resources assessments
as required in Phase 2 of watershed planning pursuant to ESHB 2514.
Provides technical assistance for  optional items pursuant to ESHB 2514 as
requested by Planning Units as time allows.
*	Provides technical assistance and specific GIS applications to other
water program initiatives and department staff as time allows.  Assists
staff by providing GIS support to environmental regulations fundamental to
the water programs initiatives such as the Water Pollution Control Act (Ch.
90.48 RCW), Water Resources Act (Ch. 90.52 RCW) and Shorelands Management
Act (Ch. 90.58 RCW).  
*	Identifies data and GIS overlays available from other agencies and
providers, acquires these data and loads into the GIS computer system at
NWRO.  Works directly with staff of other agencies and providers in
acquiring data.   
		B.	Provide computer support to meet the needs of WRMT
and NWRO water programs' staff, and if time allows provide support to other
agency staff.
*	Work with GIS staff within agency to understand technological
requirements and procedures for a fully functioning GIS program.
*	Participate in agency-wide information integration projects and
other internal GIS meetings as necessary to carryout job duties.
*	Attend GIS training sessions within and outside the agency that
would benefit the WRMT and water programs at NWRO.
*	Assist in identifying computer hardware and software requirements
for watershed planning and other priorities established by WRMT, prepare
purchase orders and justification for approval, and install equipment as
necessary.
*	Prepare ongoing detailed documentation of the development of NWRO
GIS systems, including relationship to agency GIS programs, important
linkages within and outside the agency, instructions for NWRO computer
system users, and other information necessary for efficient use of GIS.
*	Assist other staff in identifying computer hardware and software
needs as time allows.

		C.	Provide training for NWRO staff as authorized by
WRMT.
*	Interview staff involved with watershed planning and other water
program initiatives to determine how intern can help them with GIS projects.
*	Attend WRMT and water program meetings as needed to brainstorm
possible products and tie into ongoing GIS projects.
*	Teach NWRO water programs' staff to do simple tasks with ArcView and
ArcExplorer and GIS.  Teach similar skills to other agency staff as time
allows.

3.	Education requirements (degree):  Enrolled in a graduate program in
environmental planning, watershed management, geography or other natural
resources management programs (e.g., forestry, geology, streamside studies,
zoology, fisheries).  Eligible if received graduate degree within one year
of beginning internship.

4.	Desired skills:  Must have excellent computer skills and
state-of-the-art knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).  Must be
proficient in ArcInfo, ArcView, ArcExplorer, and data base management
software, including Excel and Access.  Must be able to conduct training of
agency personnel in GIS basics, ArcView and ArcExplorer.  Knowledge of
available data sets, data conversion, GIS overlays, and data transfer
protocols with local, state and federal agencies considered a plus.