POSITION FOR RESTORATION ECOLOGY INTERN
Friends of Yesler Swamp is seeking a qualified intern to monitor and
prepare reports on the restoration of Yesler Swamp.
$25 per hour
15 hrs/wk.
Maximum 28 weeks Spring-Summer 2016
Application Deadline January 15, 2015
NOTE: This internship can be performed by one intern or, at the option of
the intern(s), the responsibilities, hours, and pay may be shared and divided
between two interns.
Background
Yesler Swamp is a 6.4-acre site located immediately east of the Center for
Urban Horticulture at the intersection of Surber Drive NE and NE 41st
Street in Seattle. Friends of Yesler Swamp is constructing a boardwalk in
Yesler Swamp to limit foot traffic in the wetland and make available public
access for recreational use such as bird watching and nature walks.
Boardwalk construction and restoration are being conducted under permits
from city, state, and federal regulatory agencies.
The Yesler Swamp regulatory permits require compliance with a detailed
restoration plan. (The permits and restoration plan can be found at
yeslerswamp.org.)
Students and volunteers working with University of Washington Restoration
Ecology Network, The Yesler Swamp Project, and Friends of Yesler Swamp
are implementing restoration according to approved permits from city and
state agencies.
Although volunteers have completed much of the planting work, the
restoration areas must be monitored and reported for five years under a 5year monitoring plan in compliance with the Seattle Municipal Code, SMC
25.09.160 G. In addition, project funders require monitoring and
maintenance. Following initial planting, the permitting agencies require
detailed as-built and monitoring data, including numbers and types of native
plants installed, the percentage of successful invasive removal, and the
survival rate of native plants. This involves data collection such as photos of
each restoration area, identification of native plants installed, and an
accurate count of the survivors. (Previously submitted reports can be found
at yeslerswamp.org/restoration-reports.)
Yesler Swamp includes both upland and wetland habitat. The wetland is
Category III, lake-fringe, palustrine emergent (PEM)/palustrine scrub-shrub
(PSS) wetland that includes lacustrineaquatic bed (LAB) habitat south of the
Lake Washington shoreline. The restoration plan designates specific
restoration areas identified as W1–9 and U1-2. (“W” designates wetland and
“U” upland.)
Friends of Yesler Swamp is an all-volunteer non-profit corporation
registered in the State of Washington.
This internship is funded by a Seattle Community Partnership grant from
King Conservation District. The King Conservation District provides a
variety of programs and services to landowners and residents to steward
natural resources. Funding for District programs and services comes from a
local per parcel rate and state grants.
The intern will work as an independent contractor and not as an employee of
Friends of Yesler Swamp or King Conservation District.
Qualifications
The intern selected for this position must demonstrate:
 Training and ability to identify native and invasive species in Yesler
Swamp.
 Training and/or experience in the monitoring methods that are
typically used for restoration projects in the Pacific Northwest.
 Writing and data analysis skills necessary to prepare As-built Reports
and Monitoring Reports to document site conditions and success in
meeting restoration performance standards.
 At least one college level class in restoration ecology or equivalent
experience.
 Ability to work independently.
 Love of nature and working outdoors.
Required Reading
The intern must review and understand the following documents. Items 1 -3
can
be
found
at
yeslerswamp.org/Restoration
Reports
and
yeslerswamp.org/Trail Construction.
1. Touchstone Ecoservices, “Wetland Mitigation Report” (Feb. 13,
2012).
2. Elyse Denkers, “As-Built Evaluation for Wetland Mitigation and
Restoration: Yesler Swamp Trail Alignment Project” (Ap. 27,
2015).
3. Elyse Denkers, “The Wetland Mitigation Process in Yesler
Swamp, Seattle, WA” (June 12, 2015).
4. King Conservation District information on achieving local
conservation goals found at http://www.kingcd.org.
Required Tasks and Deliverables
The intern will be required to:
 Complete all required tasks in time for Friends of Yesler Swamp
review and submission to regulatory agencies on MAY 1, 2016.
 Evaluate restoration areas designated by Friends of Yesler Swamp and
prepare As-built Reports in the format required.
 Monitor and prepare Monitoring Reports for restoration areas
designated by Friends of Yesler Swamp:
o Collect vegetative data within established 10-meter (~33 ft.)
diameter plots (~104 sq. ft.) at each monitoring station.
o Document species richness over the entirety of each area.
o Take photographs from each established photo station to
provide clear visual documentation of the area conditions.
o Determine whether invasive species need immediate attention.
o Document vegetation survival and cover and invasive species
control.
o Prepare Monitoring Reports in the format required to document
site conditions and success in meeting performance standards.
If performance standards are not met, recommend adaptive
management to address and rectify the problem.
 Submit an electronic copy of Monitoring Reports and As-Built
Reports to the Wetland Biologist for review and approval.
 Incorporate edits from Wetland Biologist and submit the Monitoring
Reports and As-Built Reports in electronic form to Friends of Yesler
Swamp in time for review and submission to regulatory agencies
before MAY 1, 2016.
 Plan for on-going communication with Friends of Yesler Swamp
regarding scheduling, progress, and guidance.
 Comply with all policies and requirements of King Conservation
District.
Payment for Services
Intern will responsible for preparing invoices documenting the work,
including (1) date and time (2) details of work performed and (3) number of
hours worked.
Upon approval of each invoice, Friends of Yesler Swamp will present the
invoice to its fiscal agent Seattle Parks Foundation for payment. Seattle
Parks Foundation will pay the intern by check.
At his or her option, the intern may present weekly or monthly invoices.
The final invoice will not be paid until satisfactory Monitoring Reports and
As-Built Reports have been submitted to and approved by both the Wetland
Biologist and Friends of Yesler Swamp.
Independent Contractor
This position is not an offer of employment and does not include health
insurance or any other benefits. The intern must work as an independent
contractor responsible for arranging his or her schedule and methods of
work. The intern must supply all necessary supplies and equipment
including:
 Computer equipment to analyze data and prepare and present required
Monitoring and As-built reports
 Camera or other means to photograph restoration
 Books and other resources to identify native and invasive plants.
Application
Applicants must submit a letter or resume including name, address,
telephone number, email address and detailing relevant education, training,
and experience. Applications must be submitted via email to
yeslerswamptrail@gmail.com. Applications must be received NO LATER
THAN 5:00 PM on January 15, 2016. Applicants may contact Friends of
Yesler Swamp via email for additional information. Members of Friends of
Yesler Swamp will interview finalists at a date, time, and place to be agreed
upon. Selection of the intern(s) will be announced via email to all applicants
no later than January 30, 2016.