Watershed Coordinator

Project Background:

The East Fork Little Miami River is situated in SW Ohio 15-45 mi. east of Cincinnati, Ohio. The East Fork River is a tributary of the Little Miami River, a state and national scenic river. The East Fork watershed is 320 square miles in size and encompasses parts of 4 counties (Brown, Clermont, Clinton, and Highland).

The lower western third of the watershed is rapidly urbanizing (some of which is designated as a NPDES Phase II Stormwater area) and the rest of the watershed remains largely in agriculture or forest lands. Half of the watershed is located in Clermont County, and the East Fork Watershed Coordinator is housed at the Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District in Owensville, near the center of the County.

Several segments of the East Fork River are classified by the Ohio EPA as "exceptional warmwater habitat," because of the great diversity of aquatic life supported by the river. The East Fork Collaborative has developed watershed plans for two of the five subwatersheds in the East Fork, and is currently working on the other three subwatershed plans.

Clermont County is currently taking the lead in developing a TMDL plan for the East Fork watershed, which would be the first community-led TMDL in Ohio. The Coordinator position is partially funded by a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The Collaborative currently has two OEPA 319 Implementation Grants underway in the watershed, for septic system mitigation and stream restoration projects. The Collaborative also has a $2 Million grant underway from the Ohio EPA to protect riparian corridor in the lower East Fork watershed utilizing conservation easements or land purchases.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Administer the ODNR Watershed Coordinator Grant for the East Fork Little Miami River watershed on behalf of Brown, Clermont, Clinton, and Highland Counties and soil and water conservation districts; prepare and submit all necessary grant reports and meet all other requirements to insure continued funding
  
• Assist in the completion and update of five (5) subwatershed action plans for the East Fork watershed; facilitate local/state endorsement of those plans and implementation of plan goals and objectives within stated time frames
  
• Assist in the completion and implementation of TMDL plan(s) for the East Fork watershed in conjunction with the above watershed plans, and help organize and lead the TMDL stakeholder participation process
  
• Prepare RFP's to secure grant funding for carrying out watershed projects; administer existing and new grants with an emphasis on OEPA 319 grants, including project implementation and oversight, record keeping and reporting
  
• Schedule and facilitate East Fork Collaborative Board (EFCB) Meetings; make regular reports to group
  
• Attend and make regular reports at Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District board meetings; liaison with other watershed partners, including SWCD's, Commissioners, and Clermont County Office of Environmental Quality
  
• Help maintain and provide control over project budget accounts
  
• Conduct education programs to support watershed protection efforts including: canoe floats, Adopt-A-Waterway and stream cleanups, presentations, press releases, newsletters, web site, and other educational activities and events
  
• Help promote and implement urban/agricultural conservation practices to support watershed action plan goals
  
• Assist local governments/stormwater districts with Phase II planning/implementation efforts in East Fork watershed
  
• Attend relevant watershed training opportunities, including Ohio Watershed Academy
  
• Serve as primary liaison with agencies, watershed protection groups, landowners, stakeholders, scientific community, and other interests throughout the watershed; serve on related workgroups and committees
  
• Coordinate efforts in East Fork subwatershed with Little Miami River watershed (through Little Miami River Watershed Coordinator and Little Miami River Partnership)

Job Qualifications:

• Must possess a B.S. or B.A. degree in Natural Resources, Environmental or Agricultural Sciences, or related field
  
• Prefer 1-3 years work experience in water resources related field
  
• Experience in meeting facilitation and grant writing/administration preferred
  
• Familiarity with watershed issues preferred including: watershed planning, water quality, erosion and drainage, agricultural/urban BMP's, zoning/land use, stormwater management, stream morphology, wetlands, etc.
  
• Organized individual, capable of managing multiple projects and working with minimum of supervision
  
• Must be capable of working in both office and outdoor field environments
  
• Good presentation and writing skills required, with newsletter publishing experience a plus
  
• Good computer skills required, including word processing, spreadsheet/database; GIS experience a plus
  
• Must possess valid driver's license, be insurable, and have personal vehicle for occasional work-related travel

Salary and Benefits:

Salary range $30,000-$40,000, commensurate with education and experience.

Excellent benefits including: participation in Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), fully paid major medical, life, and long term disability insurance, vacation, personal time, compensatory time, deferred compensation, and annual bonus plan. Housing may be provided.

Position is subject to all policies of the Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District Employment Policy.

Closing Date:   Monday, December 12th, 2005 

To Apply:

Please submit an application, resume, and cover letter to:

District Administrator
Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District
PO Box 549
Owensville OH  45160-0549

The application form is available on-line at www.oeq.net

For further details, contact Paul Berringer.