POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4385
Position Title: Hydrology Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Water Resources Division, Fort Collins, Colorado
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 52 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 05/18/2026
End Date: 05/17/2027
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve throughout the duration of their position.
BENEFITS
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $ 7,395.00 upon successful completion of position
- Weekly Living Allowance: $ 700.00 per week, fixed rate
- Relocation Allowance: $ 450.00 (distributed as a one-time lump sum with first paycheck)
- Student Loan Forbearance if applicable (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly)
- Student Loan Interest Payments if applicable (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly)
- For 52-week positions only:
- Free Healthcare Coverage (opt in)
- Childcare Coverage (opt in)
APPLICATION TIMELINE
Preference given to applicants who submit applications before Sunday, February 15, 2026. Applications will be reviewed after the application deadline passes. Positions will close after receiving 60 complete applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EST on February 15, 2026, whichever occurs first.
KEYWORDS: Hydrology, Wild and Scenic River
PURPOSE
This Hydrology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. This project will help the Wild and Scenic River program better manage and protect NPS-managed wild and scenic rivers by advancing our knowledge of river condition and projected changes in streamflow.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The Wild and Scenic Rivers (WSR) Act of 1968 is a landmark law to preserve select free-flowing rivers and their immediate environments as a complement to dam building and other construction. The Act provides access to free-flowing rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values for the enjoyment of present and future generations and protects and enhances their water quality and values. Rivers are designated by Congress or by the Secretary of the Interior. NPS has responsibilities for 64 of the 226 rivers in the National WSR System, both within and outside of parks. The NPS protects and enhances the special character of designated WSRs in collaboration with parks, other Federal and State agencies, communities, and nonprofit partners, as well as the Interagency WSR Coordinating Council (IWSRCC). The WSR Act explicitly recognizes the importance of instream flow protection to accomplish the purposes of WSR designation.
In this position, the SIP participant will help support the WSR program by conducting an inventory of flow protection needs and strategies for WSRs managed by NPS. Even in relatively intact and undeveloped watersheds such as those containing WSRs, the combined effects of drought, water diversions, and land use changes all threaten natural hydrologic processes that support healthy ecosystems. The SIP will identify rivers that might be most threatened under increasing environmental temperatures and future water development by preforming analysis of historical hydrologic data to assess water quantity trends and evaluate projected changes in streamflow.
DELIVERABLES
Other products will be identified at the onset of the project and be tailored to the SIP’s strengths and interests.
QUALIFICATIONS
- United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
- Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award
- Prior to starting the position, agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check for the employer of record, Conservation Legacy, and a separate government security background check for the host site.
- The applicant must be available to participate for the entire 52 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Desired qualifications include the following: currently pursuing or recently completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Hydrology, Geology, Geography, Watershed Science, Environmental Science, Engineering or related fields with an understanding of river processes and surface water hydrology. Good GIS or geospatial analysis skills are necessary; basic programming skills (e.g. R, python, matlab) are desirable. Strong oral and written communication skills, good organizational skills, and ability to service independently are essential.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
The position is located in Fort Collins and service will take place in an office setting with the NPS Water Resources Division staff. Some travel may occur as part of the position. Fort Collins is located in northern Colorado, approximately 65 miles north of Denver. Fort Collins has a population of ~175,000 and is home to Colorado State University. Fort Collins experiences all four seasons and with an average 300 days of sunshine. The city has abundant parks, natural areas, and extensive bike trails. There is great access to outdoor recreation including snow-capped mountains and beautiful rivers and lakes located on nearby public lands including Rocky Mountain National Park. There is great access to outdoor recreation including snow-capped mountains and beautiful rivers and lakes located on nearby public lands including Rocky Mountain National Park.
VEHICLE AND DRIVERS LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
- Applicant must have a valid driver's license to drive a government vehicle.
- A personal vehicle is recommended for this position.
HOUSING
Park housing is NOT available. The selected candidate will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area.
Fort Collins is a college town and there are a wide range of housing options, including apartments, houses, and in-home room rentals. Rent costs start around $600-800/month and increase with size, furnishings, privacy, and amenities. We will do our best to help connect the selected candidate with housing options. We recommend the applicant explore housing options before applying for the position; if selected, we recommend the applicant pursue housing as soon as they accept the position.
OUR COMMITMENT
Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions.
TIME REQUIREMENTS
- This position is expected to serve full time each week, but exact service schedules may vary based on project needs. Lunch breaks and days off will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service hours.
- Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.
ORIENTATION AND TRAINING
- Member will receive pertinent project and site training from host site throughout term
- Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
- Access to free professional development webinars led by Conservation Legacy staff
EVALUATION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of minimum AmeriCorps hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.
Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.
HOW TO APPLY
Apply online, all Scientists in Parks positions are listed at: https://conservation-legacy.breezy.hr/. Complete the application for this position, highlighting why you are interested in the position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position. Be prepared to upload your resume and unofficial transcript as part of completing the application questionnaire.
Once you begin applying for a position, the application must be completed in one sitting. You cannot save and return later to complete it. Applicants can apply for up to five Scientists in Parks positions per season. You need to complete a separate application for each position in order to be considered. You should receive a confirmation email after successfully submitting an application. Sometimes institutional email filters/settings can redirect, or block emails related to the application. We recommend watching spam, junk, and promotional email folders in case your service delivers messages there. Please visit How to Apply for additional resources and information about applying (i.e., learn what materials to have ready for applying, find a worksheet that previews application questions, etc.). Learn more about Scientists in Parks at: https://www.scientistsinparks.org/.
Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to provide institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health. Stewards in partnership with the Scientists in Parks program will host the Hydrology Assistant at Water Resources Division.
Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Scientists in Parks using the email address at the base of the home page, under “Questions? Contact Us!”
