Hydrology Member Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge and Beltrami Wildlife Management Area

Summary

American Conservation Experience a nonprofit Conservation Corps in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is seeking one (1) Hydrology Member to contribute to a peatland restoration project under the mentorship of Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge and Minnesota Department of Natural Resource - Red Lake Wildlife Management Area Staff.

For more information about ACE please visit our website.

Start Date: March/April 2026

Estimated End Date: December 4th 2026

*a 26 week minimum commitment is required*

Location Details/Description: The primary duty station for this position will be located at the Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge Middle River MN. Work duties for this position will be split between the refuge and the Red Lake Wildlife Management Area Roosevelt MN. The refuge was established in 1937 and consists of 61500 acres of wetland and upland habitats in northwestern Minnesota. The refuge lies in the aspen parkland transition zone between the boreal forest to the north and east and the tallgrass prairie to the south and west. Twenty-six wetland impoundments that range in size from 30 to 9000 acres provide a variety of habitats for both nesting and migrating birds. Two natural lakes lie within 4000 acres of black spruce-tamarack bog that have been designated as Wilderness by the National Wilderness Preservation System. The remote MN DNR Norris Camp is located 17 miles southwest of Roosevelt MN. This historic location is surrounded by the Red Lake WMA. At 324000 acres it is the largest WMA in the 1942 Presidential Executive Order #9091 established the Beltrami Wildlife Management Area. Owned by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and managed under a lease with the MN DNR some 87000 acres of federal land are managed as a coordination area The habitat is defined as northern boreal forest. Much of the area is peatland including forested peatland dominated by black spruce and tamarack and non-forested sedge meadows or sedge fens. Aspen birch and jack pine dominate uplands in the form of remnant beach ridges left behind by the receding glacial lake Agassiz. These globally important peatlands are the largest and most southerly located in the United States. Roosevelt MN is located in rural northern MN it is approximately 65 miles from Agassiz NWR.

Agassiz NWR is nestled in rural Minnesota it is approximately 25 miles from Thief River Falls Minnesota 55 miles from Grand Forks North Dakota and 77 miles from Bemidji Minnesota all of which have necessary amenities such as grocery stores restaurants shopping etc.

Position Overview: This position will assist with data collection analysis research and summarization related to peatland restoration actions.. Members will also have the opportunity to participate in other activities on the refuge and in the Wildlife Management Area. The primary duties will focus on surface and groundwater quantity and quality monitoring. This work will entail servicing maintaining and assisting in installation of water measurement equipment. An important element will be utilizing software systems and programs used to collect communicate and record the data. Also collecting water quality samples for laboratory testing including preserving and shipping to the lab for analysis will be part of the assigned duties. Vegetation data will also be collected at the sampling sites to record plant species present.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule: Duties will primarily be carried out Monday-Friday. Bi-weekly totals should not exceed 80 hours. A flexible work schedule may be required which could involve work performed outside of normal work hours including on weekends and/or holidays. Time off may be granted and requests should be directed to ACE and the FWS for approval.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute 40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $880/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses dispersed bi-weekly.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (16 weeks) the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility or view general information online: ACE members will be accommodated in provided FWS housing and MN DNR housing at $322/month for the duration of the term located at Agassiz NWR and Norris Camp.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures clear guidance on prohibited activities and networks for support. Specific training may include Defensive Driving ATV/UTV motor and non-motorized boat certification.

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional positive and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone and be a positive contributing member of a group.
• A valid drivers license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request). Members must be 21 to drive due to ACEs insurance and liability requirements.
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets beginning of term feedback forms end of term evaluations and for longer terms a mid-term evaluation.
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement.

To learn more about eligibility requirements please visit our website located on our Indeed homepage.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as natural resource biology ecology hydrology or a related subject.
• Proficiency with ArcGIS programs.
• Willingness to ensure quality of the data collected and accept guidance from supervisor and other staff.
• Ability to work in a team and independently.
• Knowledge of trailering or willingness to learn and comfortability with operating boats and UTVs .

Physical Demands Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting standing walking hiking carrying using hands to handle or feel reaching with hands and arms talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment.. Required to stoop kneel climb stairs and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain and camp overnight under field conditions.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close distance peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 40 lbs. ability to move up to 40 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools.
• Travel: This position may require domestic travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold rocky terrain swamp or wetland conditions biting insects potentially dangerous wildlife trailering a UTV or boat loading and unloading the UTV or boat and operating battery powered hand tools including saws drills etc. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self fellow staff/members or resources.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties one will be provided by the FWS or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the FWS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) typically provided by the FWS will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to FWS and ACE equipment training certification and safety protocols is required.

To Apply: Please submit your resume a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience and contact information for three professional/academic references to ACEs online application page for this position on our website. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC FWS Member Manager Mac Utter.

If you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications we want to hear from you!

ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

EEO: Employment or Service with ACE is based upon ability qualifications attitude and job-related factors. Every qualified employee member or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment hire training transfer promotion compensation demotion termination benefits employee activities and general treatment without regard to race color religion age sex creed national origin pregnancy ancestry citizenship status genetic information veteran or military status physical or mental disability sexual orientation medical condition marital or parental status political affiliation ethnicity hair texture or style arrest record caste hereditary status endogamy or any other classification protected by applicable local state or federal law.