River Restoration Policy & Planning Apprentice

At a glance

Hours per week:10-20 hours per week; 2-4 days per week, including occasional evening and weekend hours

The River Restoration Policy & Planning Apprentice will be part of the team working primarily on WMG’s River Run Network planning, policy, and advocacy efforts that fulfill WMG’s strategic goals, including our 50-year goal of restoring flow and ecological function to Tucson’s rivers and creeks, as well as our long-term efforts to steward watershed health and hydro‑local water supplies. WMG’s community engagement work primarily encompasses the urban and rural areas within the greater Tucson area.

The Apprentice will focus primarily on research and analysis to support a hydro‑local approach to restoring groundwater-supported riparian systems, including drought and water shortage response strategies within the Tucson basin. A hydro‑local approach is one that responsibly stewards locally‑available water resources rather than depleting distant rivers and aquifers. The Apprentice will conduct background research on developing water resource stewardship and conservation policies, provide supporting documentation and GIS mapping of identified opportunities, assist in stakeholder engagement on select strategies, and support the development of guiding plans.

The Apprentice will interface with Santa Cruz Watershed Collaborative (SCWC) partners (Tribal nations, state and federal agencies, city and county departments, and organizations) at monthly working group meetings and semi‑annual forums. The Apprentice will also support River Run Network program activities, including but not limited to community education and outreach and restoration project efforts.

WMG’s restoration efforts work to engage limited‑income, BIPOC, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ communities, and we seek an apprentice who is part of and/or able to effectively engage with these populations.

The Apprentice will participate in weekly onboarding and development activities with a cohort of other apprentices, interns, and docents. Training often occurs on Friday afternoons, 3-5pm.

• Interest in and support of WMG’s mission
• Ability to engage with diverse communities and build relationships built on trust and understanding
• 1+ year of experience in writing for natural resources planning or environmental education
• 1+ year of experience in environmental or social partnership collaboration and advocacy or policy work
• Ability to work independently
• Promptness and sound organizational skills
• Experience in creating maps and editing layers in ESRI ArcGIS Pro and using ArcGIS Online apps
• Proficiency in Google Docs, Microsoft Office Suite, and social media
• Cell phone that can be used to make and receive work calls
• Ability to work evening and weekend hours as needed and work outside in physically demanding environments for field days

• Assist with River Run Network strategic planning and policy initiatives to restore watershed health
  • Conduct background research analysis to inform initiatives. Topics include recycled water for aquifer recharge, drought response planning, mountain front recharge, water rights and allocation, Tucson Active Management Area, and environmental flows
  • Create and update ESRI ArcGIS mapping products to share and visualize geographic information and identified project opportunities and priorities
  • Support key stakeholder engagement, including of city and county department staff, local water utilities, and local elected officials, to inform and solicit feedback
  • Conduct outreach to key stakeholder groups to engage on strategic planning initiatives and solicit feedback
  • Support drafting of strategic plan development for local mountain‑front recharge and drought‑planning efforts
  • Aid in grant reporting, including gathering metric data and developing qualitative content about the work being done
• Support Santa Cruz Watershed Collaborative meetings, activities, and events
  • Participate in and support monthly Restoring Flows and Floodplains Working Group meetings (1st Wednesday of each month, 3-5pm)
  • Support the planning and development of semi‑annual field forums with SCWC partners and other community members
• Collaborate…