OSMRE AmeriCorps Member with WV Dept. of Environmental Protection

• Job Category Conservation, Ameri Corps, Mine Reclaimation
• Employee Type Ameri Corps

• Phone

Position Title: OSMRE Ameri Corps Member with WV Dept. of Environmental Protection

Site

Location:

WV Dept. of Environmental Protection 22288 Northwestern Turnpike, Romney, WV 26757

Terms of Service: 10 weeks

• Start Date: 09/28/2026
• End Date: 12/04/2026
• Final date to receive applications: 08/24/2026
• Number of Positions Available: 1
• Ameri Corps Slot Classification: 300 Hours

Stewards Individual Placements, a division of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with Ameri Corps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural and cultural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to build institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is a bureau within the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI). Established in 1977 under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA), OSMRE's primary mission is to ensure that coal mining activities are conducted in an environmentally responsible manner and that the land is restored to beneficial use following mining operations.

The office provides oversight and assistance to state and tribal regulatory programs, promotes reclamation of abandoned mine lands, and supports research and training to improve reclamation techniques. OSMRE is committed to balancing the nation's need for coal as an energy source with the need to protect and restore the environment.

The mission of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) is to promote a healthy environment. Within the WVDEP, the Watershed Improvement Branch supports watershed organizations and communities as they implement water quality improvement projects.

The West Virginia Stream Partners Program works to support local watershed associations and protect the state’s extensive network of streams and rivers through community-driven conservation. In partnership with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP), we provide technical assistance, funding support, and capacity-building to strengthen over 30 watershed organizations across the state. Our work centers on improving water quality, restoring habitat, and enhancing the communities connected to these waterways.

Stewards Individual Placements, in partnership with WVDEP, is seeking candidates to fill the Stream Partners of the Potomac Basin position, an Ameri Corps service position. This role will support a local watershed association by coordinating volunteers, developing partnerships, and assisting with projects focused on restoration, education, recreation, and community revitalization. Responsibilities include developing resources to plan events, identifying funding and resource opportunities, and helping integrate watershed efforts more deeply into the community.

The Stream Partners of the Potomac Basin service member will work in watersheds and with communities to protect and improve water quality. Abrams Creek, a tributary of the North Branch of the Potomac River, has been impacted by acid mine drainage (AMD). Successful AMD remediation projects have been completed by WVDEP Abandoned Mine Land Section and partners on Abrams Run. Meadow Branch of Sleepy Creek has historic mining and deposits.

The site is now protected by the Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area. The Sleepy Creek watershed is impacted by bacteria pollution. Multiple brownfields sites and successful brownfield projects exist in the eastern panhandle/Potomac Basin watershed of WV. The Marlowe Solar Site, developed on former coal ash landfill, is one example. This Ameri Corps member will support watershed groups in the Potomac basin of WV that work to improve and protect water quality in the region.

• Attend outreach and education events on behalf of WVDEP and watershed association partners to support watershed awareness in the region
• Attend watershed association monthly board meetings to plan for education & outreach in the community
• Attend watershed association outreach and education events and present on watershed topics
• Support local watershed groups by assisting with water quality monitoring and data analysis
• Participate in regular water quality monitoring with the watershed group
• Upload sample data to relevant databases, such as the WV Data Explorer
• Create educational content related to watersheds, water quality, acid mine drainage (AMD), mining history, and successful remediation projects
• Educational content may include ArcGIS Story Maps, Canva materials, and Google applications
• Support the watershed group in creating digital and print content to support watershed education, including topics on AMD and…