Conservation Intern

We are looking for a student who has the desire and eagerness to learn and assist with conservation activities in Sauk County. This is an amazing opportunity for students to get hands on learning experience with our county farm and the chance to work alongside our team in educating local farmers and landowners. 

Sauk County is home to a vast array of lakes, rivers, and creeks with 22,000 acres of natural parks and open spaces that allow for 100 miles of biking, hiking, and walking. Sauk County is the ultimate destination where anyone can happily live, work, and play. 

The purpose of the Conservation Intern is to provide assistance for conservation activities on behalf of Sauk County, such as conservation engineering or conservation planning.

**This internship will be for summer 2025 May - August.

Essential Duties

• Assist with whole farm inventories to gather existing site conditions and recommend conservation practices to address identified resource concerns and to comply with state statutes and administrative codes, and Sauk County Chapter 26 Agricultural Performance Standards and Manure Management Ordinance.

• Operate survey equipment, conduct soil investigations, and utilize computer design programs such as AutoCAD design software and ArcMap GIS to design and develop maps and construction plans for conservation practices that meet NRCS Technical Standards.

• Stake out soil and water conservation practices, assist with construction oversight, approve material uses and certify project installation.

• Assist landowners with developing and implementing conservation plans, managed grazing plans, and nutrient management plans that meet NRCS technical standards utilizing programs such as Snap Plus, ArcMap GIS, and AutoCAD designs software

• Utilize modeling software (BARNY, BERT, RUSLE2, Snap Plus, etc.), to evaluate project outcomes based on phosphorus and sediment reduction and for use in progress reports for applicable projects.

• Implement annual surface water quality monitoring program utilizing Wisconsin’s Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (WisCALM) to measure and document water quality parameters

• Assist with the facilitation, coordination, and implementation of adult and youth informational and educational activities, including but not limited to: newsletters, list serves, field days, pasture walks, tours, workshops, and other public speaking events

• Assist with department recycling and disposal programs including Clean Sweep and Agricultural Plastics Collection events

• Monitor cropland and livestock facilities to ensure practices for applicable State or County programs were installed correctly and functioning as intended

• Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Training and Education

Required:                     

Must be in the process of obtaining a graduate, undergraduate, or associate’s degree in Agriculture, Natural Resources, Soil Science, Geography, Land Use Planning, or another related field

Certification:               

Valid Wisconsin State Motor Vehicle License

Preferred:                    

Junior or senior level undergraduate student, or graduate student

Any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities may be considered.

Sauk County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.