Compilation and Assessment of Wetlands and Streams Reference Data

Zintellect is offering a postgraduate participant project at the EPA's Region 4 office in Atlanta, GA, focusing on wetlands and streams research. The participant will gain experience in analyzing ecosystems, developing reference databases, and conducting field sampling. Under mentorship, they will engage in applied research and scientific evaluations related to aquatic resource restoration. This role provides valuable exposure to environmental science and policy issues.
A postgraduate participant project is available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA), Region 4 office in Atlanta, GA. The research participant will serve in the Ocean, Wetlands and Streams Protection Branch (OWSPB) of the Water Protection Division.

The OWSPB manages and conducts key wetlands, coastal, and ocean activities under the Clean Water Act Section 404, the Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) Sections 102 and 103 and the Ocean Dumping Program, the Section 403 Ocean Discharge Program and the Section 312 Marine Sanitation Device Program. The OWSPB provides regional expertise in stream and wetland restoration and mitigation, manages and implements marine and wetlands regulatory and restoration related issues and grants associated with numerous interagency/stakeholder workgroups, committees, and task forces.

This project will provide the participant with training and experience in: analyses of wetlands and streams based on landscape position, ecosystem processes, physical and biological community structure and composition, wetness, soils, and response to disturbance; development of a reference database against which efforts to restore wetlands and/or streams may be assessed; and complete field sampling to obtain or verify ground truth data.

Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant may be involved in a range of activities:
• Using national and regional datasets and EPA databases, and reviewing or contributing to various scientific documents;
• Conducting applied research that will inform better decision-making in regards to restoration, resource use, and public health;
• Conducting scientific analyses/evaluations to support technical review and assessment of aquatic resource restoration projects;
• Compiling and applying technical information relating landscape and watershed physical and ecological attributes and stressors to ecosystem condition and recovery;
• Relating progress measures to the accomplishment of restoration and protection goals;
• Developing a reference ecosystem database;
• Conducting research outdoors in potentially hazardous locations or under inclement weather conditions.

Based on their involvement in the activities above, the participant will learn:
• About EPA’s wetlands protection programs;
• How science and data are applied to determine the function of wetlands and streams;
• How datasets are compiled and tools developed to provide material for scientists to carry out a range of analyses for specific sites concerning ecosystem restoration.

This project will provide excellent exposure to the interface of applied environmental science and policy. It offers hands-on exposure to a broad range of environmental and policy issues surrounding aquatic resource protection and restoration.

This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and EPA.