DNR Aquatic Invasives Crew Member

For this internship I had the opportunity to experience my first ten weeks with a Washington Conservation Corps Crew. Our crew primarily works with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Northwest Region and focuses mostly on aquatic invasive species. The main two aquatic invasives that our crew has and will focus on are Japanese Knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) and Spartina (Sporobolus anglicus). We monitor and control these plants with a few different strategies and use heavy equipment, such as marsh masters and airboats to access the areas where they are found. We have also spent time throughout the term removing invasive Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) both from restoration sites and to provide river access for treatments of knotweed throughout the next year. This position has allowed me to gain significant knowledge in the removal of key invasives and learn how to maintain and operate power tools and heavy machinery. We have also spent time cleaning and clearing around the public places and parks near the rivers we monitor, aiding the community. This internship has helped to bridge the gap between my classes at Western Washington University (WWU), especially Water Quality, Ecology, and GIS I, and the professional world.