The Hoosic River Watershed Association (HooRWA)

The Hoosic River Watershed Association (HooRWA) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1986 and based in Williamstown, MA. It is dedicated to the restoration, conservation and enjoyment of the Hoosic River and its watershed, through education, research, and advocacy. HooRWA envisions a watershed that is ecologically sound and adds to the quality of life of its residents.
HooRWA is based in the First Congregational Church (across from Paresky), is seeking an intern to conduct a riverside survey of the 76-mile length of the Hoosic River, as time permits, to further a proposed Hoosic River Trail. The goal of the trail is to encourage businesses, institutions, other landowners and municipalities to embrace the Hoosic River and it shorelines as a recreational and ecotourism asset. HooRWA wishes to develop a series of canoe/kayak launch and take-out sites, including portage trails, riverwalks, and fishing spots along the Hoosic River and its tributaries, providing access, watershed recreation and educational opportunities so that people understand and support the values of habitat restoration and a clean river. In addition, the watershed association is seeking information that will help it take steps toward retaining the attributes of a cold water fishery.
The Hoosic begins in Cheshire, flows through Adams, North Adams, Williamstown, Mass.; Pownal, Vermont; North Petersburg, Hoosick Falls, Eagle Bridge, Buskirk, Johnsonville, Valley Falls and Schaghticoke, N.Y., including by Cole Field on the Williams campus.

The intern’s duties would include locating existing and potential access, riverbank green areas, habitat conditions, development, trails and landowners. The intern will use the information to update HooRWA’s reference map and create a data base in the form of a report with recommendations for future initiatives. We are looking for a student able to work independently, be diplomatic with landowners and with access to an automobile. Experience with land use planning, GPS and canoes or kayaks would be a plus.