Aquatic Invasive Species Ambassador - Hennepin County, MN

Job Description

Job Description

The role of the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Ambassador is to teach and train boat operators through repeated face-to-face educational interactions at the boat ramps to inspect their own watercraft each time they launch and to ensure it is clean, drained, and dry in between every use.

AIS Ambassadors will talk to boaters regarding compliance with Minnesota laws.

AIS Ambassadors will complete MN DNR training and additional training on how to teach boaters to complete a thorough “walk around self-inspection."

Many lakes and rivers in the state will not have an Inspector presence at an access. Therefore, it is essential that the AIS Ambassador do the following:

1. Show the boaters how to inspect their boats themselves and show them where to look at every step.

2. Explain why self-inspection is critical to find zebra mussels and other AIS in order to prevent the spread to clean waters.

AIS Ambassadors will walk around the boat with the owner to look closely for zebra mussels, starry stone wort, snails, spiny water fleas, mud, water, plant fragments, and other AIS that may be attached to the boat and equipment. If the owner or ambassador identifies an issue they will work together to correct it on-site.

Each launch will have an education table containing interactive displays, hands-on materials, and AIS prevention messaging.

Ambassadors will go through Waterfront Restoration’s internal training to; better engage boaters, raise awareness about aquatic invasive species, provide instruction on water less cleaning stations, and educate the public on launch signage.

The ambassador will discuss with boaters how invasive aquatic plants spread, and distribute information about invasive plants, articulate MN laws regarding the transport of these plants, and provide a boaters guide to AIS inspections brochure.

Ambassadors will impress on the boater how AIS can damage boats, ruin fishing opportunities, harm the environment and impair water infrastructure, as well as drive home the primary educational message to Clean, Drain, Dry, Dispose and explain why boaters need to do it each time they use their boat.

Duties:

• Educate the public on the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) program
  
• Inspection of watercraft for invasive species (inbound and outbound) with the boat owners
  
• Documentation of inspection and launch activities.
  
• Maintain current knowledge of best practices while inspecting watercraft
  

Qualifications:

• Verbal communication and customer relations experience
  
• Willing to work weekends and holidays. Shifts will be mostly on Saturday's, and Sunday's within your availability.
  
• Requires walking, standing, and moving about the boat launch area to a significant degree depending on traffic.
  

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