Position Announcement
Bristol Pond & Monkton Pond Boat Launch Steward & Knotweed Removal Technician (part-time, temporary)
The Lewis Creek Association (LCA) is a non-profit watershed organization that does sustainability and conservation work in the towns of the middle Lake Champlain Valley. LCA is seeking one qualified individual to provide part-time education and outreach to the recreational users of Bristol Pond and Monkton Pond from June to August 2026. The boat launch steward’s primary responsibility will be interacting with recreational boaters, anglers, and the general public to educate them about aquatic invasive species threats to the watershed and the proper cleaning methods for their recreational equipment. While educating the public, the boat launch steward will also collect survey data on boater behaviors as well as identify and remove invasive species from watercrafts. At Bristol Pond, the steward will also remove brittle naiad (a non-native aquatic invasive) from around the boat launch in their down time. In addition, the boat launch steward will remove Japanese knotweed from three public demonstration sites: one in Ferrisburgh and two in Starksboro one full day per week for 16 weeks (weekly May-July, every other week August-September or October). This work will include collecting data on removal efforts, and occasionally hosting public events at the sites, explaining the work of how to manually remove Japanese knotweed.
Position Overview
Status: part-time, temporary seasonal employee, ~20 hours/week including weekends
Compensation: $18 per hour
Hire Timeline: Applications on a rolling basis, no later than March 31; boat launch steward position runs from June to the end of August, with some flexibility; knotweed duties will begin in late April/early May and extend into September or early October, beginning before and extending past the end of the boat launch steward duties (flexible)
Position Description
Bristol Pond and Monkton Pond are ecologically diverse ponds that are popular with anglers, recreational boaters, and wildlife enthusiasts. Currently there are three known aquatic invasive species within Bristol Pond: Eurasian Watermilfoil, European Frogbit, and Brittle Naiad, and four aquatic invasive species at Monkton Pond: Chinese Mystery Snail, Banded Mystery Snail, Eurasian Watermilfoil, and Curly-leaf Pondweed. The boat launch steward will help LCA and our partners prevent aquatic invasive species from infesting other waterbodies in the State and will prevent other aquatic invasive species from being introduced to Bristol Pond and Monkton Pond by educating boaters and the community about invasive species threats and spread prevention techniques. The steward will be required to attend state-led training. Supervised by the LCA boat launch steward coordinator, primary duties of the boat launch steward include:
● Education of anglers and boaters about aquatic invasive species and how to clean their equipment
● Collecting survey data
● Inspecting watercraft before and after entering the water
● Spreading the message of Clean, Drain, Dry to the public
● Removing and documenting any organic material on watercrafts
● Removing brittle naiad at Bristol Pond
The boat launch steward will also be responsible for manually removing Japanese knotweed at three demonstration sites (with the help of one other knotweed technician). The steward will spend 12 hours per week at the boat launches, and around 8 hours per week removing knotweed, plus some time for training, setting up sites, and data entry.
Qualifications
Qualified candidates are: well-organized, punctual people who are enthusiastic about working directly with the public; able to communicate effectively in person; capable of performing duties independently and as directed by a supervisor; able to work outdoors in all weather conditions; and attentive to detail. The candidate must also be able to do physical work, cutting and stacking knotweed stems in potentially difficult conditions on rough ground. This will involve bending/kneeling, carrying, getting wet feet, and potential exposure to ticks. Comfort and enthusiasm with the public and data collection is a must. Experience working with the public is a plus, but not absolutely necessary. A successful candidate will, minimally, have knowledge of natural resources, biology, environmental science, or a related field. The ideal candidate will have a knowledge of angling, fisheries, aquatic ecosystems, and invasive and native species. The boat launch steward must have a reliable cell phone and provide their own transportation to Bristol Pond, Monkton Pond, and the sites in Ferrisburgh and Starksboro. The candidate is expected to work 6 hours a day on Saturdays and Sundays (at either Bristol or Monkton Pond) each week and must be available to work holidays. The candidate will also spend approximately 8 hours each week on specified day(s) and times to remove knotweed from the demonstration sites, in conjunction with public volunteers and the other technician, in Ferrisburgh and Starksboro. Boat launch steward position runs from June to the end of August, with some flexibility; knotweed duties will begin in late April or early May and extend into September or October, past the end of the boat launch steward duties.
About LCA
LCA is a non-profit watershed organization that does sustainability and conservation work in the towns of the middle Lake Champlain Valley. LCA works primarily within the watershed boundaries of the LaPlatte River, Thorp Brook, Kimball Brook, Holmes Brook, McCabe’s Brook, and Lewis Creek to service the watershed towns of Charlotte, Ferrisburgh, Hinesburg, Monkton, Shelburne, and Starksboro. We work with towns, governments, and citizens to conserve Vermont’s important landscapes and natural resources. We rely on active citizens and volunteers to collect data, make informed decisions, and implement positive change. See our website: lewiscreek.org for more information.
How to Apply
Submit a cover letter explaining your interest and specific qualifications (specifically detailing your past experience with public outreach and education, as well as outdoor work), plus a resume and contact information for three professional references as PDF documents to Kate Kelly, LCA Program Manager here. Applications accepted through March 31, 2026. Please type the position title “Boat Launch Steward & Knotweed Removal Technician” and your last name in the subject line.