Host: Washington State Department of Natural Resources
Region: Washington
Openings: 1
Project Focus: Urban Planning, Relationship and Implementation of Science and Policy
Skills Needed: Project Management, Research, Data Analysis, Data Collection,

Remote or On-Site Placement

Hybrid – For a hybrid schedule, having an in-person office day on Monday would be best, and telework option for remainder of week. Other options can be considered.

Service Needs & Plans

The Geologically Hazardous Areas Local Jurisdiction Code Analysis Project will primarily serve local jurisdictions but will also potentially serve state agencies and tribes. Washington law requires geologically hazardous areas to be identified and delineated in each jurisdiction. To further connect the WGS hazard assessments with jurisdictions and provide more effective implementation of science, we are researching and analyzing existing geologically hazardous areas provisions of each of the 320 county and city jurisdictions in Washington for geologically hazardous areas provisions. Further analysis of the geologically hazardous areas provisions is needed in addition to this initial review.

Many jurisdictions have limited capacity for analyzing geological hazards data and parlaying it into code provisions, and this issue is exacerbated in under-resourced jurisdictions. WGS staff is often asked to identify or recommend strong code to local jurisdictions. This project’s objective is to provide an assessment of existing provisions as well as recommendations for strong, effective geologically hazardous areas provisions, with examples. Counties and cities will be able to use the information to evaluate their provisions and make more informed decisions, with opportunities for technical assistance from WGS. In turn, the local jurisdictions can better recognize and mitigate hazards, address environmental and social equity issues, and build community resilience.

Project Description

The Geologically Hazardous Areas Local Jurisdiction Code Analysis Project has several overarching goals:

1. Obtaining a detailed understanding of existing geologically hazardous areas provisions by reviewing the development regulations, comprehensive plan, and shoreline master plan of each county and city in Washington.
2. Performing detailed analysis that provides both quantitative and qualitative information about the relative strengths or weaknesses of individual components of the code provisions.
3. Provide technical assistance to counties and cities for geologically hazardous areas information, filling a known gap to help local jurisdictions with their development regulations, comprehensive plans, and shoreline master plans for geologically hazardous areas provisions.

The Fellow will assist in the information gathering of geologically hazardous areas provisions for each jurisdiction through a prepared list of binary criteria. The Supervisor will provide onboarding, training, and mentoring to assist the Fellow in independently evaluating each jurisdiction. Criteria rankings will be analyzed according to their strength or weakness with respect to the apparent effectiveness in mitigate harm from geological hazards.

After all jurisdictional geologically hazardous areas provisions have been evaluated against the criteria, analysis will be performed, and statistics will be derived. If timelines and schedules permit, we will mentor the Fellow to assist with these analyses. We will write a short summary paper of the initial results. A future project is to provide a best-practices document for geologically hazardous areas that includes a robust analysis, examples, and recommendations.

This opportunity will increase the capacity of our agency to address the resilience challenges efficiently and quickly as we described in the previous section. There is a known gap at the local level regarding for geologically hazardous areas provisions. Jurisdictions can use the results of this project to better address their environmental and social equity issues. The jurisdictions will have more detailed information, with examples, on how to assess and potentially change their existing provisions to be stronger provisions.

The effective implementation of science and policy is especially difficult in less well-resourced jurisdictions. With the results of this analysis, WGS aims to provide the jurisdictions, state agencies, conservation districts, tribes, and others with equal access to information to address their resilience challenges.

Desired Skills

We are looking for the following traits and skills in a Fellow working on this project:
land-use planning interest and knowledge; interest in geology, geologic hazards, earth sciences, and the environment; highly organized; good written and verbal communicator; team player; self-starter; interest in connection between science and policy; research skills; and an eagerness and patience to learn new things.

Organization & Workplace Highlights

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is dedicated to sustainable management and protection of the state’s natural resources. Our agency fosters a workplace culture emphasizing collaboration, innovation, and respect for our environment. We prioritize a supportive and inclusive environment where every employee is valued. Our commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion is demonstrated through various initiatives, including ongoing training, policy reviews, and active efforts to create a workplace where all employees can thrive. Serving with DNR not only allows you to contribute to these important initiatives but also offers numerous professional development opportunities. These projects enhance project management and problem-solving skills and provide valuable experience in resource management and policy implementation, paving the way for your career growth and success.

Community Highlights

DNR serves diverse communities across Washington State, from coastal regions to inland forests. As a state agency, DNR serves Washington citizens across the state, with regional offices concentrated in larger urban areas. These areas are known for their natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant communities. Washington State is an interesting place to live and work, offering a mix of urban and rural experiences, thriving art scenes, and numerous recreational opportunities, including hiking, fishing, and exploring natural parks. This diverse environment offers one a chance to immerse oneself in varied cultural experiences and contribute meaningfully to conserving and managing natural resources.

This fellow will be based out of Olympia, which is home to many state agencies including DNR. It sits at the south end of Puget Sound, and boasts easy access to water, mountains and the coast. It is also a convenient launching pad for accessing the communities associated with reserves in Puget Sound as well as Lake Kapowsin—all of which are located within a 3-hour drive from Olympia. These communities are varied in both their approach to stewardship and their level of engagement with reserve management. For instance, some areas have high representation around civic issues, while others focus on conducting community science through their local nature centers. Overall, there is a rich social structure to tap into both around Olympia and the greater Puget Sound region.