Environmental Student Consultant – Urban Systems
As an Environmental Student Consultant with Urban Systems in Kamloops, BC, I have been introduced to the world of consulting and a wide range of projects. I have a balanced schedule of office work and field work. Some field work include bird nest surveys, badger den surveys, amphibian salvages, water quality testing, and environmental monitoring construction works.
One particularly rewarding experience was obtaining my electrofishing certification and using this technique to salvage hundreds of fish including juvenile rainbow trout, coho salmon, Chinook salmon, suckers, dace, and lampreys. My field work has also brought me all over BC including Lillooet, Merritt, Vernon, Dawson Creek, Revelstoke, and Vancouver.
Another two exciting projects involved a permit for snake handling and training by an expert. I had the opportunity to search for Western rattlesnake dens throughout the Nicola River Valley and remove snakes from a project area alongside one of the best species at risk biologists in BC, Jared Hobbs. I also assisted him in instructing an eDNA course where I met many environmental professionals from around the province working on exciting projects and plans to incorporate eDNA. I plan to use my knowledge from the course to help eDNA projects at Urban Systems.
My desktop work has been equally beneficial to my learning as I write Environmental Management Plans, conduct species-at-risk searches, fill out funding and permit applications for clients, and gain knowledge on legislation requirements for various projects.
This co-op has given me the opportunity to work closely with federal agencies like DFO, Local Government, and Indigenous communities to understand their perspectives and integrate them into environmental planning and assessment processes. Some clients I have worked with include Penticton Indian Band, Simpcw First Nation, Skeetchestn Indian Band, Whispering Pines / Clinton Indian Band, the City of Merritt, and the Village of Pouce Coupe.
Being an Environmental Student Consultant with Urban Systems for 8 months has allowed me to dive deeper into the world of consulting and work on a wider range of projects.