Lake James Environmental Association (LJEA) 2026 Internships
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Lauren Essick
Jan 23, 2026, 8:01:47 AMJan 23
to Research Institute for Environment, Energy, and Economics
Please share the following announcement about the Lake James Environmental Association 2026 Internships with any students who may be interested. Email marshal...@ljea.org with any questions.
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Lake James Environmental Association (LJEA) 2026 Internships
LJEA was founded in 1973 with a mission to protect and enhance the long-term environmental health and natural beauty of Lake James and its watershed. LJEA provides internships for students interested in studying watershed management and restoration in the Lake James watershed. The following paragraphs summarize four potential internship topics that LJEA would like to fund in 2026. Interested students can apply for any one of those topics or propose their own watershed research topic. Students are encouraged to seek guidance and assistance from faculty members and are welcome to propose work that augments their academic requirements. The interns will meet (likely on-line, twice a month) with an LJEA volunteer from the Community Science Committee.
Ecological monitoring and study at Fonta Flora County Park restoration sites
During 2025, with funding from a Habitat Enhancement Program grant from Duke Energy, LJEA completed erosion control and forest restoration projects at two sites in Burke County’s Fonta Flora Park. LJEA will perform ecological monitoring at the site in the coming years and use the Park as an educational field site for watershed science.
The anticipated 2026 internship will include:
- Coordinating and performing avian and other wildlife surveys at the two restoration sites and similar local sites
- Collecting and analyzing hydrologic data from installed monitoring devices
- Performing monthly water quality sampling in FFCP
- Assisting with macroinvertebrate sampling (2 sites, 2 sampling events)
- Performing stream habitat assessments at 2 sites
- Documenting survival and growth rates of restoration vegetation at two sites
- Assisting with invasive plant control
- Developing related educational materials
- Preparing and presenting a brief review of results to the LJEA Board of Directors
- Coordinating and performing avian and other wildlife surveys at the two restoration sites and similar local sites
- Collecting and analyzing hydrologic data from installed monitoring devices
- Performing monthly water quality sampling in FFCP
- Assisting with macroinvertebrate sampling (2 sites, 2 sampling events)
- Performing stream habitat assessments at 2 sites
- Documenting survival and growth rates of restoration vegetation at two sites
- Assisting with invasive plant control
- Developing related educational materials
- Preparing and presenting a brief review of results to the LJEA Board of Directors
Summer 2026 Bacteria Monitor - Lake James and Tributaries
- Performing weekly sampling and laboratory work from May 15 to September 7
- Assisting in publication of weekly laboratory results
- Performing research and summarizing literature on bacterial survival in stream and lake sediments
- Performing statistical analyses of laboratory results to date
- Preparing and presenting a brief review of results to the LJEA Board of Directors
Water Quality Study of the Crooked Creek Watershed
This is an update of a 2018 study.
- Performing weekly sampling and laboratory work from May 15 to September 7
- Assisting in publication of weekly laboratory results
- Performing research and summarizing literature on bacterial survival in stream and lake sediments
- Performing statistical analyses of laboratory results to date
- Preparing and presenting a brief review of results to the LJEA Board of Directors
Water Quality Study of the Crooked Creek Watershed
This is an update of a 2018 study.
Students should address the issues they would like to focus on and the methods they will use to examine them. The selected intern will be expected to prepare and present a brief review of results to the LJEA Board of Directors.
Water Quality Study of the Linville Watershed above the Gorge
LJEA wants to extend the available water quality data for the Linville Watershed upstream of the Gorge. This project will involve water quality sampling, laboratory analyses, and data analysis. The project could involve the use of GIS and the National
Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) and other related data to characterize the contributing watersheds. Students interested in this internship should review the available LJEA data and will be expected to research data available from NC DEQ, US EPA, and other sources. The laboratory work can be performed at a college laboratory or the samples can be delivered to the Environmental Quality Institute in Black Mountain. Students may propose sampling sites and any constituents beyond LJEA's normal suite that they believe should be analyzed. The selected intern will be expected to prepare and present a brief review of results to the LJEA Board of Directors
Interested students should email: marshal...@ljea.org indicating their research interest and providing a resume or biographical sketch. The internships will be filled throughout the year as best meets LJEA’s budget and need.
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Lauren EssickResearch Development and Operations Manager
1119 Peacock Hall
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