The Department’s flood resilience mission is to mitigate the impacts of severe and repetitive flooding, in turn minimizing loss of life, property damage, and the negative impacts of flooding on the environment.
MENTOR
Matt Dalon, PFE CFM, Resilience Planning Program Manager
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
This internship will prepare interns for careers in any of the following:
- Advocacy and Policy
- Non-profit
- Applied Science
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
This internship will provide experiences to develop and polish the following skills:
- Communication (Written and/or verbal)
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Knowledge of Sector and Networking
- Project Management
- Self and Career Management
MENTORING PLAN
The intern will work closely with Matt and be integrated into the three-person Office of Resilience Planning team. Upon joining DCR, the intern will be provided formal training information to introduce him or her to the Office and the Department. The intern will be engaged in the team’s standing weekly meetings to receive and provide updates on tasks. Matt will meet virtually with the intern at least monthly to provide feedback on their performance. The intern will also be invited to participate in external meetings with stakeholders outside of the Office’s team. This includes activities such as meetings of the Coastal Resilience Technical Advisory Committee, presentations to Planning District Commissions and localities, coordination meetings with consultants contracted by the department, among others.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
- The intern will understand the changing landscape of flood risk and resilience in Virginia.
- The intern will be familiar with the Commonwealth’s flood resilience planning processes and approaches.
- The intern will be prepared to contribute to developing and implementing meaningful public participation processes.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Office of Resilience Planning (ORP) is responsible for developing, administering, and implementing the Commonwealth’s Virginia Flood Protection Master Plan and Coastal Resilience Master Plan. These plans represent a coordinated interagency and intergovernmental strategy to address current and future flood risks that impact all Virginians. The flood resilience master plans support the Commonwealth by collecting data on historic and forecasted conditions of flooding, developing risk and vulnerability analyses to understand projected impacts, and identifying and prioritizing strategies for action to reduce vulnerability and bolster resilience. DCR’s flood resilience planning responsibilities are outlined in the Code of Virginia.
In conducting its planning activities, ORP also conducts ongoing outreach and engagement with stakeholders across the state, coordinates flood resilience activities across sectors and agencies, and develops and disseminates flood and flood damage reduction data. During the 2024-2025 academic year, ORP will finalize the Phase II update of the Coastal Resilience Master Plan (due December 2024) and work toward delivering the first Virginia Flood Protection Master Plan since 2005 (due December 2025).
The intern will have an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of these state plans. Depending on the intern’s skill set and interests, he or she will be engaged to support flood hazard data development, flood hazard impact assessment, gaps analyses, strategy development, or resources development. In supporting these efforts, the intern will be responsible for activities such as conducting research, developing written and graphic materials, providing logistics and technical support to stakeholder engagement activities, and administrative support tasks.
DESIRED QUALITIES
- Knowledgeable about climate change and its impacts on flooding.
- Strong oral and written communications skills.
- Organized and attentive to detail.
- Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
MODE OF INTERNSHIP
Willing to consider all options depending on intern's availability
DURATION
Summer 2024, Fall 2024, and/or Spring 2025