WPD Internship Experience

By Oliver Sangwa

Watershed Protection Department Interns

Jennifer , Hassan, Rea-ann Oliver&

Summer 2012

Austin Watershed Protection Department

• Mission: to protect lives, property and the environment of our community by reducing the impact of flood, erosion and water pollution.

As a Austin WPD OTC 12th floor Intern you get to…

• Work side by side with certified Professional Engineers (PE’s in civil engineering) and other city employees!

• T-shirts• Hats• Shirts• A badge to open doors• Steel toed boats and vest for field work• Sweet gift bags from the 11th floor(ERM)• Candy from Ms. Perez

Exposure To Engineering Field

• GIS training and mapping

• Site plan analysis• Field work• Engineering

terminology • CIP project planning

Internship Activities • Partner with Kathy Rock to advertise

community Rain Garden Projects• Attend community meetings at

Amaya’s• Call establishments to post flyers• Work on the weekends to construct

and clean up Rain Gardens• Use GIS program to generate maps!• Take and Report notes for supervisors

@ The Intern Corner we…

Hassan’s work space Oliver’s Corner

• Research and consolidate data into reports and maps, ex. Big Belly Report

• Attend Bi-weekly meetings every Monday• Aid other employees . Ex. We created 75

information binders for the ERM , and document site plans in an excel spread sheets.

• Get involved with office activities like Toast Master’s meeting and diversity reading.

• Get snacks from a the cube next door on long days, Thanks Ms. Erlinda!

Places Visited!• Hornsby Bend Treatment Plant• Holly Neighborhood • City of Austin learning and Research• Library • The Commons at UT• Austin restaurants• Barbara Jordan Elementary• Gus Garcia Middle School• OTC Floors

@ WPD you can learn• How to Construct and manage rain gardens• What happens to rainwater runoff and sewage water• How to operate ArcGIS to produce maps and locate

data• How to operate workplace technology like copy and

printing machines• Engineering terms like RSMP, Culverts, Easements,

impervious cover and adverse Impact• Networking and working collaboratively with different

professions • The City of Austin is a diverse and unique place.

Benefits!Wider point of view of the City of Austin

Better knowledge and understanding of storm water infrastructure and managementExposure to Engineering work field.

….Also Shade from the scorching Texas heat!

“Overall as a WPD summer Intern you get an unforgettable summer experience! Thank you

WPD” – Oliver Sangwa