This position participates in fish passage inventories designed to locate and assess natural and human made in-stream features that may pose a passage problem for anadromous and resident salmonids. The fish passage inventories conducted by this position help achieve the agency’s mission to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife, and ecosystems by providing access to productive habitat and protecting fish from degraded habitat on state owned lands.
This position may participate in HPA monitoring data collection to evaluate compliance with HPA permits issued by WDFW and the effectiveness of culvert designs over time.
These positions participate in but not limited to:
Inventory data collection
Tasks include:
- Conduct advanced on-site evaluations statewide for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW’s) Fish Passage Barrier and Surface Water Diversion Screening Inventory, including inspection, analysis, and reporting of human-made, in-stream structures such as culverts, dams, fishways, lake outlet screens, and water diversions.
- This inventory also includes locating, identifying, and assessing natural barriers to fish passage such as, waterfalls, high gradient stream sections, and subsurface flow.
Habitat surveys
Tasks include:
- Independently plan, organize and conduct physical habitat evaluations of freshwater streams, including measurement of stream features such as pool-riffle ratios, channel width, water depth, temperature, substrate ratios, and stream gradient and estimation of canopy and in-stream cover.
- Species use potential is considered throughout the stream and spawning and rearing habitat quality is characterized to develop priority index values for barrier correction.
Data entry and usage of GIS mapping software
Tasks include:
- Process physical and biological stream data, using established data conversion and statistical procedures, in Excel spreadsheets and Access databases.
- Use GIS software (ArcView) for creating maps of fish passage features and habitat assessment sites. Also use ArcView for calculations relating to the analysis of habitat data and Level B Hydraulic Analysis, including stream gradient, stream length, elevations, precipitation, and drainage basin area.
Hydraulic Project Approval monitoring
Tasks include:
- Collect on-site data following a strict protocol that will be used to determine compliance rates for permitted projects and the long-term effectiveness of stream simulation and no-slope designs.
Provide technical assistance and training
Tasks include:
- Provide technical assistance to other Fish Passage Division staff members to inventory and evaluate fish passage barriers and water diversions.
- Conduct field training for co-workers and new hires of barrier assessment protocols and physical habitat survey techniques to quantify and qualify habitat.
Writing summaries
Tasks include:
- Organize and prepare summaries of habitat data, and inventoried barrier features for use in the development of recommendations for barrier corrections and habitat enhancements to benefit both anadromous and resident salmonids.
Working Conditions:
Work Setting, including hazards:
- These are primarily field positions with approximately 80% of the work week spent outside.
- The incumbents will need to be able to work long hours in inclement weather conditions along busy state highways and walk streams through thick vegetation, climbing over and around log jams and wood debris on uneven terrain and slippery surfaces while carrying up to 30lbs of field gear.
- The other 20% of the work week is spent in the office entering data with typical office hazards (e.g. sharp edges on desks, unprotected corners on overhead cabinets, unsecured shelving and cabinets, and tripping hazards).
Schedule:
- Typically, 7:00AM – 5:30PM Monday – Thursday. May include evenings and weekends.
Travel:
- Vehicle travel up to 200 miles per day to survey locations. Overnight travel required.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
Graduation from high school or GED, including one year of high school science, AND Four years of experience as a Scientific Technician.
OR
Graduation from high school or GED, including one year of high school science, AND Four years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a health or safety professional, biologist, chemist, or zoologist.
Note: College course work involving major study in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences, or closely allied field will substitute, year for year, for experience, provided the course work includes at least six semester or nine quarter hours of natural or environmental science classes.
Preferred Experience and Knowledge
- Must have a thorough understanding of the WDFW Fish Passage Barrier and Surface Water Diversion Screening Assessment and Prioritization Manual protocols.
- Must have knowledge of resident and anadromous salmonid life histories.
- Must be able to perform advanced data collection and data analysis techniques in barrier determination of man-made in-stream water features in Washington waterways.
- Must understand the freshwater habitat requirements of Washington State’s resident and anadromous salmonids.
- Must be able to observe and assess condition and quality of spawning and rearing habitat for salmonid production in Washington waterways.
- Must be able to observe and identify fishes and the various fish species in the freshwater environment.
- Must have the ability to interpret aerial photographs and topographic maps and the ability to navigate using said resources and accurately measure features on maps.
- Must have knowledge and proficiency in the use of laser survey equipment, digital cameras, GPS systems, and other equipment.
- Must have knowledge and proficiency in the use of Windows, Word, Excel, Access, ArcGIS, and personal computers.
- Must be able to use independent judgment to handle situations encountered in the field that are not addressed in the WDFW Fish Passage Barrier and Surface Water Diversion Screening Assessment and Prioritization Manual.
- Demonstrated organization and time management skills to effectively prioritize workload and maximize efficiency.
Supplemental Information
Please note: Failure to follow the instructions below may lead to disqualification.
To apply for this position you MUST complete your profile at www.careers.wa.gov and attach the following to your profile before completing the online application:
- A cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications of this position (generic cover letter will not be accepted)
- A current resume
- Three professional references
IMPORTANT NOTES:
All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
The Department of Fish and Wildlife’s priority during the Covid-19 health crisis is to keep our staff, candidates, and the public safe. We are hiring and encourage you to apply to open positions. We have transitioned to a virtual recruitment process, to include web-based interviews.