For more information, please follow this link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/3409083/scientific-technician-2-methow-river-basin-survey-technician-career-seasonal

Salary- $34,368.00 – $44,412.00 Annually

Our Scientific Technician,  

Conducts spawning ground surveys for summer steelhead, spring Chinook, and Bull Trout. Tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Walks or rafts 6-15 miles per day quantifying redd and carcass data.
• Assists lead biologist with schedule planning and pre-season organization of supplies.
• Conducts routine equipment maintenance and repair as necessary.

Conducts stock assessment and brood stock collection activities for spring and summer Chinook salmon. Tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Conducts stock assessment sampling at Wells Dam and Twisp weir collecting various biological data from multiple species (uses PIT readers, CWT wands, ultrasound machines, etc.).
• Monitors results to ensure fish collection or sampling objectives (e.g., Hatchery or wild retention, male to female ratios, specific hatchery stocks, etc.) are met. 

Assists with in-hatchery evaluation of spring and summer Chinook salmon and summer steelhead. Tasks include, but are not limited to: 

• Conducts pre-release sampling of juvenile fish at multiple hatcheries and acclimation ponds. 
• Assists with fish handling and bio-sampling adult fish during spawning events at hatcheries.
• Assists supervisory biologists with data requests, data queries, and sample preparation and organization.

Performs a variety of administrative or field work tasks as necessary to complete Methow Research Team objectives and deliverables. Tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Assists other project personnel with conducting in-stream PIT tagging or hook and line angling of juvenile salmonids in various stream reaches throughout the Methow River basin. 
• Enters collected data into established databases and periodically conducts quality control review of collected data. 
• Assists with smolt trapping activities and hook and line collection of steelhead brood stock as necessary.
• Assists with PIT Tag antenna infrastructure maintenance and operation.

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

• Work Setting, including hazards:   
  1. Work is conducted both in the office and in the field, field work is conducted outdoors throughout the year during periods of high heat and freezing temperatures.
  2. Fieldwork consists of walking up to 6 miles or rafting up to 15 miles of stream daily – rafting streams occurs over a wide range of flows and river conditions and includes navigating around rocks and trees during high and low flows – walking streams requires navigating slippery, uneven terrain. 
  3. Work also occurs at hatchery facilities, weirs, and Columbia River dams. Some of these locations (e.g., Columbia River dams) require additional protective equipment such as long pants, closed-toe footwear, and hard hats. 
  4. Some chemicals are frequently used; primarily the common fish anesthetics Aqui-S and MS-222.
• Schedule:   
  1. Work schedule is typically, Monday – Friday – 8:00 AM- 4:30 PM.
  2. Position may require use of a 4-10 work schedule (7:00 AM- 5:30 PM) to facilitate long travel times to field sites, long survey reaches, and overlapping busy periods.
  3. Work may also require nights and/or weekend work assisting with juvenile smolt trapping projects and maintaining PIT antenna arrays during busy periods. 
• Travel Requirements: 
  1. Daily travel to remote survey locations, Wells Dam, and other locations as directed.
• Tools and Equipment: 
  1. Other software utilized includes P4 (PIT tagging), DNR Garmin (GPS data), and R-Studio (statistic and graphing). 
  2. Field work uses a variety of transportation including trucks, snowmobiles, ATVs, and rafts. 
  3. Fish sampling tools include angling equipment, backpack electroshockers, coded wire-tag detectors, knives, scissors, tweezers, PIT tag detectors, and GPS devices. 
  4. Agency will provide waders, boots, lifejackets, hard hats, dry-suits, neoprene gloves, and other protective equipment as necessary. 
• Customer Interactions:
  1. Interactions with biologists and hatchery staff from Douglas County Public Utility District (PUD), U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and staff from the Yakama and Colville Tribes may occur. 
  2. The incumbent may interact briefly with the public when conducting field work.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

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OR 

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Please 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.

Licenses: 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

Experience using:

• Microsoft Excel, Word, and Access.
• Rafts, GPS units, and PIT tag detectors.

Ability to: