Fisheries Technician 2- Wild Salmon & Steelhead Monitoring

Position/Project Specifics:

Fisheries Technician II provides technical assistance in the operation of Rotary Screw Traps, Snorkel surveys, Spawning Ground Survey surveys, and anadromous harvest monitoring. Stationed in McCall, Idaho.

Incumbent joins the Wild Salmon and Steelhead monitoring crew tasked with monitoring and evaluating Idaho's anadromous salmonid populations. The primary duties of this position are; a) lead and participate in operating rotary screw traps on the South Fork Salmon River and in the Frank-Church Wilderness Area (50% of time), b) lead and participate in conducting snorkel surveys to enumerate salmonids in remote areas for up to 8 days at a time (20% of time), c) lead and participate in conducting spawning ground surveys for chinook salmon (10% of time), d) lead and participate in anadromous fishery harvest monitoring surveys (20% of time). This position will lead the work of a snorkel crew (6 individuals) and screw trap tenders (4 individuals). 

Schedule is variable based on duties and time of year. Field work occurs in March through October, and will require working long days, working 50% or more weekends, and frequent multi-day trips. November through February schedule is typically Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm, office work. Schedule is fairly flexible during winter months. Position is full-time, with a contract lasting one year that can potentially be extended from year-to-year after annual review. 

This position will include daily driving on backcountry and mountain roads.

The minimum requirement for this position is a bachelor's degree in fisheries, natural resources, or related field and one year of specialized experience.

Essential Functions:  

• Lead and participate in survey crews that conduct fishery presence/absence research, recreational/commercial fishing surveys, anadromous fish escapement surveys (carcass, redd, trap/weir, snorkel, etc.), or tag detection and mark recovery surveys. Make standardized observations such as species identification, length, weight, behavior, growth, survival, reproductive condition, fin clips or tags, and/or signs of parasites, diseases or pathogens.
• Lead crew in watershed and stream assessments and habitat surveys. May include stream habitat inventories (channel typing, habitat typing, woody debris, etc.), road inventories, and riparian inventories.
• Lead and perform data entry for data from recovered tags, representative biological samples, telemetry devices, oceanographic data, fish tickets, commercial landing estimates, logbooks, scale cards, port sampling, onboard observers, etc. Error check the data, maintain and update database, analyze and organize data in the appropriate format (table, spreadsheet, memorandum, or report) necessary for transfer to individuals, agencies, and organizations. Modify software programs and perform data queries. Prepare summary reports to transfer data.

 Knowledge Required by the Position:

• Knowledge of fishery biology (including knowledge of particular species of fish).
• Knowledge of fish husbandry.
• Knowledge of aquatic habitats.
• Knowledge of the scientific method.
• Knowledge of sampling protocols.
• Knowledge of personal computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail, publishing software, presentation software, database software, topographic software, bibliographic software, and statistical analysis packages.
• Knowledge of technical writing protocols.
• Knowledge of basic math.

Employees have the knowledge to resolve common technical or procedural problems for themselves or their work crew.  They are able to assess or interpret the significance of their results and relate that to the overall objective of the project.  They have the knowledge to outline, organize and execute the details of projects where unusual or irregular procedural or technical problems arise.   

Additional Mandatory Skills: 

• electrofishing-boat                 
• electrofishing-backpack
• operate nets (seine, gill, etc.)    
• operate trap/weir
• carcass and redd surveys
• electronic detection technol.               
• able to swim                           
• lift 40 - 50 lbs.
• valid driver's license
• hiking             
• operate GPS
• habitat typing                                     
• habitat monitoring                  
• fish species ID skills               
• using fish keys
• operate handheld data recorder         
• compile and collect neat and accurate data   
• specific software skills (spreadsheet, word processing, database, GIS, statistical)
• underwater video camera                  
• oral communication skills                  
• written communication skills
• repair & maintain equipment

Physical Demands:

Demands can range from sedentary, to moderate --where there is walking, climbing stairs and ladders, reaching, lifting, and bending, to rigorous. In the latter case, the employee must be able to handle buckets of water or gear weighing up to 50 pounds. Long daily periods of hiking, carrying equipment, swimming, and/or standing may be required. Camping out for extended periods may be required. Some work requires the ability to maintain footing in fast-moving water.

Work Environment:

Some work is performed in an office setting with adequate lighting, heating and ventilation. Some work may be performed in fish processing labs, fish holding areas, and/or in the field. Employees may work on narrow, elevated walkways and platforms that are over or adjacent to water. Field work involves exposure to all types of weather, slippery rocks or docks, trails, irregular terrain, insects, poison oak, rough or fast-moving water, or cold water temperatures. Work at high elevations or aboard boats may be required.