Fisheries Management Biologist

State of Montana•Butte, MT

11d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is in the Upper Clark Fork River drainage with towns and cities that include Deer Lodge, Anaconda, and Butte. The area has a history and culture rich in mining and agriculture as well as outdoor recreation. Butte is the most populous city with about 35,000 people with its origins in mining of the "richest hill on earth" and now the Berkley Pit and music festivals. It’s also at about 5,800 ft of elevation. Anaconda is a smaller community with a mining history and is located near Discovery Ski Resort, Georgetown Lake, and the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness. Deer Lodge has a ranching history with Grant Kohrs National Historic Site and local government. Superfund cleanup and habitat restoration are ongoing in the drainage with many agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private landowners taking part. Primary job duties include survey and inventory of fisheries and habitat, fish stocking and harvest regulation recommendations, protecting habitat through river and stream project review and permitting, and pursuing aquatic habitat enhancement opportunities. Fisheries are mostly cold-water trout fisheries. Native trout include west slope cutthroat trout and bull trout, and their conservation is a management emphasis. The position's responsibility area includes the Clark Fork River upstream of the confluence of Flint Creek to its headwaters, and all water draining into it including Silver Bow Creek, Warm Springs Creek, and the Little Blackfoot River. Typical sampling includes boat and backpack electrofishing, gill netting, and genetic sampling and assessments. Ability to learn, critically evaluate, and adopt new information is crucial. In addition to knowledge of fish biology and management, stream permitting and habitat enhancement projects require a working knowledge of hydrology and the ability to evaluate engineering designs as well as to responsibly and fairly administer laws. Lands include forested mountains managed by state and federal government and private agricultural hay and cattle operations. Restoring the aquatic and terrestrial resources in the area is a focus for the Upper Clark Fork community. FWP is currently investing considerable time and resources into collaborative monitoring, evaluation, and research with other agencies and universities. Effective private landowner, inter-agency, and conservation group collaboration is essential to achieve restoration goals.

Requirements

Thorough working knowledge of fisheries management principles & techniques of fish sampling methods and equipment
Electrofishing and water safety
Aquatic research methods & equipment
Stream mechanics & habitat management
Thorough working knowledge of computer use for data processing
Telemetry techniques and analysis
Statistical analysis
Skills in writing, speaking and working effectively with a broad spectrum of individuals, groups & agencies
Ability to operate a wide variety of vehicles, boats, motors, instruments and sampling equipment
Physical ability to do strenuous outdoor work in all weather conditions & locations ranging from valley bottom river and reservoirs to high altitude lakes and streams
Excellent work habits, technical ability, applied knowledge and leadership skills
Master’s degree in Fish and Wildlife Biology, Range Management, Zoology, or Fish and Wildlife Management, Biology or a closely related biological field including completion of a field research project presented in a successfully defended thesis
OR Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience as a fisheries/wildlife biologist or senior fisheries/wildlife technician, in addition to successful completion of a research effort that includes: Literature review and development of a problem statement and or hypothesis for a particular issue; Development of a detailed study plan or sampling protocol for a field-oriented project based on the above-noted hypothesis; Data collection and the effective management of data with an appropriate application; Interpretation and analysis of data, including a quantitative assessment of that information; Completion of a final report in a peer-reviewed publication or a publication comparable to a refereed journal; If appropriate to the project, formulation of any recommended changes in management prescriptions or actions; Oral presentation on results of investigation to agency staff and public audiences.

Nice To Haves

Ability to learn, critically evaluate, and adopt new information is crucial.

Responsibilities

Survey and inventory of fisheries and habitat
Fish stocking and harvest regulation recommendations
Protecting habitat through river and stream project review and permitting
Pursuing aquatic habitat enhancement opportunities
Collaborative monitoring, evaluation, and research with other agencies and universities