Fisheries Technician 1- American River Escapement Surveys

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission•Rancho Cordova, CA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is recruiting candidates to fill the role of Fisheries Technician 1 - American River Escapement Surveys. This is a temporary position (4 months or less) with an anticipated start date of October 5th, 2026. Work is performed Monday-Friday, but daily hours will vary and will require a willingness to work long field days with early start times. The position is based out of Rancho Cordova, CA.

Requirements

Previous field work experience
Ability to walk 2-5 miles per day in inclement weather on uneven, slippery surfaces and in-river over large cobble
Ability to kayak on a river
Ability to swim
Ability to lift up to 40 pounds repeatedly throughout the day
Possession of a valid driver’s license
Must be willing to handle rotten fish carcasses all day
Ability to record neat and accurate field data
Ability to operate a computer and various PC-based software programs
Must be able to read, write and speak English at a level required for successful job performance
Follow oral and written directions
Ability to work as part of a team, especially under stressful conditions
Six months of General Experience OR one year of education above the high school level that included at least six semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses. An equivalent combination of experience and education is also qualifying.
One year of Specialized Experience OR a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with a major or at least 24 semester hours of coursework in any combination of scientific or technical courses. An equivalent combination of experience and education is also qualifying.

Responsibilities

Conducting shore and boat-based salmon escapement surveys (carcass surveys) on the lower American River in Sacramento, California.
Performing strenuous field work (walking and wading in uneven terrain, kayaking and navigation of swift water, lifting up to 40 lbs repeatedly throughout the day, etc) daily in inclement weather conditions.
Searching for salmon carcasses while walking the riverbanks, paddling kayaks, and/or surveying from boat (2-5 miles each day).
Collecting decayed salmon with a gaff and bringing them to shore for processing and data collection, which includes species identification, sex, length, and reproductive condition.
Collecting fish scales, tissue samples, and salmon heads through the use of sharp knives, in addition to chopping salmon carcasses in half using a machete.
Maintaining and cleaning field equipment and boats.
Recording accurate data.
Processing biological samples at the end of each day.
Data entry using desktop computers.
Performing QA/QC of data.
Adhering to safety and data collection protocols.
Operating and trailering boats/kayaks.
Performing other office related or lab tasks.
Participate in survey crews that conduct regional 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, and/or signs of parasites, diseases or pathogens, fin clips or tags.
Collect and organize biological and habitat samples and collections (such as scales, otoliths, ageing structures, other tissues, water quality, etc.).
Summarize and input biological or habitat data on field forms, electronic data loggers, and/or desktop computers.
Assist with preliminary data summaries and analyses, technical report writing, or database management.