Freshwater Monitoring Technician - Scientific Technician 2 - Career Seasonal - 2026-06396
About The Position
This is a Full-Time/Career Seasonal position for a Freshwater Monitoring Technician (Scientific Technician 2) with a season length of 7 months, from September 1 to March 31. The duty station is Forks, Washington. The role involves conducting biological sampling of fish, collecting field data, and interviewing anglers to assess catch rates of salmon, steelhead, and other species, particularly in the Quinault and Queets river basins. The position assists with creel monitoring programs for fall salmon and winter steelhead fisheries. The job requires strong interpersonal skills and the ability to remain courteous and professional when addressing difficult situations.
Requirements
- Graduation from high school or GED, including one year of high school science.
- Two (2) years of experience as a Scientific Technician 1 OR Two (2) years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a biologist, chemist, or zoologist.
- 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 science classes.
- Valid driver’s license.
Nice To Haves
- Experience sampling adult salmonids for marks and tags, including scanning fish for CWT’s.
- Experience using iPads for data collection.
- Ability to identify saltwater and river stage adult salmonids to species.
- Ability to identify sex of adult salmonids.
- Experience conducting creel surveys.
Responsibilities
- Conduct angler creel interviews to estimate catch of target species and incidental impacts on non-target species during freshwater recreational salmon and steelhead fisheries.
- Perform surveys to assess angling effort, counting angler vehicles and trailers at multiple, pre-determined river locations accessed by motor vehicles.
- Contact anglers to conduct creel interviews, travel by foot to contact bank anglers at river access points and monitor boat ramps for groups of returning boat anglers.
- Provide feedback about sampling protocols, and accurately record data in iPad application (iForm), paper data sheets, and on scale and tissue sample card paper forms.
- Ask pre-determined questions about an angler’s fishing experience (e.g., trip length, target species, and catch and/or harvest).
- Identify salmonids to species and sex.
- Legibly record data.
- Accurately enter data to electronic devices.
- Perform a preliminary QAQC prior to syncing data.
- Summarize, prepare, write, text, call, or email data requested by supervisors or other WDFW management staff.
- Interact with co-workers from WDFW and co-managing Tribes, recreational anglers; interacts with the public during data collection, and provide basic information regarding fisheries resources, as well as agency programs and activities.
- Provide sport fishing regulatory information to the public.
- Provide a high level of customer service to anglers and the public.
- Liaison to regional supervisor and enforcement on fishery violations observed in the field.
- Ability to interact and maintain professionalism with colleagues, peers and the public regardless of intensity of interaction.
Benefits
- Pay and other special employee programs
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
High school or GED
