Recreational Steelhead Fisheries Sampler - Scientific Tech 2 - Non-Perm - 2 Openings - 2025-08376

State of Washington • Forks, WA

46d • Onsite

About The Position

These positions offer hands-on field experience as a recreational test fisher and sampler for steelhead fisheries in District 16 streams, including the Quillayute and Hoh basins.

In this role, you'll perform advanced scientific work, independently following both established and new sampling protocols to collect data from coastal recreational steelhead fisheries. 

The information you gather is critical as it helps fisheries managers understand catch and effort patterns, assess the health of different stocks, and ensure that spawning goals are met, supporting sustainable fisheries for the future.

Requirements

• Option 1: Graduation from high school or GED, including one (1) year of high school science. AND Two (2) years of experience as a Scientific Technician 1.
• Option 2: Graduation from high school or GED, including one (1) year of high school science AND 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 may substitute year-for-year for experience, provided the coursework includes at least six (6) semester or nine (9) quarter hours of natural science classes.
• Professional and volunteer experience involving biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural resources, engineering, or closely allied fields may substitute year for year for experience.
• Valid driver's license.
• Successful completion of mandatory job-related training and/or certification-such as safety, equipment operation, fieldwork procedures, and/or emergency management-may be required as a condition of employment, depending on position responsibilities, supervisory direction, and training availability.
• Employees may also be required to participate in safety courses, committees, or groups, and complete recertification as needed to support the safety of the agency and its personnel.

Nice To Haves

• One (1) year or more of professional experience in the following:
• Recreational steelhead or salmon fishing experience in freshwater streams.
• Operating non-motorized single-person pontoons boats, drift boats, or rafts in up to Class III whitewater.
• Identifying saltwater and river-stage adult salmonids to species.
• Identifying all salmon species, steelhead, and bull trout.
• Salmon life history and sport fishing regulations in freshwater streams on the Washington coast.
• Sport fishing methods and gear.
• Record keeping and data management from biological samples (e.g., coded-wire tag recoveries, scale and DNA samples, inserting floy tags).

Responsibilities

• Conduct Test Fishing and Surveys in District 16 Streams for Steelhead Fisheries
• Pilot WDFW rafts and pontoons to conduct recreational test fishing.
• Use a variety of fishing methods (e.g., bobber, lure, jig, fly) to emulate the recreational fishing fleet.
• Operate single-person pontoon boats and multi-person drift boats and rafts, including trailering, launching, docking, and navigating up to Class III whitewater in all types of weather conditions.
• Perform minor routine maintenance on the boats, trailer, and test fishing equipment.
• Ensure the safety of self and team members while on the river by following all rules, safety procedures, and agency policies for sampling in and near streams.
• Collect biological data on steelhead catch to obtain stock composition (DNA), age structure (scales), length, and hatchery/natural-origin (mark-status) proportions.
• Accurately record, summarize, and upload data to the database.
• Mark landed steelhead with floy tags to gather data on mark-recapture rates of wild steelhead.
• Collaborate with private guide boats to ensure accurate emulation of guided fisheries.
• Perform surveys to assess angler effort, including counting angler vehicles and trailers at multiple pre-determined river locations accessed by motor vehicle.
• Accurately record data using electronic or paper forms.
• Observe, count, and identify all steelhead, salmon, and freshwater fish species.
• Sample steelhead, Coho, and Chinook salmon using electronic coded wire tag (CWT) detection devices.
• Classify, sort, and count marked (adipose fin-clipped) tagged, untagged, and unmarked fish (CWT).
• Retrieve snouts with CWTs from steelhead, Coho, and Chinook salmon to determine stock-specific impacts for fisheries modeling.
• Collect biological samples from recreational catch, including DNA, scales (for age), fork length, and sex ratios.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Administration of Economic Programs
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees