The California Department of Water Resources is seeking (6) Fisheries Technician positions to work on the Feather River Program based in Oroville, CA and/or the lower Yuba River.
Under the supervision of a Supervisory Fishery Biologist, DWR Senior Environmental Scientist and other Environmental Scientists, the incumbents will assist with daily field activities and data collection on various surveys conducted by the Feather River Program including the Chinook Salmon Escapement Survey and Chinook spawning activities at the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife Feather River Fish Hatchery; Yuba River spring-run Chinook salmon redd survey and rotary screw trapping. Successful candidates will participate in a cohesive crew and will identify various fish species and accurately collect biological and environmental data. Incumbents will be able to effectively identify salmon redd features and be proficient using a handheld GPS. The candidates will demonstrate safety consciousness and adhere to all safety and data collection protocols. The candidate must be willing to work in inclement weather and be willing to work weekends, nights, and overtime. Flexibility to help on other program projects on an as needed basis is also a must.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Operate and maintain various motorized watercraft and 4WD trucks
- Collect fish carcasses with a gaff or spear and chop in half with a machete
- Make standardized observations including, but not limited to, species identification, sex, length, and reproductive condition
- Collect fish scales, otoliths and remove fish heads with a machete or knife
- Maintain and clean field equipment and boats
- Assist with daily QA/QC of datasheets and entered data
- Adhere to and enforce all safety and data collection protocols
- Assist with other project tasks as assigned
Essential Functions:
- 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. May assist with preliminary data summaries and analyses, technical report writing, or database management.
Knowledge Required by the Position:
At the lower end of the range, employees use knowledge of basic arithmetic, reading, writing, and data collection to perform routine or repetitive tasks.
At the upper end of the position range, employees use knowledge of the basic principles and protocols of fish biology to make readings, measurements, and observations; execute tests; collect samples, etc. If complex equipment systems are operated, the employee has the knowledge to perform calibrations or adjustments to achieve desired results.
Additional Mandatory Skills:
- Must be able to lift 50 lbs.
- Ability to swim 50 yards and tread water for 10 minutes
- Ability to follow oral and written directions
- Knowledge of computer applications and software (Excel, Access, Word, Outlook)
- Must be able to read, write and speak English
- Ability to identify juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead trout
- Must be comfortable working from, operation, and trailering motorized watercraft
- Must have a valid driver's license with a clean driving record
- Must have a flexible schedule, including the ability to work nights and weekends
Minimum Qualification Requirements:
A range of experience and education may be presented. At the lower end of the range, candidates must present 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.
At the upper end of the range, candidates must present 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.
- General Experience is (1) any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with biological sciences or the processes of the biological sciences.
**Specialized Experience is experience that equips the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position being filled.
