Fishery Technician III – River Ecology

Overview

The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) assists four tribes in the co-management of their treaty fishing rights within the Columbia River Basin. A key to ensuring our member tribes have a sustainable fishery is the ability to collect and assess information on the status of anadromous and resident fish populations and their habitats within the Columbia River Basin. The positions offered are associated with the Fishery Science Department’s River Ecology Group.

This group assists CRITFC and the four treaty tribes with collection and analysis of data pertaining to anadromous fish populations, stream habitat conditions, habitat restoration, and river ecology.

This position will focus on population and habitat monitoring for ESA-listed spring Chinook Salmon and summer steelhead in the upper Grande Ronde River and Middle Fork John Day basins in northeastern Oregon. Stream habitat data will be collected using a combination of remote sensing and instream habitat monitoring methods. Juvenile salmonid abundance, distribution, growth and diet data will be collected using a variety of methods including snorkel surveys, backpack electrofishing, seining, PIT-tagging, gastric lavage and tissue sampling.

Adult spring Chinook use of thermal refugia will be evaluated using radio tracking, and spring Chinook spatial relative reproductive success will be evaluated using intensive carcass sampling.

• Collect data necessary to assess current status, trends, and key limiting factors (biotic and abiotic) to the viability of spring Chinook Salmon and summer steelhead populations.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of stream restoration actions aimed at improving key limiting habitat factors.
• Use a combination of methods to monitor population and habitat parameters, including remote sensing, instream habitat assessment, snorkel surveys, electrofishing, seining, PIT-tagging, gastric lavage and tissue sampling as applicable.
• Assess adult spring Chinook use of thermal refugia and conduct intensive carcass sampling to evaluate spatial relative reproductive success.

• These positions are seasonal and require an in-person work setting.
• Online applications are preferred; however, assistance is available via email if online submission is not possible.

• Hiring preference: CRITFC implements a tribal preference policy and encourages citizens and descendants of our member tribes (Nez Perce, Umatilla, Warm Springs and Yakama) and other federally recognized tribes to apply.
• CRITFC is committed to building a culturally inclusive community and a work environment that respects and inspires every person. Members of historically marginalized groups are invited to apply.
• CRITFC will consider non-citizen applicants who are authorized to work in the U.S. If not authorized, CRITFC will provide reasonable support and accommodations to obtain U.S. work authorization. With the exception of certain employer-required costs, CRITFC will not pay for costs related to an applicant’s legal representation, filings for work authorization or immigration, or other costs related to obtaining work authorization.

* Please note:

the term “Commission” as used in this description refers to CRITFC’s governing body. CRITFC is a tribal organization that is wholly owned and governed by the Nez Perce Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. As a tribal organization, CRITFC is subject to a unique blend of policies and laws.