Spawning Ground Surveyor - Scientific Technician - Non Three

Title
- Spawning Ground Surveyor Classification
- Scientific Technician 2

Number of Vacancies
- Three (3) Job Status
- Full-Time/Non-Permanent Anticipated Appointment Length- 3 Months– October 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026 WDFW Program
- Fish Program – Fish Management Duty Station
- Lacey, Washington – Thurston County

Photo Caption:
Marking Fall Chinook Redds – Photo Credit: WDFW

Are you passionate about the great outdoors and committed to promoting sustainable fishing opportunities? Join our team and gain valuable hands-on experience.

This is an opportunity to conduct spawning ground surveys in the South Puget Sound watersheds and in Hood Canal for hatchery and wild Chinook, coho, chum, pink, sockeye, steelhead, and lamprey.

Your work will directly contribute to hatchery vs. wild salmon escapement estimates, run reconstruction, and forecasts used in fisheries management for both non-tribal sport and tribal commercial gillnet fisheries.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Spawning Ground Surveyors will,

• Conduct surveys by enumerating and monitoring salmon, steelhead, and lamprey redds and recording live/dead fish counts.
• Drive to and from survey areas, utilizing maps and GPS as needed.
• Enter data accurately onto field cards and into spreadsheets/databases.
• Collect biological data from fish carcasses, such as scales, fin marks, and coded wire tags (CWT).
• Perform routine maintenance of assigned field gear, vehicles, and equipment.
• Track weather and stream flows in relation to the survey schedule.

Work Setting, including hazards:
Work outdoors in all weather conditions and varying stream flows, often alone and sometimes in small groups. Work is performed in a variety of terrain and stream substrate conditions. Hike (usually 3-5 miles) in or along streams with slick boulders, crawl over logjams, and wade across riffles with moderate-to-fast current. Maneuver watercraft such as rafts, drift boats, or jet sleds.

Repetitively lift and maneuver equipment upwards to, or greater than, 40 pounds. This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.

Full-time, 40 hours per week. A flexible schedule is required as it will vary based on weather conditions, stream flows, visibility, and the degree of spawning activity and may include weekends and holidays.

Daily travel from duty station to work sites.

Watercraft (such as raft, drift boat, pontoon boats), personal flotation device (PFD), personal protective equipment (PPE), and sampling instruments.

May interact with members of the public.

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.

Please Note
:
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 (6) semester or nine (9) quarter hours of natural science classes.

Valid Driver’s License.

In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess some or all the following:

• Identifying living and deceased salmonids in a field setting.
• Identifying, interpreting, and monitoring salmonid or lamprey spawning…