Weir​/Trap Technician – Scientific Technician – Non

Overview

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Working Title- Weir/Trap Technician
Classification- Scientific Technician 2
Job Status- Full-Time/Non-Permanent
Appointment/Season Length- 8 Months – October 16, 2025 – July 15, 2026
WDFW Program- Fish Program – Science Division
Duty Station- Dayton, Washington – Columbia County

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW
!

With sustainability and conservation in mind, you will gain valuable working knowledge and field experience in fisheries.

In this dynamic role, you will assist the Touchet River Steelhead VSP project, Fall Chinook Program, and the Tucannon River Endemic Steelhead Evaluation Project in collecting, analyzing, and reporting data relevant to multiple ESA-listed steelhead and fall Chinook populations.

We are seeking a candidate to work effectively as part of a team to achieve and fulfill the goals and objectives of WDFW.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, this position will:

• Adult and juvenile salmonid weir/trap construction, installation, daily maintenance, and data collection.
• Conduct daily adult and juvenile trap checks.
• Assist with trap repair, construction, instream installation, weir/trap removal.
• Collect, record, and ensure accurate physical and biological (species, size, and scale samples) data and field observations in a timely manner to ensure up to date field summaries are available.
• Make trap operation decisions based on observations of environmental conditions.

Assist with the Fall Chinook Program at the Snake River Lab.

• Participate in weekly spawning activities at Lyons Ferry Hatchery during fall chinook spawning.
• Spawning Ground/carcass fall chinook surveys in Lower Tucannon River (ability to walk 3-4 miles in a stream under all weather conditions).
• Fish  biological data collection at Lower Granite Dam fish trap.
• QA/QC of data, reconciliation, and summarization of data.
• Picking eggs, CWT retrieval and reading, scale and otolith sampling.

Assisting with other duties as required.

• Spawning ground surveys for spring chinook or summer steelhead.
• Hook and line sampling of residual hatchery steelhead.
• Data QA/QC.
• Format and upload/download of PIT Tag data to regional databases.
• Assist with mass PIT tagging activities at Lyons Ferry Hatchery as needed.

Work setting: This position is a combination of both office and field duties.

In-stream adult traps and weirs, juvenile rotating screw traps, Lyons Ferry Hatchery, stream surveys (3-4 miles in length) in various SE WA streams and the Lower Granite Adult fish trap. Safety hazards include slippery conditions at traps and hatchery, cold water, in/near the stream, working outside in extreme weather conditions throughout the field season. Chance of bites/stings from insects, snakes or other wildlife.

Sample salmon carcasses in various states of decay with strong odors. Operations and fieldwork may be required during irregular and non-standard work hours and under arduous and varying weather and field conditions. This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.

Schedule: Typically day shift, 8-10 hours per day, including weekends. Work conducted during the peak field seasons may include non-standard work hours (weekends, evenings/nights and/or holidays) and the possibility of weeks in excess of 40 hours.

Travel requirements: No overnight travel is expected. Daily travel is expected for juvenile and adult traps, completing field surveys, assisting in spawning activities at Lyons Ferry, Tucannon River, or other locations within SE WA. Daily travel to Lower Granite Dam may be required.

Customer Interactions: Possibility of interactions with private landowner during routine field trap checks, as well as contact required to complete spawning ground surveys. Answering questions from visitors and general public’s curiosity during field activities, fielding calls from the public and directing them to appropriate contacts.

Required Qualifications:

Option 1: Graduation from high…