Smolt Trap Technician - Scientific Technician - Non Four

Overview

Title- Smolt Trap Technician

Classification- Scientific Technician 2

Job Status- Full-Time - Non-Permanent

Number of Vacancies- Four (4)

Appointment Length- 4 months – March 2, 2026 – June 30, 2026

WDFW Program- Fish Program

Duty Station- Olympia, Washington – Thurston County

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Photo Caption:
Rotary Screw Trap – Photo Credit: WDFW

Are you passionate about fishery conservation and enjoy working outdoors? Join our team in the Chehalis River Basin and play a vital role in the operation and maintenance of smolt traps.

In this hands-on fieldwork role, you’ll conduct daily trap checks, sample juvenile fish, and apply a variety of marking and tagging techniques to support fisheries research and management efforts.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Smolt Trap Technician will:

• Assist with the installation, removal, operation, and maintenance of juvenile fish traps.
• Check trap(s) daily, enumerate, and sub-sample juvenile fish catch.
• Collect and record biological and environmental data assigned by supervisor.
• Use various marking and tagging techniques such as coded wire tags (CWTs), PIT tags, fin clips, VIE, opercule punch, and bismark brown.
• Perform efficiency trials.
• Enter and error check data into agency database(s) and paper forms.
• Perform trap maintenance as directed.
• Organize and maintain all trap related gear, sampling equipment and data forms.
• Drive agency vehicles to and from work sites as directed – may include off-road conditions and trailering.

Work setting, including hazards:

• Primarily field-based work, which may occur in inclement weather conditions, including high river flows, swift water, water temperatures down to 32°F, and air temperatures below 32°F and above 95°F.
• Navigate uneven terrain, exposure to noise and odors, repetitive movements, long periods of sitting, squatting, walking, standing, and kneeling, sometimes while standing in cold water for extended periods.
• Duties may also include heavy lifting (up to 50 lbs. unassisted), working in confined spaces, exposure to fish blood and slime, slippery surfaces, biting and stinging insects, use of knives, thorny or spiny vegetation and pollen.
• Transport agency staff and equipment in agency vehicles.
• This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.

Travel Requirements: Daily travel from duty station to field locations using agency vehicle. Some navigating on gravel logging roads with a 4x4 truck.

Tools and Equipment: Trucks, cars, trailers, GPS units, temperature loggers, tablets, head lamps, flashlights, measuring board, DNA envelopes, maps, totes/bins, paper forms, labels, scale cards, MS-222, blotter sheets, pencils, pens, clipboard, scissors, scalpels, forceps, computer, cell phones, electronic sampling equipment, Mark IV coded wire tag (CWT) tagging unit, quality control device (QCD), CWT wand, V-Detector, scale, first aid kit, calculator, knives, personal flotation device (PFD), WDFW apparel, chest waders, wading boots, wading belt, trail cameras, rubber boots, gloves, hand tools, power tools, pumps, winches, ladders, generators, hydraulic and water pumps, fish collection gear including nets, seines, weirs, screw and fan traps, passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag reader, and rain gear.

Required Qualifications:

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:

• Professional and volunteer experience involving biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry,…