Inland Fishery Technician - Scientific Technician - Career Seasonal

Title- Inland Fishery Technician

Classification- Scientific Technician 2

Job Status- Full-Time - Career Seasonal

Season Length- 6.5 months – April 15 – October 31

WDFW Program- Fish Program

Duty Station- Ridgefield, Washington – Clark County

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Photo Caption:
Cutthroat Trout – Photo Credit:
Levi Swann

This is an opportunity to gain hands on fisheries experience in dynamic field environments while contributing to the sustainability of Washington’s fisheries and recreational fishing opportunities.

In this role, you will support the management of resident, warmwater, and anadromous fish populations through field surveys and data collection.

Envision yourself assisting with fishery surveys in regional waters including lowland lakes, high lakes, warmwater fisheries, and tributaries, while also monitoring angler catch through creel surveys.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Inland Fishery Technician will,

Assist with fishery surveys and natural resource assessments throughout regional waters:

• Assist with field sampling activities using assigned sampling methods to capture resident fishes, warmwater species, and occasionally anadromous salmonids in Region 5 lakes, rivers, sloughs, and other water bodies.
• Participate in boat electrofishing surveys and collect length/weight data from captured fish.
• Deploy a variety of fish sampling gear and research tools (gill nets, fyke nets, setlines, temperature loggers) used to determine abundance and distribution.
• Collect biological and environmental data such as fish species, sex, length, weight, marks, origin, water temp, D.O., conductivity, pH, aquatic plant coverage, and bathymetry for Region 5 waters.
• Perform creel surveys and angler interviews to collect effort, catch, and harvest data in various regional fisheries.
• Collect scale, otolith, and stomach content samples as well as tissue samples for genetic analysis, and tags fish as needed to meet project objectives. Prepare scale and otolith samples for age determination and process fish diet samples.
• Perform data entry, as well as quality assurance/control in appropriate databases or locations as determined by project biologists.

Assist with implementation of fish management actions that contribute to agency-recognized programs and priorities:

• Support WDFW’s statewide lowland lake trout derby by distributing tagged fish in regional lakes.
• Perform tiger muskie scatter planting in Merwin and Mayfield Reservoirs.
• Backpack and release juvenile trout in designated high lakes to support backcountry opportunities.
• Participate in lake habitat management projects, sometimes including the use of aquatic herbicides.

• Perform maintenance on agency boats, vehicles, and scientific gear.

Work setting, including hazards:

• Work is primarily performed in the field across the six (6) counties of Region 5, with some office and laboratory duties at Region 5 headquarters.
• Field work may occur during inclement weather, including extreme heat, cold, rain, snow, and may require driving in icy or snowy road conditions.
• May require walking or hiking over rough and slippery terrain in varying environmental conditions for long hours (up to 10 miles and/or 10+ hours per day).
• Navigate on foot in wilderness areas for extended periods without cellular service.
• High lake planting requires travel in remote, wilderness areas and carrying loads weighing up to 35 pounds.
• This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.

This position is full-time, working 40 hours per week. The standard work schedule requires flexibility as work hours may be assigned at any time within a 24-hour period. Shifts are not fixed and may vary based on operational needs.

• Frequent single-day trips, possibly requiring several hours of driving, to access fieldwork sites throughout the region.
• Occasionally, trips will require overnight stays, which may include primitive camping in remote areas.
• Overnight travel to other areas of Washington,…