Fisheries Water Quality Technician

Position Summary This journey-level position has the primary responsibility for collecting, managing, and analyzing data within the Puyallup, Carbon, and White River watersheds to protect and recover treaty fish runs and habitat. Duties include on‑site collection of water samples for laboratory analysis, data entry, workflow planning, quality assurance, and scientific report writing. The technologist serves as a departmental contact with tribal, local, state, and federal agencies on watershed matters.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist supervisor in designing and implementing the Tribal Fisheries Water Quality Management Program.
• Conduct monthly sampling at designated sites in the watershed, collecting measurements by manual and computer‑based methods in compliance with EPA and Washington State mandates.
• On a quarterly basis, coordinate research on bacteriological pollutants and nutrients affecting fish habitat, ensure laboratory transport, review results for trends, and recommend corrective actions.
• Schedule and perform seasonal fish habitat monitoring studies (temperature, macroinvertebrates, habitat assessment) and prepare quality assurance work plans.
• Maintain and calibrate continuous monitoring stations for pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, temperature, salinity, and turbidity.
• Participate in educational events, seminars, and outreach on treaty fisheries and water quality.
• Engage in inter‑agency cooperative assessments and pollutant source identification studies.
• Coordinate with tribal departments and external agencies (WDFW, NMFS, EPA, WDE, Pierce County, Tacoma‑Pierce County Health Department) on water quality and related issues.
• Collect GPS data for sampling sites and related habitat data.
• Represent the tribe in meetings with the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, Coordinated Tribal Water Quality Program, and Puyallup River Watershed Council.
• Assist in compiling annual tribal fisheries and water quality reports, analyzing data from ArcGIS Online, Survey
  123, Field Maps, and HOBOware.
• Monitor and sample salmonids, perform species identification, field tagging, and related biological data collection.
• Assist with equipment and vehicle related supervision.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

• Suitable for individuals who can perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations available.
• Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries and/or Environmental Science from a four‑year institution; two years of related experience or training in salmonid identification, habitat assessment, or water quality monitoring, or equivalent education/experience combination.
• Valid Washington State driver’s license and insurance.
• Ability to read, interpret, and write routine reports and correspondences; effective verbal communication.
• Proficiency in basic mathematics, statistics, geometry, and trigonometry, and ability to apply them in practical contexts.
• Sound reasoning and problem‑solving skills.
• Swim proficiency; ability to work around swift water, uneven terrain, and slippery surfaces.
• Occasional travel and occasional requirement to stand, walk, lift up to 20 lbs, and handle equipment in field settings.
• Requires occasional use of standard office equipment (computer, phone, fax, copier).
• Pass a criminal background check.

Typical field duties involve standing, walking, jogging, climbing, stooping, kneeling, and lifting 15–20 lbs. Proper vision, color vision, and depth perception are required.

Work is partially performed in an office and partially in adverse weather conditions. Moderate noise levels and personal transportation for travel may be required.

Native American preference applies and job placements are given on a competitive basis using job‑related factors.