Freshwater Monitoring Technician - Scientific Technician 2 - Career Seasonal - 2026-06396

Freshwater Monitoring Technician

Working Title:

Freshwater Monitoring Technician

Classification:
Scientific Technician 2

Job Status:
Full-Time/Career Seasonal

Season Length: 7 Months – September 1 – March 31

WDFW Program:
Fish Program – Regional Operations

Duty Station:
Forks, Washington – Jefferson County

Are you passionate about protecting fish populations for future generations?

Do you have strong interpersonal skills and experience remaining courteous and professional while addressing difficult situations?

With sustainability and conservation in mind, you will conduct biological sampling of fish, collection of field data, and interview anglers to assess catch rates of salmon, steelhead, and other species, including in the Quinault and Queets river basins.

In this dynamic role, you will assist with creel monitoring programs for fall salmon and winter steelhead fisheries.

What to Expect:

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

• Conduct angler creel interviews to estimate catch of target species and incidental impacts on non-target species during freshwater recreational salmon and steelhead fisheries.
• Perform surveys to assess angling effort, counting angler vehicles and trailers at multiple, pre-determined river locations accessed by motor vehicles.
• Contact anglers to conduct creel interviews, travel by foot to contact bank anglers at river access points and monitor boat ramps for groups of returning boat anglers.
• Provide feedback about sampling protocols, and accurately record data in iPad application (iForm), paper data sheets, and on scale and tissue sample card paper forms.
• During interviews, ask pre-determined questions about an angler's fishing experience (e.g., trip length, target species, and catch and/or harvest).
• Identify salmonids to species and sex.

Data:

• Legibly record data from duty 1 above.
• Accurately enter data to electronic devices.
• Perform a preliminary QAQC prior to syncing data.
• Summarize, prepare, write, text, call, or email data requested by supervisors or other WDFW management staff.

Working Conditions:

Work setting:
Work is primarily conducted in the field. Adverse weather and environmental conditions, noise, odors, and walking through vegetation and in uneven terrain in and near streams and rivers to obtain angler interviews. Climbing in and out of boats, sampling salmon in a boat, carrying, kneeling, heavy lifting (up to 40 lbs. unassisted) containers of fish, working and standing in confined space, fish blood and slime.

Driving and hiking to fishing areas or driving to creel locations via state, federal, and county roads, as well as local travel along streams on private (logging) roads throughout the district using a state vehicle. Staff may need to hike up to 5 miles or boat up to 10 miles of stream over slippery and uneven terrain to reach anglers.

Boating may include navigating up to class III whitewater. Must be comfortable and able to follow game and angler trails to remote sites in periods of low light or mid-day to find and interview anglers. This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.

Schedule:

Full-time, working 40 hours per week, requiring working on Saturday and Sunday. Schedules may vary based on business needs, time of year, and/or weather conditions. The standard work schedule includes the potential for occasional evening work as needed.

Travel requirements:
Considerable driving is required via state, federal, and county roads, as well as local travel on private (logging) roads. May have to shuttle State vehicles between Forks, Montesano, and Olympia.

Customer Interactions:
Interactions with co-workers from WDFW and co-managing Tribes, recreational anglers; interacts with the public during data collection, and provide basic information regarding fisheries resources, as well as agency programs and activities. Provides sport fishing regulatory information to the public. Includes possible contact with individuals who are angry, distraught, or frustrated. Provides a high level of customer service to anglers and the public.

Liais…