Creel Surveyor - Scientific Technician - Non

Working Title-Creel Surveyor

Classification- Scientific Technician 2

Job Status- Full-Time/Non-Permanent

Appointment Length- 4 Months –December 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027

WDFW Program- Fish Program – Fish Management

Duty Station- Forks, Washington – Clallam County

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW
!

Photo Caption – Creel Survey – Photo Credit: WDFW

Are you passionate about the great outdoors and committed to promoting sustainable fishing opportunities?

Join our team and conduct activities directly tied to the conservation of native fish populations in Olympic Peninsula of Washington.

In this role, you will conduct creel surveys to monitor fish populations in District 17, including in the Queets, Quinault, Clearwater, and Salmon rivers, with work as needed in District 16 which includes the Quillayute and Hoh rivers, contributing to estimates of harvest and wild fish impacts.

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

Creel sampling.

• Conducts angler interviews to estimate catch of target species and incidental impacts to non-target species during freshwater recreational salmon and steelhead fisheries.
• Performs surveys to assess angling effort, counting angler vehicles and trailers at multiple, pre-determined river locations accessed by motor vehicle.
• Provides feedback about sampling protocols, and accurately records data into iPad application, paper data sheets, and on scale and tissue sample card paper forms.
• Samples all Chinook, coho salmon, and steelhead with electronic CWT detection devices.
• Classifies, sorts, and enumerates marked (adipose fin-clipped), unmarked, and stubbed dorsal salmon and steelhead by CWT status.

• Legibly record angler interview, angler effort, and biological sample data..
• Accurately enter data to electronic devices.
• Review and tabulate data.
• Enter data to existing spreadsheets and databases in Excel, Access, or other apps.
• Summarize, prepare, write, text, call in, or email data requested by supervisors or other WDFW management staff.

Work is primarily conducted in the field. Adverse weather and environmental conditions, noise, odors, repetitive movements of hands, finger manipulations, long periods of sitting, squatting, 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, slippery surfaces, biting and stinging insects, use of knives, transporting agency staff and equipment in agency vehicles. Contacting anglers requires 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. This position will involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.

Schedule: This position is full-time, working 40 hours per week. The standard work schedule includes the potential for occasional evening or weekend work as needed. Schedules may vary based on business needs, time of year, and/or weather conditions.

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.

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