Salmonid Trap Technician - Scientific Technician - Non

Salmonid Trap Technician (Scientific Technician
2)

Job Status:
Full-Time/Non-Permanent

Appointment: 9.75 Months – August 3 2026 – May 31 2027

Program:
Fish Program – Hatchery-Wild Interactions Division

Duty Station:
Dayton, Washington – Columbia County

We are seeking a candidate to assist the Touchet River Steelhead VSP project, Fall Chinook Program, and the Tucannon River Endemic Steelhead Evaluation Project.

• Adult and juvenile salmonid weir/trap construction, installation, daily maintenance, and data collection.
• Conduct daily adult and juvenile trap checks.
• Assist with trap repair, construction, instream installation, and weir/trap removal.
• Collect, record, and ensure accurate physical and biological data and field observations.
• Make trap operation decisions based on environmental conditions.
• Safe handling and anesthetization of adult and juvenile ESA‑listed salmonids and other fish species.
• PIT tagging adult and juvenile salmonids.
• Prep and maintain field gear for daily use.
• Participate in weekly spawning activities at Lyons Ferry Hatchery during fall Chinook spawning.
• Conduct spawning ground/carcass surveys and fish  Lower Tucannon River and Lower Granite Dam fish trap.
• QA/QC of data, reconciliation, and summarization.
• Assist with egg picking, CWT retrieval, scale and otolith sampling, and mass PIT tagging activities.
• Other duties as required (spawning ground surveys for spring or summer, hook and line sampling of residual hatchery steelhead).

Combination of office and field duties. In-stream adult traps and weirs, juvenile rotating screw traps, Lyons Ferry Hatchery, stream surveys (3‑4 miles). May involve working in or near water, navigating aquatic environments.

Schedule:

Generally day shift, 8‑10 hours per day, including weekends. Field seasons may require non‑standard work hours and weeks exceeding 40 hours.

Travel:
Daily travel to trap sites, spawning activities, Lower Granite Dam.

Customer interactions with private landowners, public, and other agencies.

• High school diploma or GED with one year of high school science.
• Two (2) years professional or volunteer experience as a Scientific Technician or laboratory/field assistant to a biologist, chemist, or zoologist.
• College coursework in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences counts as experience (≥6 semester or 9 quarter hours).
• Valid driver’s license.

• Proficiency in safe handling and anesthetization of ESA‑listed salmonids.
• Experience identifying southeastern Washington salmonids.
• Basic biological understanding of salmonid species.
• Clear communication skills.
• Computer proficiency (data entry, Microsoft Office).
• Experience with fish weirs and rotary screw traps.
• Knowledge of P4 and Microsoft Access for data management.
• Experience with PIT tagging adult and juvenile steelhead.
• Basic construction abilities.
• Spawning ground survey experience.
• Problem‑solving and calm demeanor in field interactions.
• Swiftwater Safety training, CPR/AED/First Aid training.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.