Salmonid Trap Technician - Scientific Technician 2 - Non-Permanent - 2026-05411

About the role

This position involves assisting with the Touchet River Steelhead VSP project, Fall Chinook Program, and the Tucannon River Endemic Steelhead Evaluation Project. The primary responsibilities include:

• Adult and juvenile salmonid weir/trap construction, installation, daily maintenance, and data collection.
• Assist with trap repair, construction, instream installation, and weir/trap removal.
• Collect, record, and ensure accurate physical and biological data and field observations in a timely manner.
• Make trap operation decisions based on observations of 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.
• Assist with the Fall Chinook Program at the Snake River Lab.
• Participate in weekly spawning activities at Lyons Ferry Hatchery.
• Spawning Ground/carcass fall chinook surveys in Lower Tucannon River (ability to walk 3-4 miles in a stream under all weather conditions).
• Fish ID and biological data collection at Lower Granite Dam fish trap.
• QA/QC of data, reconciliation, and summarization of data.
• Pick eggs, CWT retrieval and reading, scale and otolith sampling.
• Cooperate and maintain professional demeanor with other agencies at the adult trap such as but not limited to: NOAA, Nez Perce Tribe, Core of Engineers, Anchor QEA.

Responsibilities

The position will involve:

• Adult and juvenile salmonid weir/trap construction, installation, daily maintenance, and data collection.
• Assist with trap repair, construction, instream installation, and weir/trap removal.
• Collect, record, and ensure accurate physical and biological data and field observations in a timely manner.
• Make trap operation decisions based on observations of 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.
• Assist with the Fall Chinook Program at the Snake River Lab.
• Participate in weekly spawning activities at Lyons Ferry Hatchery.
• Spawning Ground/carcass fall chinook surveys in Lower Tucannon River (ability to walk 3-4 miles in a stream under all weather conditions).
• Fish ID and biological data collection at Lower Granite Dam fish trap.
• QA/QC of data, reconciliation, and summarization of data.
• Pick eggs, CWT retrieval and reading, scale and otolith sampling.
• Cooperate and maintain professional demeanor with other agencies at the adult trap such as but not limited to: NOAA, Nez Perce Tribe, Core of Engineers, Anchor QEA.

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Option 1: Graduation from high school or GED, including one year of high school science, and two (2) years of professional or volunteer experience as a Scientific Technician.
• Option 2: Graduation from high school or GED, including one year of high school science, and two (2) years of professional or volunteer laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a biologist, chemist, or zoologist.

Please note: College course work involving major study in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences, or closely allied fields will substitute year-for-year for experience, provided the course work includes at least six (6) semester or nine (9) quarter hours of natural science classes.

Licenses: Valid driver’s license.

Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated proficiency in the safe handling and anesthetization of adult and juvenile life forms of ESA listed salmonids.
• Experience in the identification of juvenile and adult salmonids and other fish species of southeast Washington and the Lower Snake River basin.
• Basic biological understanding of salmonid species in Pacific Northwest.
• Clear communication skills.
• Proficiency in computer skills, related to data entry/manipulations/word processing/Microsoft Office.
• Experience with multiple types of fish weirs and rotary screw traps.
• Experience with P4 and Microsoft Access for recording and managing data.
• Experience PIT tagging adult and juvenile steelhead and other salmonids.
• Basic construction abilities.
• Experience with spawning ground surveys.
• Able to think critically when encountering problems in the field.
• Able to maintain calm demeanor when interacting with WDFW staff, the public, personnel from other state, federal, and tribal agencies, and local landowners.
• Swiftwater Safety training, CPR/AED/First Aid Training.

Supplemental Information

For more information about benefits, visit the Benefits tab at the top of this announcement. For veterans and military spouses interested in preference, please follow the instructions provided in the announcement.