Spawning Ground Surveyor - Scientific Technician 2 - Career Seasonal - 2025-06147
Title- Spawning Ground Surveyor
Classification- Scientific Technician 2
Job Status- Full-Time/Career Seasonal
Season Length- 5 Months – September 1 – January 30
For the 2025 season, this position is anticipated to begin October 13, 2025.
WDFW Program- Fish Program – Fish Science
Duty Station- Ridgefield, Washington – Clark County
Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!
Are you passionate about the great outdoors and committed to promoting sustainable fishing opportunities?
Imagine yourself traveling throughout the Lower Columbia River tributaries to perform adult salmonid spawning ground surveys and other fish sampling activities.
As part of the Lower Columbia Fish Ecology and Life Cycle Monitoring Unit, the data you collect will be used to monitor the health, viability, and diversity of native salmon and steelhead.
What to Expect-
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Spawning Ground Surveyor will,
Conduct salmonid spawning ground surveys:
- Identify and count adult salmonids (live and dead) and redds.
- Collect biological data (such as length, gender, marks/tags, scales, otoliths, and tissue samples) from live and dead salmonids.
- Enter field data accurately using iPads and ToughPads.
- Walk and operate non-motorized vessels to conduct stream surveys and collect spawning ground data.
Perform data collection, entry, and management:
- Enter data into established spreadsheets and databases (including the Traps, Weirs, and Surveys database and carcass tagging spreadsheets).
- Download information from various handheld data collection devices such as data loggers, iPads, Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag readers and Coded Wire Tag (CWT) detectors.
- Conduct data Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) exercises to ensure data accuracy.
Assist with Lower Columbia River Viable Salmonid Population (VSP) monitoring projects as needed:
- Snorkel to inspect and maintain weirs.
- Deploy nets for fish capture and sampling.
- Conduct presence/absence surveys of spring Chinook and summer steelhead.
- Assist with the installation, maintenance, operation, and removal of resistance board weirs.
Working Conditions:
Work Setting, including hazards: Approximately 85% fieldwork and 15% in an office or laboratory setting. Work outdoors in all weather conditions, in small groups or alone in remote locations. Hike (up to 6 miles), raft (up to 15 miles), and/or snorkel (up to 6 miles in fast moving/swift water conditions), often on and over slippery unstable rocks, large logjams, rotting woody debris, through/around deep pools, and through thick stands of vine maple, blackberry brambles, and other riparian vegetation.
Frequently bend, kneel, crawl, climb, and lift large fish (typically weighing up to 30 lbs.) and repetitively carry loads (weighing up to 70 lbs.) for short distances over rough terrain. Drive during winter road conditions. Climb in and out of watercraft, sample salmon carcasses with strong odors, and record data under adverse weather conditions for long periods of time.
Includes snorkeling in cold, fast-flowing/whitewater conditions, and walking over rough terrain in varying environmental conditions. This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.
Schedule: 24/7 non-scheduled—may work weekends and holidays as needed.
Travel Requirements: Daily travel from the duty station to and from field locations is required with a department-issued vehicle.
Tools and Equipment: Basic hand and carpentry tools, vehicles, non-motorized watercraft, knives, machetes, loppers, battery- operated hedge trimmers, winches, pulleys, and blocks. May use 200-foot beach seines, Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag injectors/readers, Coded Wire Tag (CWT) detectors, GPS units, weighing scales, iPads, and computers.
Customer Interactions: Interact with other departmental personnel, personnel from other agencies, commercial fishers, and the public.
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:
Option 1: Graduation from high school or GED, including one (1) year of high school science AND two (2) years of experience as a Scientific Technician 1.
Option 2: Graduation from high school or GED, including one (1) year of high school science AND two (2) years of 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 field 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.
Certifications/Licenses:
Valid Driver’s License.
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
Successful completion of agency training and/or certification for assigned watercraft, stream surveying, and snorkeling is dependent on supervisory direction, position need, and training availability.
- CPR/First Aid certification, obtained within two (2) months of hire.
- WDFW snorkel training and certification, completed within six (6) months of hire and renewed annually.
Preferred Qualifications:
In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess some or all the following:
Experience:
- Identifying salmonids and other fish species in larval, juvenile, and adult life stages.
- Identifying salmonid redds.
- Marking and tagging salmonids (live and dead).
- Operating and maintaining resistance board and fixed panel adult fish weirs.
- Operating non-motorized watercraft.
- Driving and towing with 4x4 vehicles.
- Using relational databases (e.g. Microsoft Access) to perform data entry and data quality control/assurance.
- Operating coded-wire-tag (CWT) and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag wands.
- Operating handheld electronics (iPads/Tough Pads).
- Using hand tools (screwdrivers, hammers, wrenches) and power tools (drills, grinders, saws).
Your application should include the following:
- A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
- An up-to-date resume.
- A cover letter detailing your interest in the position, your relevant skills and experience, and why you are the ideal candidate.
- At least three professional references with current contact information.
Supplemental Information
In addition to pay and other special employee programs, there are other benefits that WDFW employees may be eligible for. Click the “Benefits” tab at the top of this announcement to learn more.
Important Note:
All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
Union - WAFWP:
This position is in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals.
Veteran and Military Spouse Preference Notice:
Per RCW 73.16.010 Veterans and qualifying spouses who meet the minimum qualifications of a position are eligible for preference during the initial application review stage. To receive this benefit, please do the following:
- Notify us of your veteran or military spouse status by email at danielle.gustafson@dfw.wa.gov.
-
Veterans only – Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
- Please redact any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers.
- Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and spouse/veteran (example: 2025-1234 – Biologist 1 – Veteran)
- Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer
As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications. Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully. All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.
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.
Request an accommodation: Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format please contact Jayme Chase by phone 360-902-2278 or email Jayme.Chase@dfw.wa.gov, or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.
Technical Difficulties: If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com.
Other questions: If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to danielle.gustafson@dfw.wa.gov and reference job #2025-06147.