Lower Granite Dam Fisheries Technician

Astor Environmental LLC (Astor) is seeking a Fisheries Technician to provide support to NOAA Fisheries research operations at Lower Granite Dam. Astor supplies personnel support services on contract to government and industry clients for marine fisheries and protected species. This is a seasonal position to support sampling operations at the dam and in remote stream settings in Idaho.  At the dam, this position will process returning adult salmonids at the adult trap during the spring and fall months. This position will also assist with the PIT-tagging of fish at the dam’s NOAA Fisheries juvenile fish marking facility during April through June.  This position may also assist with other research activities at the dam as needed, and at times during summer months, help NOAA researchers collect and PIT tag salmonids in more than a dozen natal streams of central Idaho to monitor passage timing and survival.

Job Description

Duties:

Task 1: Process adult salmonids. 

Adult salmonids will be handled according to established adult handling procedures.  Personnel must be able to stand for long periods and will be required to work with the fish in cold water.  They must also be able to safely carry adult fish weighing up to 50 pounds up a short flight of stairs. 

Task 2: Process juvenile salmonids.

From April to June, juvenile salmonids are marked as part of ongoing research and monitoring activities at Lower Granite Dam’s juvenile fish facility.  The technician will assist with setup and operation of the facility, and with the sorting, handling, and marking of the fish.  A subsample of juvenile salmonids tagged at Lower Granite Dam is collected at Bonneville Dam.  These data need to be recorded.

Task 3: Data entry. 

Fish tag codes and condition data shall be entered to the database concurrent with the work shift.  Juvenile data collection will use computer frameworks, while adult data collection and recording will use both paper and computer frameworks.

Task 4: Wild fish tagging in Idaho.

Fish collection and tagging will follow established protocols, including electrofishing and seines.  Depending on the target area, personnel may stay in motels or may need to camp.  They must be able to safely walk in streams, wearing appropriate protection equipment, for up to eight (8) hours a day, at altitude (greater than 5,000 feet).

Travel

IDAHO (Other locations also possible for meetings): 

Participate in a long-term field project in the Salmon River Basin, Idaho (counties of Custer, Lemhi, Idaho, and Valley).  The work sites are mostly remote streams in mountainous terrain.  There are two (2) locations accessible only by airplane, so employees working at those sites will fly in small aircraft.  Lodging during field trips in July and August will include up to 21 nights of motel lodging.  Additionally, the employees will be camping in designated group campsites in remote locations during July-August fieldwork (36 nights, no overnight fees for these locations).  Each employee is responsible for providing his/her own tent, sleeping bag and mat, coolers, and food storage bins and cooking supplies.  Federal motor vehicles will be used to travel to and from field sites.  

Required Knowledge and Experience 

Education required--An Associate degree or two (2) years of college-level education with a major in fisheries, geology or environmental sciences. 

Experience Required— Minimum of two (2) years of experience in an applicable field.

Additional preferred qualifications include:

• Must be able to identify various species of freshwater fish, or be able to learn
• Personnel must be able to stand for long periods
• Personnel will be required to work with the fish in cold water
• Personnel must also be able to safely carry adult fish weighing up to 50 pounds up a short flight of stairs
• Personnel must be able to safely walk in streams, wearing appropriate protection equipment, for up to eight (8) hours a day, at altitude (greater than 5,000 feet)
• Valid driver’s license
• Able to work with data files on computer devices, and 
• Personnel must be able to safely ride in a boat in reasonable riverine conditions

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time seasonal position with a generous benefits package.  Salary: $24.50/hr.  Overtime paid at 1.5x the base rate.  

Duration of Position

 This is a temporary position expected to run annually from March to early June, then mid-July through early November (schedule based on project needs).