Salmon and Steelhead Stream Surveyor - Scientific Technician - Non

Position: Salmon and Steelhead Stream Surveyor - Scientific Technician 2 - Non-Permanent - 2026-00901

Title: Salmon and Steelhead Stream Surveyor

Classification: Scientific Technician 2

Job Status: Full‑Time - Non‑Permanent

Appointment Length: 3 months – March 1, 2026 – May 31, 2026

WDFW Program: Fish Program

Duty Station: Lacey, Washington – Thurston County

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Photo Caption:
Floating the Pilchuck River – Photo Credit: WDFW

This is an opportunity to gain hands‑on fisheries experience through stream surveys in dynamic field environments.

Envision yourself working on foot or from watercraft, collecting data on hatchery and wild fish populations and contributing to lamprey spawning surveys that support critical fisheries management efforts.

What to Expect

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Salmon and Steelhead Stream Surveyor will:

Enumerate and monitor hatchery and wild salmon and steelhead redds, as well as live and carcass counts, with “Index” reaches surveyed every 7 – 14 days:

• New redds are numbered with flagging and data is accurately recorded onto field cards and iPads.
• Collected data is checked for errors and summarized.
• Surveys conducted by foot, raft, drift boat, and/or jet sled during all weather conditions and difficult terrain.
• Biological samples (scales, fin marks, coded wire tag, otoliths, DNA) collected from fish carcasses.
• Surveys include enumerating Pacific and Brook lamprey redds and live/dead fish counts.

Drive to and from surveyed reaches under both highway and off‑road conditions:

• Access private properties, navigate using maps and GPS, operate radios and perform basic vehicle maintenance and repairs.

Enumerate and monitor salmon and steelhead redds as well as live and carcass counts with “Supplemental” type surveys during peak spawning:

• Data is checked for accuracy and summarized.
• Visible redd and fish counts are recorded on field card.
• Surveys conducted by foot, raft, drift boat, and/or jet sled.
• Biological samples (scales, fin marks, coded wire tag) collected from fish carcasses.

Working Conditions Work Setting, including Hazards:

• Field work can be strenuous and may include walking in or along streams with slick boulders, navigating logjams, wading across riffles with moderate–fast current or maneuvering watercraft.
• Work is typically conducted independently or with other technicians or biologists across a wide variety of terrain and stream substrate conditions. Fieldwork is often performed in inclement weather within varying stream flow and visibility conditions.
• Repetitively lift and maneuver equipment upwards to or greater than 40 pounds.
• This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.

Schedule: 40 hours per week. Workdays and hours are determined by weather conditions, stream flows and visibility, and level of spawning activity. A flexible hourly and daily work schedule is therefore needed to perform the assigned tasks. Weekends and holidays may be included as potential workdays.

Travel Requirements: Daily travel from the duty station to work site.

Tools and Equipment: Operate a raft, drift boat, pontoon boats, in a wide range of stream flows, stream viewing conditions, and obstacles. General raingear, waders, wading shoes, raincoat, WDFW hat.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Option 1:

• Graduation from high school or GED, including one (1) year of high school science.
• 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.
• Two (2) years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a biologist, chemist, or zoologist.

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

Certifications/Licenses

Valid Driver’s License.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in elementary biology
• Field experience identifying live and deceased salmonids and monitoring salmonid and lamprey spawning…