Fishery Biologist - Feather River Sturgeon

Description

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is recruiting candidates to fill the role of Fisheries Biologist located in Oroville, California. This is a full-time seasonal position expected to begin on April 16th, 2026.

The selected candidate will engage with the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and PSMFC biologists conducting the lower Feather and Yuba River Sturgeon Studies. In this capacity, the selected candidate will perform and lead work with the DWR to address the primary objectives of the sturgeon studies which are as follows:

• Determine if there are adult migration barriers and evaluate the effect of Oroville Facilities operations on passage success and distribution
• Evaluate migration patterns including residence times and factors affecting them;
• Identify distribution and habitat preferences
• Estimate the annual abundance of adult Green Sturgeon
• Identify potential spawning grounds that can be target areas for egg and larval surveys and determine the frequency that sturgeon spawn in the Feather River.
• Provide DWR, the FERC, NOAA Fisheries, and CDFW with data to make management decisions concerning future monitoring programs, operational changes to the facilities, and habitat enhancement within the lower Feather River.

The selected candidate will also be tasked with leading and or assisting with the following field-related duties:

• Operate trucks and jet boats to conduct DIDSON/ARIS/Side Scan surveys, egg and larval studies, underwater video surveys; angle to capture adult sturgeon and acoustically tag them; and retrieve, download, redeploy and maintain telemetry receivers
• Plan, schedule, and conduct behavioral, temporal, and distributional evaluations of sturgeon populations;
• Evaluate and direct sampling efforts or reporting practices to best meet data requirements;
• Collect tissue and blood samples for genetic and histological data
• Recommend modifications of existing research protocols
• Conduct physical and biological fish habitat assessments
• Monitor and evaluate adult return rates

The selected candidate may also be tasked with the following office-related duties:

• Provide daily updates on field activities to supervisor
• Write memoranda and reports necessary for transfer of information to the appropriate individuals, agencies, and organizations
• Analyze, compile, prepare graphics, contribute and/or write results of data collection as reports or papers for publication that do the following:
  • Suggest management actions that would ensure preservation, protection, and enhancement of spawning, holding, and rearing habitats;
  • Evaluate habitat suitability within the lower Feather River; and
  • Report biological and/or genetic information affecting future selection, rearing, and spawning activities.
• Pepare and deliver formal and informal presentations at meetings, workshops, and conferences
• Create datasheets and manage databases; utilize ArcGIS for physical and biological data;
• Apply for various scientific research permits and fulfill associated reporting requirements; and purchasing and equipment inventory management.

Weekend work may be required, and seasonal night work is mandatory. Candidates must be comfortable working in and around boats and swift moving water and willing to work long days in varying weather conditions, including heavy rain and extreme cold or heat. Candidates must also be able to work at least a 4/10 hour work schedule during most of the primary sampling season (January - December).

• Lead and participate in survey crews that conduct fishery presence/absence research, recreational/commercial fishing surveys, anadromous fish escapement surveys (carcass, redd, trap/weir, snorkel, etc.), or tag detection and mark recovery surveys. Make standardized observations such as species identification, length, weight, behavior, growth, survival, reproductive condition, and/or signs of parasites, diseases or pathogens, fin clips or tags.
• Lead and perform data entry for data from recovered tags, representative biological samples, telemetry devices, oceanographic data, fish tickets, commercial landing estimates, logbooks, scale cards, port sampling, onboard observers, etc. Error check the data, maintain and update database, analyze and organize data in the appropriate format (table, spreadsheet, memorandum, or report) necessary for transfer to individuals, agencies, and organizations. Modify software programs and perform data queries.
  
  Prepare summary reports to transfer data.
• Assist researchers in investigations of long term and short term fisheries resource management problems. Collect biological samples, record data, perform routine analyses of data, and contribute draft sections to scientific papers for publication.

• Knowledge of fishery biology (including knowledge of particular species of fish).
• Knowledge of fish husbandry.
• Knowledge of aquatic habitats.
• Knowledge of the scientific method.
• Knowledge of personal computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets,…