Fisheries Technician

Wrangell Ranger District

Position Details:

Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards) provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants work with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits building institutional capacity, developing community relationships, and supporting ecosystem health. Stewards in partnership with the Wrangell Ranger District are seeking an intern who will aid the district to develop a co-stewardship fisheries program with the Wrangell Cooperative Association tribal organization.  The intern will participate in various fisheries related projects including but not limited to:

Stream Restoration Surveys

Forest Service Employees would survey for stream habitat in need of Restoration in the Wrangell Ranger District. Fish bearing streams that are limited in fish production by past management actions would be identified, evaluated, and prioritized for variety of habitat improvement projects. Habitat projects would include but not limited to wood placement, riparian planting, side channel improvement and barrier removement projects.

Fish Pass Checks

Three passes (Meter Bite, Mill Creek and St. Johns) will be checked 2-3x a season. Transportation to these sites will be by boat and truck.

Salmonid Distribution Surveys

Salmonid Distribution in many streams within the Wrangell Ranger District is unknown. Having knowledge of fish distribution is important for the management of aquatic habitat and making proper decisions for forest management activities.  Forest Service personnel would use live fish traps to temporary retain salmonids in streams within the Wrangell Ranger District to determine salmonid distribution.

Culvert Assessment Surveys

Many Red Pipes or culverts that do not allow for fish passage exist within the Wrangell Ranger District. These stream crossings need to be evaluated and prioritized for replacement with crossings that allow for fish passage.

Macroinvertebrate Workshops

This is an opportunity for the Forest Service to form a stronger relationship with the Wrangell School District and the Wrangell Community. School Groups would learn the application of Biological Monitoring by the identification and collection of macroinvertebrates. Forest Service Employees would teach the identification, life history and water quality needs of macroinvertebrates. The project would include 1 hour of in classroom teaching followed by a field trip to collect, ID and analyze macroinvertebrates in the field. We will then assess the water quality using the type of macroinvertebrates collected.

Other Program Support

Time and supplies necessary to support the timber and other programs on Wrangell Ranger District. Funds would be used to conduct surveys to inventory and assess fish habitat and water quality related to timber and other resource needs.

Position Responsibilities will include:

• Working alongside the Forest Service Fish Biologist
• Coordinating with the Wrangell Cooperative Association
• Participating in safety and position focused trainings
• Performing field monitoring of identified streams
• Collecting stream and fish population data

Minimum Requirements:

• Ability to work well with a team of federal employees and tribal partners.
• Positive attitude and desire to learn new skills
• Comfort in remote field conditions
• Valid Driver’s license
• Willing to undergo and pass a required criminal history check.
• A strong interest in a career in natural resource conservation science.
• You must be eligible to serve in AmeriCorps State & National direct Service programs (must not have served more than 4 terms in AmeriCorps).
• You must be available to work a 40-hour week for the 26-week term
• You must be between 18 and 34 years of age.
• You must have received a High School Diploma or GED
• You must be a member of a federally-recognized Indian Tribe, Band, or Village; Alaska Native; or meet one of the following descriptions:
  • Persons who possess at least one-half degree Indian blood derived from Tribes Indigenous to the United States.
  • Descendants of Members of Federally-Recognized Indian Tribes, Bands or Communities who were residing on any Indian Reservation on June 1, 1934 – shown by completing BIA Form 4432.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Fisheries, hydrology or restoration course work or experience
• Alaska experience

Benefits:

• Living Allowance: $600/week (pre-tax)
• Position is eligible for an AmeriCorps education award upon successful completion of the program. Value of education award is $3,246.50 (pre-tax).
• Student loan forbearance and health insurance
• Federal non-competitive hiring status through the Public Lands Corps upon successfully completion of the program (only those ages 18-30 are eligible for this benefit).
• Housing provided at Wrangell Ranger District
• Stream Restoration 101 Training
• First Aid CPR Training
• Defensive Driving
• Bear awareness and bear spray training

How to Apply

Apply on-line at: https://form.jotform.com/StewardsIPP/WaterCorps-member-application  In addition to your resume, please submit a one-page cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position.

If you have questions about this position, please contact Stewards Program Coordinator Sierra Miller: smiller@conservationlegacy.org.

 This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.