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Fisheries Technician 1 - Cowlitz Falls Fish Facility
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
Operations
Cowlitz County, WA, USA
Posted on Apr 8, 2026
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is recruiting candidates to fill the role of Fisheries Technician 1 located at the Cowlitz Falls Fish Facility Dam on the Cowlitz River, Randle, WA (about 15 miles southeast of Morton, WA). This is a full-time, temporary position, with a schedule of 8-hour shifts from Thursday - Monday. The projected start date is April 30th, 2026 and is expected to last through July, 2026.
Fisheries Technicians perform duties related to the protection, preservation, propagation, and sampling of fish species and the preservation or enhancement of their habitat. They use knowledge of procedural requirements and processes to support the technical work of their unit. They provide practical technical support to research, operations, or program administration efforts.
Position/Project Specifics:
(The functions listed below are characteristic of the type and level of work associated with this group and pay band. They are not all-inclusive. Individual positions may perform some or all other similar work.)
The Cowlitz Falls Fish Facility is a key component of the program to re-establish anadromous populations of spring Chinook, Coho and Steelhead in the upper Cowlitz River watershed. Smolts collected at the facility are transported to the lower Cowlitz River and released to continue their oceanward migration. Most work will take place at the fish facility and is part of a cooperative project with Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC), who employs the incumbents, and Tacoma Power, who supervises the employees. Incumbents must be able to work days, nights and/or weekends in inclement weather, exposed to noise, water and heights (in and outside of the facility) and must follow all safety rules.
Incumbents take part in daily fish workup, assist in collecting biological information on a subset of fish, transport fish throughout the basin, enter and QC data, and assist with various studies designed to assess and improve fish passage. In addition, the incumbent performs repeated facility inspections to monitor and adjust facility operations to optimize fish collection and health, collect and remove debris, document daily activities, maintain sampling equipment, and perform general housekeeping duties.
In addition, the incumbent should be skilled in accurate, legible, reliable data recording, physical agility to negotiate steps, ladders and walkways in confined spaces in and around the facility. The candidate should also have the ability to communicate clearly, the ability to work alone and to work well with others as a team member.
The incumbent should have some experience or knowledge in identifying juvenile salmonids, the knowledge of juvenile salmonid life history, and computer skills (Windows, Microsoft Word/Excel).
Essential Functions:
- Identify, enumerate and transport juvenile salmonids.
- Accurately record and enter data in spreadsheets.
- Make regular facility inspections, including, for example, dewatering equipment, pumps, flumes, gates, tanks, screens, filters, gate wells, and/or tag interrogation equipment. Monitor and maintain water quality levels. Record findings and adjustments made. Respond appropriately and immediately to emergencies.
- Assess and communicate mechanical and biological conditions that may impact fish health. Respond appropriately to abnormal conditions. Call standby personal as needed to help address critical situations.
Knowledge Required by the Position:
At the lower end of the range, employees use knowledge of basic arithmetic, reading, writing, and data collection to perform routine or repetitive tasks.
At the upper end of the position range, employees use knowledge of the basic principles and protocols of fish biology to make readings, measurements, and observations; execute tests; collect samples, etc. If complex equipment systems are operated, the employee has the knowledge to perform calibrations or adjustments to achieve desired results.
Additional Mandatory Skills:
- valid driver's license
- lift 40 - 50 lbs.
- compile and collect neat and accurate data
Additional Desirable Skills:
- trap/weir
- fish species ID skills
- repair and maintain equipment
- oral communication skills
- written communication skills
Physical Demands:
Demands can range from moderate --where there is walking, climbing stairs and ladders, reaching, lifting, bending, and strenuous sweeping-- to rigorous. In the latter case, the incumbent must be able to handle buckets of water or gear weighing up to 50 pounds.
Work Environment:
A portion of the work is performed in an office setting with adequate lighting, heating, and ventilation. The majority is performed in fish processing labs, fish holding areas, and/or the field. Incumbents may work on narrow, elevated walkways and platforms over or adjacent to water. Field work involves exposure to all types of weather, slippery rocks, trails, irregular terrain, insects, poison oak, rough or fast-moving water, or cold water temperatures.