Hatchery Support Member - Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery
Summary
American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking ONE Hatchery Support Member to contribute to fish hatchery operations and provide supplemental field science and public outreach support to projects under the mentorship of Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery Staff.
For more information about ACE, please visit our website.
Start Date: August 2026
Estimated End Date: December 2026
- an 18-week minimum commitment is required
Location Details/Description: Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery, Underwood, WA
Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery is located at river mile 167 on the Columbia River in Underwood, Washington. It is known as one of the largest anadromous fish production facilities in the Columbia River Basin. The hatchery is a mitigation facility, meaning we make up for habitat losses associated with hydro-electric projects on the Columbia River. The hatchery is a water conservation facility. Water is reused through a complex series of biological filters that enhance water quality while minimizing the need for a large fresh water supply. The hatchery is mechanically complex and requires the use of numerous pumps, filters, and motor control centers to enhance operations.
For more information about Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery, please visit the FWS website.
Position Overview: The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.. This position will help FWS realize the mission at Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery by supporting fish hatchery operations and providing supplemental field science and public outreach support. The fisheries supplementation support at this hatchery includes spawning, egg incubation care, fish rearing, water quality monitoring, fish disease monitoring and other related duties. There will also be opportunities to provide supplemental assistance for field and hatchery evaluation projects for experience diversification and career exposure. This opportunity is intended for enthusiastic young professionals with a deep interest in advancing their career goals in fisheries conservation.
The member will provide support and assistance under the guidance and direction of FWS staff in the following tasks:
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Fish Production (75%)
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Feeding fish, cleaning raceways, picking mortality, sampling fish, assisting with spawning activities, assisting with fish releases.
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Assist USFWS Fish and Wildlife office with electrofishing activities and assist with setting up fish weirs.
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Fish Rearing: Fish feeding, raceway (large tank) cleaning and upkeep, fish transfers, and water quality and fish health monitoring
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Fish Spawning: Fish sorting, egg extractions, egg fertilizations, and egg monitoring and transfers.
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Hatchery Evaluation: Mass marking and tagging of juveniles, tag retention sampling, adult tag scans, biological sampling of tagged adults.
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Field biological sampling, including minnow traps, electrofishing, seins, gill nets, and screw trapping.
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Fish identification and data collection (length, weight, scale samples, tag scans, etc)
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Abiotic data collection such as substrate sampling and water salinity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen and temperature.
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Data entry and management
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Supporting upkeep of sampling instrumentation used for core position functions.
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Maintenance duties and forklift use in support of hatchery operations as required
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Landscaping (20%)
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Operating mowers and weed whackers (trimmers) to assist in hatchery upkeep.
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Outreach (5%)
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Assist Information and Education office with Outreach Activities around the area.
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Public engagement: answering questions from visitors, leading hatchery tours, supporting school visits, supporting school programming, and event preparation and implementation.
This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.
Schedule: Duties are tentatively carried out between 7:30am and 4:00pm Pacific, Monday - Friday, 5 days/week. Some weekend work might be necessary if there is a need specifically at the hatchery. Daily work hours may also vary due to supplemental field work assistance. Bi-weekly totals should not exceed 80 hours. A flexible work schedule will be required, which could involve work performed outside of normal work hours including early field work departures (6:00am) and/or late returns (6:00pm) depending on the season and field project. Time off may be granted, and requests should be directed to ACE and the FWS for approval.
Position Benefits
Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $840/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.
Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.
Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or FWS.
Gear Reimbursement: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on eligible gear purchases and must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase.
Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support.
Qualifications
Required:
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Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.
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Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
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Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
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A current and valid form of ID (will be required to provide copies of ID's upon hiring)
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Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
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Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
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ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
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Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement.
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To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website located on our Indeed homepage.
Preferred:
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Base level experience in fisheries field work and/or hatchery supplementation.
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Deep interest in Fisheries, natural resource management or other related disciplines appropriate to the position.
Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:
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Physical Demands: This position requires physical exertion in the form of hiking in mountainous and swampy terrain over long distances in various weather conditions while carrying equipment (40lb+) and should expect to hike and/or wade 10 miles or more per day in mountain streams.
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Other demands include stooping, lifting, reaching, talking, hearing, regular and recurring running, walking, or bending, climbing ladders or scaffolds to observe, collect, or record research data. In many situations, the duration of the activity (such as most of a workday) contributes to the arduous nature of the job.
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Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment and may involve fine and precise procedures, delicate adjustments, or exact measurements.
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Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral, and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
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Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 40 lbs., ability to move up to 40 lbs.
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Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently, working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates. When indoors, office environment conditions; indoor air quality is good and temperature is controlled.
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Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as hand and power tools. Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
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Travel: This position may require domestic travel.
Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE members may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members, or resources. This position includes the inherent risk of working around water and watercraft, as well as the risks associated with the operation of electrofishing units. An array of mandatory training will be provided upon initiation of the position.
Equipment Use/Safety: Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the FWS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the FWS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to FWS and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.
Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the FWS or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the FWS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the FWS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to FWS and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.
To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to ACE's online application page for this position on our website.Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC FWS Senior Program Manager, Nich Jackosky.
If you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are enrolled in a program to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.
EEO: Employment or Service with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee, member, or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment, hire, training, transfer, promotion, compensation, demotion, termination, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, creed, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital or parental status, political affiliation, ethnicity, hair texture or style, arrest record, caste, hereditary status, endogamy, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.
