8-hour days: 98%
10-hour days: 2%
In the field: 75%
In the office: 25%
Spawner/Redd Surveys: 25%
Screw Trap Monitoring: 20%
Data Entry: 18%
Volunteer Management: 14%
Education & Outreach: 10%
Commuting To/From Field Sites: 5%
Post-Restoration Monitoring/Maintenance: 2%
Snorkel Surveys: 2%
Field PIT Tagging: 1%
E-Fishing: 1%
Native Planting: 1%
GIS Mapping: 1%
The Marin Water Fisheries Program is dedicated to the conservation, protection, and recovery of native aquatic species. Marin Water’s biologists have been monitoring populations of key species, implementing habitat restoration, and engaging collaborators and the public for over 25 years. The Fisheries Program involves monitoring all freshwater life stages of Coho Salmon and steelhead in over 22 miles of streams within Marin County. In addition, Marin Water has
installed more than 80 large woody debris structures in Lagunitas Creek, treated erosion throughout the watershed, and received multiple grants for salmonid habitat restoration. The District’s Volunteer Program organizes community outreach projects geared towards watershed protection, including habitat restoration and community science monitoring of aquatic species. The Marin Water Fisheries Program consists of two fulltime biologists, working in
collaboration with agencies, non-profit groups, and other Marin Water Natural Resources staff. Watershed management is at the core of Marin Water’s Mission Statement: “It is the purpose of the Marin Municipal Water District to manage our natural resources in a sustainable manner and to provide our customers with reliable high-quality water at a reasonable price.”
The Sky Oaks Watershed Headquarters, which is where WSP members report, looks out on Mount Tamalpais and thousands of acres of forested watershed. The District’s Volunteer Program organizes community outreach projects geared towards watershed protection, including habitat restoration and community science monitoring of aquatic species. Marin Water provides institutional stability and support for WSP activities, including outreach, vehicles, equipment and other resources assigned to WSP members. In short, the Marin Water Fisheries Program provides WSP members with a dynamic work environment and exceptional career-building opportunities.
Marin Water’s Mentors have hosted WSP Corps Members for more than a decade. Mentors strive to create an environment of learning and professional growth where the members feel safe, respected, and supported. The Corpsmembers have their own desks and computers in a shared office space with direct access to Mentors. Fisheries staff meet weekly to discuss safety, schedules, and updates on WSP CMs activities. Mentors meet individually with CMs at least monthly. Marin Water’s watershed staff meet monthly as well, and WSP CMs participate in those meetings.
Additionally, Corpsmembers are invited to attend the quarterly Lagunitas Creek Technical Advisory Committee meetings to get professional development and hear a diverse group of stakeholders discuss watershed issues. Mentors accompany CMs in the field to provide training both initially and throughout the various survey seasons. Extensive training on all survey protocols is provided before giving members the responsibility of conducting these surveys independently. Mentors strive to make the CMs feel confident in their roles working with sensitive species and collecting high-quality scientific data. Mentors work closely with CMs on their community programs, providing equipment, funding, connections, and guidance to ensure the success of these programs. Marin Water also provides opportunities for CMs to take on individual projects, such as developing posters for the annual Salmonid Restoration Federation Conference.
The Marin Water Fisheries Program is a recognized leader in salmon conservation that offers CMs a scientifically rigorous, career-building experience in fisheries biology and watershed/natural resource management. This site is heavy on field work, and CMs can expect full days of spawner surveys, smolt trapping, juvenile surveys, and habitat enhancement effectiveness monitoring. The federal, state, and district park land on which CMs work have been collectively identified by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve, a designation reserved for biological hotspots like the Amazon rainforest. By working within a water supply agency, CMs are exposed to the unique challenges of managing open space for clean water, recreation, fire protection, and wildlife habitat. Institutionally, Marin Water provides CMs with a great deal of resources and support to complete their community engagement and education projects. The Sky Oaks Watershed Headquarters, which is where WSP Corpsmembers report, looks out on Mount Tamalpais and thousands of acres of forested watershed. CMs are welcomed into a community of about 30 watershed staff and over 200 District staff, participating in regular meetings and other events. Marin Water has also been able to assist WSP financially to help ensure CMs can attend conferences and other trainings - an important aspect of career building. Past CMs have reviewed their Mentors as being knowledgeable, friendly, and easily accessible. The Bay Area is a fun, beautiful, diverse, but expensive place to live.
Previous Corpsmembers have avoided the most expensive rents through shared housing, by living in the East Bay, or by living with family in this area.
Ability to work weekends
Ability to swim
Reliable transportation
Experience with Microsoft Excel
Previous fish handling and/or identification skills
Previous stream wading experience
Experience with technical writing
Ability to ride a bicycle
Experience with technical writing