Marin Water Fisheries Program

Placement Site Address: 49 Sky Oaks Rd, Fairfax, CA 94930 

Fairfax, California (CA 94930, 94960) - City Data Information Link

Mentors: Eric Ettlinger, Aquatic Ecologist and Suzanne Whelan, Watershed Volunteer Coordinator

Field Leader: Sterling Meus, Natural Resources Technician

Number of Corpsmembers at Site: 2

Number of Years Site has Hosted WSP Corpsmembers: 13

Service Hours:

8-hour days: 98%

10-hour days: 2%          

Housing Offered: No

Work Vehicle Provided: Yes

Corpsmember Time Spent in Field/Office:

In the field: 75%

In the office: 25%

Corpsmember Activities:

Spawner/Redd Surveys: 30%  

Screw Trap Monitoring: 25%  

Data Entry: 25%

Site Specific Volunteer Management: 5%

Commuting To/From Field Sites: 5%

Site Specific Education & Outreach: 2%    

Post-Restoration Monitoring/Maintenance: 2%   

Snorkel Surveys: 2%

Field PIT Tagging: 1%   

E-Fishing: 1%  

GIS Mapping: 1%

Invasive Plant Removal: 1%

Placement Site Objectives:

The Marin Water Fisheries Program is dedicated to the conservation, protection, and recovery of native aquatic species. Marin Waters 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 Marin Water Fisheries Program consists of two full-time biologists, working in collaboration with agencies, non-profit groups, and other Marin Water Natural Resources staff. Watershed management is at the core of Marin Waters 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 Corpsmembers report, looks out on Mount Tamalpais and thousands of acres of forested watershed. The District 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 Corpsmembers. In short, the Marin Water Fisheries Program provides WSP Corpsmembers with a dynamic work environment and exceptional career-building opportunities.

Mentorship Style:

Marin Waters Mentors have hosted WSP Corpsmembers for more than a decade. Mentors strive to create an environment of learning and professional growth where the Corpsmembers feel safe, respected, and supported. 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 activities. Mentors meet individually with Corpsmembers at least monthly. Marin Waters watershed staff meet monthly as well, and WSP Corpsmembers 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 Corpsmembers in the field to provide training both initially and throughout the various survey seasons. Extensive training on all survey protocols is provided before giving Corpsmembers the responsibility of conducting these surveys independently. Mentors strive to make the Corpsmembers feel confident in their roles working with sensitive species and collecting high-quality scientific data. Mentors work closely with Corpsmembers on their community programs, providing equipment, funding, connections, and guidance to ensure the success of these programs. Marin Water also provides opportunities for Corpsmembers to take on individual projects, such as developing posters for the annual Salmonid Restoration Federation Conference.

Unique Characteristics of Placement Site:

The Marin Water Fisheries Program is a recognized leader in salmon conservation that offers WSP Corpsmembers a scientifically rigorous, career-building experience in fisheries biology and watershed/natural resource management. This site is heavy on field work, and Corpsmembers can expect full days of spawner surveys, smolt trapping, juvenile surveys, and habitat enhancement effectiveness monitoring. The opportunity to work with relatively abundant and diverse salmonid populations as well as other aquatic species (frogs, turtles, freshwater shrimp, etc.) is unmatched among WSP Placement Sites. The federal, state, and district park land on which WSP Corpsmembers 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, WSP Corpsmembers are exposed to the unique challenges of managing open space for clean water, recreation, fire protection, and wildlife habitat. Institutionally, Marin Water provides WSP Corpsmembers with a great deal of resources and support to complete their community engagement and education projects. WSP Corpsmembers 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 Corpsmembers can attend conferences and other trainings - an important aspect of career building. Past Corpsmembers 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 being local to this area.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Desired in Corpsmembers:

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 on dirt roads