Program Specialist 5

Water Rights Specialist

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is recruiting to fill one full time, Program Specialist 5 position located in the Wildlife Program. The duty station for this position is located at 600 Capital Way North, Olympia, WA.

Under the direction of the Real Estate Services Section Manager this position serves as the expert in administering water rights for Wildlife Areas and Hatcheries for the Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW).  The successful candidate will manage WDFW’s water rights records, coordinate program activities to ensure timely changes to points of diversion, secure water rights from loss due to non-use, transfer water rights into temporary trust, assure compliance in the use of water rights, and secure new water rights as required to support the agency’s lands and hatcheries.Duties

The primary roles of this position include:

  • Provide water rights research and support for property management actions including land transactions. Assist wildlife area, hatchery and Capital Asset Management Program (CAMP) staff with technical water rights issues; draft changes to current certificates or temporary water rights.
  • Manage all WDFW water rights records; Provide specific attribute information into a new database linked to the agency’s enhanced GIS system.  Assemble all water rights data for the agency in one location.
  • Participate on agency water policy committee serving as water rights expert, Develop strategic opportunities that leverage water rights assets and resource values toward agency goals or resource needs – e.g., assessment of the transfer/ sales of water rights to support fish habitat (i.e., salmon recovery), wildlife habitat, working landscapes, and hatchery needs.
  • Work directly with the Department of Ecology to submit applications putting any water rights that are anticipated not to be used into temporary trust on behalf of the agency.  Work with non-profit water trusts to assist with trusting water rights on lands where instream flows and salmon would benefit.

Qualifications

A Bachelor’s degree involving major study in NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning, or other allied field;  AND five years of professional-level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning which includes AT LEAST one year of WATER RIGHTS EXPERIENCE.

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/1487042/program-specialist-5-07607w