USDA FOREST SERVICE

Bridger-Teton National Forest

GS 0404-7 Fisheries Technician

The Bridger-Teton National Forest is seeking expressions of interest in a GS-7 permanent seasonal Fisheries Technician position. This position is guaranteed 18 pay periods of work each year. Additional work may be offered if funding is available. The duty station for this position is the Greys River Ranger District Office in Afton, Wyoming, however, the incumbent reports to the Forest Supervisor’s Office and would support fisheries resources management on the entire Bridger-Teton National Forest. Your expression of interest will help us determine if we have a well-represented group of applicants needed to ensure an adequate applicant pool.

About the Position

The work performed by this position is directed by the GS12 Forest Fisheries Biologist. The Fisheries Technician will be responsible for inventory, evaluation, and advice on fisheries, Focal Species (e.g. Bonneville Cutthroat, Yellowstone Cutthroat, and Colorado River Cutthroat trout) monitoring and fisheries resource management, including determination of effects of projects on fisheries resources and recommended mitigation measures.

The GS-7 Fisheries Technician is expected to design
monitoring strategies and organize, supervise, or directly perform inventory and monitoring of fisheries and Focal Species metapopulations. Work includes preparation of maps, inventories, annual reports, and records related to the presence/absence of species, relative abundance of individuals, and observed effects to fisheries resources.

The incumbent will:

• Review federal and state reports as part of project planning to evaluate the quality of the inventory, the completeness of the information, and the significance of change among fisheries relative abundancies.
• Prepare determinations of effect for such projects identified during resource monitoring.
• Recommend mitigation measures to reduce anticipated/observed effects.
• Provide fisheries and aquatic resource management information for upcoming/ongoing land management projects.
• Interpret fisheries and aquatic resources to the public and partner contacts through presentations at visitor facilities, professional journals, classrooms, campgrounds, etc.
• Assist in design and implementation of projects related to fisheries and aquatic resources, such as partnership agreements and represent the Aquatics Team for onsite implementation.
• Contribute toward Aquatic Program (e.g. Fisheries, Hydrology, Soils, Aquatic Invasive Species) annual target acquisition, represent aquatics program through internal and external collaboration, and strengthen existing and new partnerships though proactive and frequent communication.

Applicants should have professional knowledge of the theories, principles, and techniques of fisheries science, as well as general knowledge of land management practices sufficient to prescribe a typical Fisheries Resource Management Program in keeping with basic National Forest program requirements. Applicants should have knowledge of local fisheries and hydrology, and have a passion to better understand effects to natural resources through field monitoring and evaluation. In addition, limited knowledge is needed of related disciplines such as timber management, hydrology, soils, plant pathology, wildlife habitat management, engineering, cultural resources, heritage, recreation, etc., sufficient to recognize how they relate to potential fisheries issues and to
recognize when specialized advice is necessary.

About the Forest

The BTNF is part of the largest intact ecosystem in the lower 48 states. The 3.4 million acres stretch from the southern border of Yellowstone National Park, covering the entire eastern flank of Grand Teton National Park, wrapping around Jackson Hole valley, to the sagebrush prairies of southwest-central Wyoming. The BTNF is characterized by high elevation coniferous forests, sage/grass steppes, mountain ranges and deep valleys, large expanses of wild lands and three wilderness areas, abundant wildlife, and internationally recognized scenic and natural features.

The BTNF includes headwaters of three nationally significant rivers (Yellowstone, Snake and Green).Tributaries to these rivers are considered exceptional in trout habitat and home to native strains of cutthroat trout. Over three hundred miles of the Snake River is designated as a Wild, Scenic, or Recreational River. Some of the largest and most diverse populations of mammals in North America exist here. This ecosystem still includes all of the major carnivores, an indication of its ecological completeness. The BTNF includes undisturbed habitat for threatened and endangered species including the grizzly bear. The Forest’s wild lands are large and relatively unaltered by human activity, making them valuable for scientific study and determining baseline conditions for comparison elsewhere.

Recreation opportunities and scenic quality are internationally renowned. The BTNF attracts over 3.6 million visitors each year. The three wilderness areas cover over 1.3 million acres; the Bridger, the Teton and the Gros Ventre totaling more than one-third of the BTNF acreage, and containing major migration routes for wildlife. The Forest offers some of the nation’s best opportunities for winter sports. Three ski resorts, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snow King, and White Pine are located on the Forest. The backcountry landscape contains a multitude of cross-country skiing trails and miles of trails for snowmobiling. Summer recreation contains a trail system of some 3000 miles and a network of scenic roads stretching more than 2500 miles. The Forest also offers unique features such as the scenic and challenging Snake River Canyon, where more than 150 thousand visitors float through its whitewater each year; the Gros Ventre Slide, one of the largest natural landslides in the country; Periodic Springs on Swift Creek near Afton, which is one of the few coldwater geysers in the world; Fremont Lake, the second largest lake in the State of Wyoming, and one of the deepest in the U.S.; Kendall Warm Springs known as the only home for the Kendall Warm Springs Dace; and Gannett Peak (elev. 13,804) the highest point in Wyoming.

The BTNF also has important commodity resources. Scientists believe that there are large reserves of oil and gas trapped beneath the Forest landscape. Pine, spruce and fir have long supported the logging industry. The Forest offers approximately 10 million board feet annually, of which over half is non-commercial firewood, and post and poles for fences. The BTNF also contains some of the richest grazing lands in Wyoming, where more than 40,000 cattle, 2000 horses and, and 80,000 sheep graze annually.

Afton, Wyoming:

Afton is the largest town in Star Valley and is located at the south end. Afton has a population of about 3,000. Star Valley is 60 miles long by 5 miles wide, located between the Idaho‐Wyoming
border to the west and the Salt River Range on the east; town elevation is 6,134 feet. The town boasts the largest Elkhorn Arch in the world spanning 75 feet and containing over 3000 antlers donated by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Nearby Periodic Spring, which is an extremely rare cyclic stream or cold‐water ‘geyser’, is a national forest visitor attraction, and forest access begins just east of town. Groceries and entertainment options are within walking or biking distance. Abundant fish, wildlife, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, camping resources surround Star Valley Wyoming only minutes from the Ranger District office door.

Those desiring further information may contact Patrick Barry, Forest Fisheries Biologist at (307) 886-5330 (desk) or email patrickmbarry@usda.gov

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