Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board is Seeking Applications for Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Members (Volunteer, Unpaid Position)
BACKGROUND
The Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board (Board) was formed through state legislation to lead salmon recovery in southwestern Washington. The mission of the Board is to recover lower Columbia salmon, steelhead and bull trout to healthy, harvestable levels that will sustain productive sport, commercial and tribal fisheries through the restoration and protection of the ecosystems upon which they depend, and the implementation of supportive hatchery and fishery practices. This is accomplished through the coordinated implementation of locally-driven watershed management and salmon recovery plans.
The Lower Columbia region extends from the mouth of the Columbia River, upstream to and including, the White Salmon River in Klickitat County, in Washington State. The region includes the estuary and 18 major watersheds, with all associated tributaries, and supports 74 populations of steelhead, salmon and bull trout that are listed under the federal Endangered Species Act.
The Board’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is currently composed of 9 members with representatives from the Washington Departments of Ecology, Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife and Transportation, Cowlitz Indian Tribe, and other persons with expertise in fisheries, environmental issues, or natural resource management. The main function of the TAC is to:
* Evaluate, rank, and monitor fish recovery projects and programs and submit their findings and recommendations to the Board;
* Assist the Board in efforts to assess factors limiting the recovery of fish;
* Advise the Board on matters relating to the development of the regional recovery plan, and,
* Provide the Board with technical advice on fish recovery issues referred to it by the Board.
The TAC meets the second Wednesday of each month, from 9:00 AM to 12:00PM, at the LCFRB office in Vancouver, WA. Members typically contribute 5-10 hours per month to the program, with time increasing by up to a week during the annual salmon recovery grant round. TAC members are expected to actively participate in meetings and on committees, with responsibility for scoring and ranking projects, providing input and recommendations to sponsors, staff, and Board members, and participating in Board special initiatives.
The Board is looking to both expand the number of TAC members, as well as the expertise represented. The goal of expanding the number of TAC members and skill sets is to broaden the technical robustness of project reviews, bring additional expertise to other Board initiatives, and help balance project scoring by ensuring projects are viewed through multiple technical perspectives.
REQUIREMENTS FOR TAC SERVICE
Interested candidates should have:
1. Field experience and technical knowledge in one or more areas of salmon recovery, such as fish population biology, engineering, geomorphology, landscape ecology, etc.;
2. On-the-ground experience in aquatic habitat restoration (with a focus on salmonid habitat) methods and approaches in the Western Cascades;
3. Education and/or employment experience that demonstrates professionalism, leadership ability, collaborative skills, and effective communication abilities;
4. A willingness to participate in TAC functions and activities;
5. An ability to meet the time commitment requirements; and,
6. A demonstrated interest and passion in the organization’s mission and goals.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest and resume, including the following information:
1. Qualifications for the position including occupational/employment background, and work and education in areas of technical expertise;
2. Your interest in involvement with the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board organization, the TAC, and the position; and,
3. A description of the skills and/or strengths the applicant would contribute to the Committee.
Email letters of interest and resumes to the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board Program Manager, Denise Smee, at: dsmee@lcfrb.gen.wa.us by September 30, 2020.
Find information about the Board and TAC on our website at: https://www.lcfrb.gen.wa.us/