Aquatic Biologist/GIS Analyst (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) | Habitat Conservation)

Job Duties:
• Develop and maintain data used by SER to report on the status and progress of individual hydropower projects and to annually set priorities for hydropower work.
• Identify appropriate spatial data for reporting the miles of mainstem rivers and tributaries that are potentially affected by actions at approximately 100 projects that affect fish passage.
• Identify and compile spatial data needed to implement project prioritization models developed with SER staff. These data include quantifying the stream and tributary miles affected by a project; examining the historic, current, and projected future presence of target species (usually shad, river herring, sturgeon, striped bass, and American eel); determining and mapping the acres of habitat suitable for spawning and maturation; and determining the status of relicensing efforts and relevant watershed or resource management plans. Data shall be maintained on a local network and formatted for use by staff using ArcGIS Arc View; this shall include development of metadata. Summaries and maps shall be prepared for quarterly reporting to SER’s senior managers and to NMFS Headquarters and on an as-needed basis for technical and outreach meetings with stakeholders, FERC, and license applicants.
• Develop the background information and administrative record for fishway prescriptions and instream flow recommendations. This information includes: historic records of target species within affected watersheds, assessments of factors that might limit projected future distributions and abundance of target species, recommendations for filling critical information gaps, and maps and spatial databases that represent these findings. When required by FERC, this supporting material must be filed with FERC and others in a prescribed format as part of the administrative record required for a project.
• Compile and coordinate the efforts of SER, Headquarters, and other staff that are providing NOAA’s responses under the administrative proceedings in the event that NMFS becomes a party to an administrative hearing governed by the Energy Policy Act.



• Provide technical and scientific input during meetings organized by SER, resource agencies, hydropower applicants, or stakeholders. The goals of the meetings will be to assess the populations of diadromous fish within a watershed, the conditions of the watershed with respect to supporting diadromous fish, and the effectiveness of management actions designed to protect diadromous fish and their habitat.
• Provide maps and summaries of historical and projected future conditions that affect the distribution and abundance of diadromous fish within the subject watershed. Maps and summaries shall be designed in a manner that facilitates objective assessments of habitat conditions, fish distributions, and restoration opportunities.
• Participate in field assessments aimed at characterizing habitat, water quality, fish abundance, and restoration opportunities.

Requirements:

• Experience examining the habitat requirements of riverine, estuarine, or marine fish and evaluating whether current or proposed conditions meet those requirements. Specific experience with shortnose sturgeon or American shad is not essential, but would be beneficial.
• Experience using ArcGIS to manage large amounts of environmental information, develop maps, and examine habitat quality and quantity. Experience using Microsoft Access is not essential but would be beneficial.
• Experience working in a team environment, managing complex projects, and adhering to project schedules.
• Experience developing technical reports, making presentations, and reporting on project performance. Specific experience with office-level and agency-level performance metrics is not essential but would be beneficial.
• Knowledge of the hydropower licensing process administered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and of the process used to develop fishway prescriptions is not essential but would be beneficial.
• Experience reviewing watershed management plans that include setting goals for diadromous fish populations not essential but would be beneficial.


To Apply: Please send your resume, 3 references and a cover letter explaining how your qualifications meet the requirements of the position to jobs@imsg.com with the following subject heading: NOA08007 –Aquatic Biologist/GIS Analyst.

IMSG is an Equal Opportunity Employer.