Water Resources Scientist

EDUCATION - EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING FOR POSITION: A Master’s Degree from an accredited university or college in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Hydrology or a closely related field, including the following graduate level hours (graduate level classes have course numbers of 500 or higher): 14 semester hours (21 quarter hours) in Hydrology, Fisheries Biology, River Ecology, Water Law, or Water Resource Management. In lieu of a Master’s Degree, the following may be accepted: Seven years of directly relevant experience, and a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university or college in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Hydrology or a closely related field, including 14 semester hours (21 quarter hours) of the following undergraduate level courses: Hydrology, Fisheries Biology, River Ecology, Water Law, or Water Resource Management.

JOB SUMMARY:

This position requires professional skills and abilities to protect surface and ground water resources collaboratively with a team of highly qualified scientists. Through its federally-reserved treaty rights, the Muckleshoot Tribe is a co-manager of salmon, steelhead, and other fisheries resources within the Tribe’s Usual and Accustomed Fishing Area (U&A), which includes the Lake Washington/Cedar River, the White/Puyallup River, and the Green/Duwamish River watersheds.  This position evaluates potential impacts and strategies to minimize impacts of water management plans, water rights applications, stormwater management proposals, and residential, commercial, municipal, state, or federal projects on anadromous salmonids, other fishery/shellfish resources, and/or their habitat within these watersheds. This position also assists in negotiating and implementing existing agreements on water management regimes in these watersheds.

MAJOR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

This list is intended only to illustrate the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements does not exclude them from the position if the work is a similar, related or logical assignment to the position.

 

1. Screens and reviews pending water rights applications, development proposals/permits, and water management plans in the Tribe’s U&A watersheds, to assess potential impacts on surface and ground water resources important for anadromous salmonids, other fishery/shellfish resources, and/or their habitat. Seeks opportunities to protect surface and ground water resources, and identifies measures to avoid or mitigate impacts.

 

2. Coordinates with other government agencies and tribal staff in identifying and implementing priorities, strategies and solutions for the protection of anadromous salmonids and habitat, related to land use, water resources, water quality, major fish passage projects, and physical fish habitat.

 

3. Works collaboratively with other programs within the Tribe’s Fisheries Division to administer and protect water rights for the Tribe’s current and future fish production facilities. Works with state agencies to ensure that water supplies at state hatcheries in the U&A are similarly protected.

 

4. Coordinates with other government agencies to identify and implement strategies and solutions for the protection of ground and surface water resources related to anadromous salmonids, other fishery/shellfish resources, and aquatic habitat.

 

5. Provides written recommendations on permit applications and project proposals to ensure that instream flow and water management rules and other environmental regulations are properly applied and implemented.

 

6. Coordinates with other government agencies to implement the Tribe’s flow management agreements within the Tribe’s U&A watersheds.

 

7. Conducts hydrological modeling and/or research, including the potential impacts of climate change on water resources.

 

8. Reviews new or proposed legislation and/or regulations from local governments, state and federal agencies and identifies potential issues that could diminish water flows in the U&A.

 

9. Gathers information from a number of sources and prepares and maintains various technical reports and records for the programs.

 

10. Assists in preparing for real-time drought response coordination with water utilities and the Corps of Engineers.

 

11. Because of the Tribe’s commitment to community service and the well-being of its members, each employee may be expected to perform a wide range of office and field duties from time to time. Such duties may or may not be related to their regular responsibilities.

EDUCATION - EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING FOR POSITION:

A Master’s Degree from an accredited university or college in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Hydrology or a closely related field, including the following graduate level hours (graduate level classes have course numbers of 500 or higher): 14 semester hours (21 quarter hours) in Hydrology, Fisheries Biology, River Ecology, Water Law, or Water Resource Management. In addition, at least 6 semester hours (9 quarter hours) in any combination of the following: Research Design, Statistics and/or Biometrics.  In addition, at least 4 years of directly relevant experience, including water resources protection, water resources management, and water rights evaluations, with applicable natural resource regulations. Transcripts must be submitted with employment application and Official Transcripts are required for hiring.

 

In lieu of a Master’s Degree, the following may be accepted:  Seven years of directly relevant experience, and a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university or college in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Hydrology or a closely related field, including 14 semester hours (21 quarter hours) of the following undergraduate level courses:  Hydrology, Fisheries Biology, River Ecology, Water Law, or Water Resource Management. In addition, at least 6 semester hours (9 quarter hours) in any combination of the following:  Research Design, Statistics and/or Biometrics.  Directly related experience includes including water resources protection, water resources management, and water rights evaluations, with applicable natural resource regulations. Transcripts and certificates must be submitted with employment application. 

SPECIFIC SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITIES REQUIRED FOR POSITION:

Knowledge of:

• Washington State Water Law and implementation through regulations and court decisions
• The relationship between surface water hydrology, ground water hydrology, storm water management and water quality
• Principles and procedures of biological and hydrological research
• Methods of biological and hydrological data collection, interpretation, and presentation
• Statistical and research theory and techniques
• Current literature, trends and developments in hydrology
• Strategic planning techniques and processes
• Physical and natural sciences related to ground/surface water quality, quantity, development, and basin-wide management
• Principles and practices of water resource management, hydrogeology, hydrology, geology, soils, geochemistry, meteorology, and related earth science and engineering subjects

Skilled in:

• Reading and interpreting environmental regulations
• Working collaboratively to implement the objectives of the Tribe’s Fisheries Division
• Defining and prioritizing problems and determining extent and type of information needed
• Verbal communication
• Technical writing
• Project time management
• Attention to detail and adherence to deadlines
• Analyzing environmental information to apply solutions and guidelines to permit applications and development proposals
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing with Tribal officials and managers, other governmental officials, employees, and community members, including preparation and delivery of public presentations
• Problem solving and conflict resolution
• Interpreting administrative guidelines and applying them to the work situation

• Establishing effective working relationships with diverse groups and individuals

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The working conditions described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this class. The employee is frequently required to sit, talk, hear, use one or both feet to move controls, and drive a motor vehicle. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, balance, bend, crouch, kneel, twist, use hands to grasp, finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift, push/pull and/or move up to 75 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, or airborne particles.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in the office, and moderate to loud in the field.

 

Licenses or Certifications Required: A valid Washington State driver’s license is required at the time of appointment and at all times during employment.