Like streams and science? Join us for a summer job!

Do you enjoy spending your summer outside? Are you interested in science and data? We are looking for six field crew members to join our watershed health monitoring team for a summer of river and stream sampling.

As environmental technicians, you will travel throughout Washington state to collect physical, chemical, and biological data for our long-term stream monitoring project. 

The application period is now open. To be considered for the preliminary recruitment, please apply on or before April 24, 2025. The paid positions begin in early June and extend through mid-October.   

What does a watershed health scientist do?

Every summer, we sample over 80 stream sites to collect data on water quality, riparian habitat, available fish habitat, and biological communities.

“Our summer crews spend about 90 percent of their time in the field collecting ecological data near streams,” said environmental technician Cait Dellert. “From measuring fish habitat and water quality data, to collecting samples of stoneflies, to scraping algae off rocks to test for heavy metals. It is quite the office!” 

On a typical day, crew members load up backpacks with field gear, hike to the designated stream, spend a full day collecting hundreds of data points, and return to process the collected samples. While the work can be physically tiring, the camaraderie among crews makes each field day fun and exciting. 

To ensure our data are consistent, we use the same protocols at each site. There is still plenty of variety in our fieldwork. One day you might be in a dense coniferous forest looking at an intricate caddisfly casing, and the next day you might be collecting water samples next to impressive basalt formations. Each stream is different, providing new opportunities to learn about stream dynamics and the biological communities living in them.

Our field crews are integral to this study and the continued tracking of the health of Washington’s rivers and streams.

How to join our team

We encourage recent graduates and early career scientists to apply. Our watershed health summer jobs are a great opportunity to get hands-on experience and learn different protocols used for stream monitoring. 

Ready to apply? Here’s what to do next:

All crews are based out of our headquarters office in Lacey and travel extensively throughout the work week. We cover meals and lodging while traveling. 

Importance of long-term monitoring

In October 2024, we completed 15 years of data collection. This could not have been possible without the help of hardworking seasonal staff, continued development of the project, and the support from Ecology. A long-term study like this allows us to keep a pulse on Washington’s streams and track changes over many years.

Our watershed health monitoring study provides a plethora of valuable data that is used for statewide stream health tracking, salmon restoration efforts, and setting statewide stream health standards.

To learn more about our work, view our watershed health database, regional reports, statewide reports, or the biannual State of the Salmon assessments.