Environmental Specialist – Fish Restoration Plan Needed
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Integrated Statistics is looking for an Environmental Specialist to work with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NFMS) Greater Atlantic Regional Field Office (GARFO) in Gloucester, MA. The Environmental Specialist will assist in preparing a plan that provides a framework, goals, and objectives for the restoration of diadromous species of the Merrimack River, to improve hydroelectric project consultations and to promote non-hydro restoration projects.
This position is concerned with regulatory and analytical processes, not field research.
The Environmental Specialist will work with the Merrimack River Technical Working Group (MRTWG) represented by NOAA Fisheries, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.
GARFO's Habitat Conservation Division (HCD) strives to protect, conserve and restore habitats of our living marine resources, reviewing thousands of coastal development projects proposed, funded, or authorized by federal agencies each year. If these projects have the potential to adversely affect marine, estuarine or diadromous species or their habitat, the HCD conducts a technical review of the biological effects of these human activities, the value of coastal habitats, and methods of reducing habitat loss and degradation and develops recommendations on how best to avoid, minimize or compensate for these impacts.
For energy development actions licensed by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) under the Federal Power Act, HCD ensures that hydropower facilities provide safe, timely, and effective fish passage and implement habitat protection measures at hydroelectric facilities. At hydroelectric projects throughout the Merrimack River, significant licensing and compliance actions are occurring that facilitate the restoration of diadromous species in the Greater Atlantic Region. The restoration plans for diadromous fish in this watershed are either antiquated, in draft form, or do not cover the full suite of diadromous species.
Duties
The Environmental Specialist will work on these tasks:
- Consolidating and reviewing existing management plans, delivering a written synthesis and understanding of existing watershed plans that provide a foundation for the diadromous fishery comprehensive plan.
- Managing GIS data, and delivering a well organized geodatabase. Tasks include downloading data, storing and organizing the data, and building a data catalog in ArcGIS.
- Quantifying existing and potential habitat, using GIS spatial tools to determine the production potential of these species: American shad, blueback herring, alewife, American eel, sea lamprey, and striped bass. The habitat requirements of each species and specific hydrographic and biological criteria/thresholds are to be analyzed to determine production potential.
- Producing professional figures and maps to include in the diadromous fish restoration plan, in consultation with partners.
- Writing a draft plan that is based on existing plans and MRTWG guidance, using NOAA protocols and formats. Conducting the draft through review by the MRTWG and NOAA Fisheries, with the deliverable of the final comprehensive plan for the restoration of the diadromous fishery in the Merrimack River Watershed.
- Coordinating communications by facilitating regular meetings to discuss plan development, acting as the point of contact for external stakeholders, and coordinating the development of an American shad model by NOAA Fisheries staff using an existing model (Stich et al, 2018).
Qualifications and Skills
The Environmental Specialist will possess:
- Five years of related work experience in environmental science with demonstrated applied knowledge of diadromous species and habitat restoration.
- A Bachelor's degree or higher in fisheries biology, natural resource management, or a closely related field.
- Demonstrated proficiency in writing technical reports.
- Demonstrated project management and coordination skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal oversight.
- Proficiency in GIS; excellent data management skills.
The position is expected to last one year. The rate of pay will be commensurate with experience and qualifications, and the position is eligible for the benefits described on the Integrated Statistics website.
Integrated Statistics is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Consistent with its obligations under federal law, Integrated Statistics is committed to taking affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified women, minorities, disabled individuals, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam era, and other eligible veterans. For assistance with accessibility of applications, posters, forms, and/or documents, please email the Integrated Statistics office.
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