Seasonal Stream Habitat Technician

Trout Unlimited is a national organization with 300,000 members and supporters organized into over 400 chapters and councils nationwide.  These dedicated grassroots volunteers are matched by a respected staff of organizers, lawyers, policy experts, and scientists, who work out of more than 45 offices across the country.  Our mission is to bring together diverse interests to care for and recover rivers and streams so our children can experience the joy of wild and native trout and salmon.  

Trout Unlimited recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. 

POSITION SUMMARY 

This position will implement the on-the-ground benefits to cold-water fisheries and local communities including flood resiliency, improvement of aquatic habitat and water quality, and protection of aquatic health and biodiversity. The stream habitat technician will report directly to the Full-Time Technician and Maine Project Manager and will be responsible for working on a small restoration team to conduct instream habitat improvement and assessment. The primary function of this team is to restore streams with woody structures through the implementation of strategic wood additions (SWAs), beaver dam analogs (BDAs), and post-assisted logjams (PALs). Additional projects may include small dam removal, assessing streams for future wood loading, and documenting the success of past projects. 

Multiple positions (2-3) will be filled working in conjunction with the full-time technician. Technicians will support or act as sawyers (depending on experience) in safely felling trees. Depending on the structure and design needs, trees may be cut into smaller pieces, moved (with hand tools), pinned with posts utilizing a post pounder, and/or embedded in the bank using a winch setup. This position is physically strenuous and requires hiking (primarily off trail) with 20-50lbs of equipment and the ability to lift large logs/shift whole trees with use of hand tools. We are building in stream habitat which requires working within the water/stream channel. Weather conditions, unless unsafe, will not impact the work schedule. 

Location: The team will be based in Maine (no office location), with weekly travel throughout the state, and potentially Vermont. Project areas include but are not limited to the Rangeley Lakes region and the Northeast Piscataquis region in Maine.  

Hours: The team typically completes a 40-hour work week in 4 field days, with one day for travel (Monday or Friday). 

Dates: The position begins in June/July and runs for a minimum of 6 weeks, with the potential for up to 12 weeks. 

 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Perform all duties with safety as the top priority.
• Working onsite in remote areas with limited or no cell signal for several days each week.
• With appropriate training, use tools (chainsaws, grip hoists, hand tools, pulleys, levers) to place trees into streams to create aquatic habitat.
• Team lift/carrying felled trees or moving with rock bars within the stream channel
• Utilizing a post pounder to drive posts that will pin wood in specific configurations within the stream channel
• Transport of field equipment to and from project sites.
• Operating hand-powered equipment (e.g. winches, axes, rock bars, etc.)
• Assisting with stream habitat assessment and/or culvert assessments
• Collecting data with a provided phone and collection application for current and all past project sites

This is not an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities. 

REQUIREMENTS 

• Saw experience (specifically with directional felling) or sawyer training.
• Familiarity with hand tools (e.g. axes, shovels, chainsaws, etc.).
• Ability to hike & carry heavy gear (up to 50lbs) through rough terrain off-trail.
• Familiarity with data collection/navigation applications.
• Ability and willingness to travel. Valid driver’s license and own vehicle required.
• Ability to work with others on a small team
• Schedule flexibility, and adaptability to varying environments and plans.
• Passion for protecting and restoring trout populations and their watersheds.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Experience with directional tree felling for strategic wood addition, (preferably with USFS, S-212, or Game of Logging certification).
• Tree ID skills.
• Knowledge of fish habitat and/or basic hydrology.
• Experience with Esri Applications (Survey123, Esri Field Maps, etc.)
• Basic First Aid and CPR; Wilderness First Aid or similar.

COMPENSATION 

This is a seasonal position for 6-12 weeks in the summer of 2025. Pay is approximately $18-22/hour based on experience. Mileage reimbursement for travel to and from sites each week. A work truck is provided for travel from daily lodging accommodations. Housing/lodging is provided, typically in the form of short-term rental during the work week. Work boots, all PPE, and equipment provided. Meals covered during the work week. Potential to receive wilderness first aid training saw certifications, or other professional development opportunities as available.  

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.