Willow Beach Biotech Intern

Start/End Dates: October 1, 2024 – March 29, 2025 (anticipated dates)

Stipend: $600 per week living stipend + Education Award.

Term: 26 weeks, Full-Time (40 hours per week)

Reports To: Kraig Ruebush (USFWS Project Leader)

Location: Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery (25808 N. Willow Beach Road, Willow Beach, AZ 86445)

Status: 900-hour AmeriCorps Service Term

Benefits: AmeriCorps Education Award $3,447.50; Public Lands Corps Certificate*; both with successful completion of the internship. On-site housing is available.

*To be eligible for a Public Lands Corps certificate, interns must be between the ages of 18-30, inclusive, at the time the individual begins the term of service and must complete 640 service hours or more to qualify.

Summary:

Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC):

Arizona Conservation Corps, a program of Conservation Legacy, aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930’s. AZCC is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service work projects on public lands. AZCC operates programs across Arizona that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. AZCC has program offices in Flagstaff and Tucson. 

Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery:

Since 1871, the National Fish Hatchery system has been at work improving recreational fishing and restoring aquatic species that are in decline, at risk, and are important to the health of our aquatic systems. Across the country the network of National Fish Hatcheries work with states and Tribes to conserve, restore and enhance the fish and aquatic resources of America for future generations. 

Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery in northwest Arizona was established in 1959 in the Black Canyon region of the Lower Colorado River. It is located 11 miles below the Hoover Dam within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Achii Hanyo Native Fish Rearing Facility, a satellite station of Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery, was established in 1996 and is located on lands of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, ten and a half miles southwest of Parker, Arizona.  

Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery and satellite station Achii Hanyo Native Fish Rearing Facility serve the native endangered Razorback sucker and Bonytail chub fish species. The hatchery raises and stocks these species at predetermined sites along the Lower Colorado River in conjunction with the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program and Bureau of Reclamation. Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery also serves the public by raising and stocking Rainbow trout for recreational purposes. These trout are stocked in the Lower Colorado River below the Hoover Dam in Upper Lake Mohave (specifically, the Willow Beach location), below Davis Dam, and in two Tribal lands associated with the Colorado River: Fort Mohave and Fort Yuma Indian Tribes. The hatchery produces up to 130,000 Rainbow Trout annually for sportfishing, while endangered fish are reared in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation to restock the Colorado River system. The hatchery also provides tours for the public, including school group tours.

Position Summary:

The Willow Beach Biotech Internship is an entry level position, where the intern will assist in collecting data on hatchery populations to study health and propagation methods. Fish hatchery operations and studies on efficiency may cover breeding, rearing, and/or growing fish in tanks or raceways, caring for fertilized eggs in trays, observing fish behavior in response to feeding, cleaning, and husbandry operations, determining feed regiments, treating fish disease, and collecting and recording both hard copy and digital data.

The intern will assist the hatchery crew in providing daily care to fish in an aquaculture facility, performing assignments and general maintenance required for general fish hatchery upkeep and maintenance. Maintenance duties may include the use of simple hand tools or power equipment, landscaping tools (grass mowers, shrub trimmers, etc.), and other tools for minor repairs on hatchery equipment.

The intern will work directly with hatchery biologists to be trained on the daily hatchery routines, and will assist hatchery staff in outreach programs with the public. Housing is available for the intern during their term.

Essential Responsibilities and Functions:

• Assist hatchery crew in providing daily care to fish in aquaculture facility.
• Perform assignments and general maintenance required for general fish hatchery upkeep and maintenance, including use of simple hand tools or power equipment, landscaping tools, and other tools for minor repairs on hatchery equipment.
• Use databases and reporting systems to store, compile, and analyze data from studies.
• Collect biological samples ensuring correct documentation, reporting, storage, transport and delivery of samples taken.
• Prepare segments of recurring reports such as monthly activities and progress reports on individual projects.
• Learn and demonstrate knowledge of USFWS laws, regulations, and polices pertaining to the protection of fish.
• Develop news release drafts for area media.
• Develop and deliver informational and/or environmental education programs to individuals, local organizations, and schools.
• Provide basic information on fish and wildlife resources and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to groups and individuals.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Willing and able to represent the Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and Arizona Conservation Corps in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• Technical knowledge of principles, practices and terminology of biological sciences and related management practices and a working familiarity with similar disciplines in order to independently plan, lead, and coordinate survey and other biological data collection and analysis projects.
• Practical knowledge of practices that affect natural resources environments (such as agriculture and construction) in order to recognize probable effects on and/or relationship to those resources.
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to speak to the public, with effective oral and written communication skills.
• Able and willing to perform duties outdoors in varying weather conditions, especially hot outdoor conditions.
• Applicants must pass a criminal history background check and possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to communicate orally in order to meet and deal effectively with people of different backgrounds including representatives of state, Federal, and Tribal resource agencies, private agencies, and organizations.
• Ability to follow detailed sampling and laboratory procedures and recognize departures from established quality control and quality assurance guidelines.

Physical Requirements:

• To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc. May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time.
• Environmental risks include extreme heat during summer months, wet/slippery surfaces, directly working in cool/cold water, working in muddy pond environments for extended periods of time, working in cold water while wearing waders, and getting in and out of raceways.
• Physical demands will range depending on the project and use of the position. Most locations will be in locations around running water and requiring regular and recurring physical activity such as prolonged standing, walking over wet and/or rocky surfaces, stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing, and carrying heavy items may occur.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Participant Essential Eligibility Requirements:

Participation and Expedition Behavior:

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences. 
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service. Members must commit to participating in all crew/team activities, including service days in local communities where applicable. 
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff. 
• Appropriately represent AmeriCorps, Arizona Conservation Corps, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at all times.

Safety and Judgment: 

• Activities will be located in and around running water where the intern could be exposed to extreme weather conditions, insects/wildlife, and/or other environments that would require the intern to use protective clothing or gear such as hard hats, masks, gowns, ear plugs, coats, boots, goggles, gloves, or shields to mitigate risks.
• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.
• Effectively perceive, understand, and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards. 
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions. 
• Respond appropriately to stress or crisis.
• If taking prescriptions medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others.

Environmental Ethics:

• Learn and practice ‘Leave no Trace’ techniques.

Substance Free:

• In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.  

Background Check:

A DOI background clearance may be required prior to reporting for duty and a PIV card obtained after the candidate reports to duty. The USFWS will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after an intern has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start the internship. This process will determine the internship’s exact start date.

Interns will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to gov’t vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above. Interns must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.

For more information on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, please visit their website at https://www.fws.gov/. Information on the Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery can be found at https://www.fws.gov/fish-hatchery/willow-beach.

For more information about Arizona Conservation Corps, please visit https://azcorps.org/. Arizona Conservation Corps is a program of Conservation Legacy.