I. M. Systems Group, Inc. (IMSG) www.imsg.com is seeking to hire an
Aquatic Biologist familiar with ArcGIS to work at the National Marine
Fisheries Service Southeast Regional Office (SER) Habitat Conservation
Division to develop maps, information, and studies needed to support
fishway prescriptions and assessments of the quantity, quality, and
distribution of riverine habitat used by diadromous fish. Under the
Federal Power Act and Energy Policy Act, the NMFS Southeast Regional
Office (SER) works with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to
issue prescriptions for fishways at hydroelectric facilities. These
prescriptions are part of licenses FERC issues for the hydropower
facilities. Based on SERs recommendations, the licenses may also include
other terms and conditions designed to protect habitat used by diadromous
fish during their spawning, maturation, or migration. While these FERC-
licensed facilities occur throughout the southeastern U.S. (Texas to North
Carolina), the higher priority projects for SER occur in North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. SERs hydropower coordinator is a
member of SERs Habitat Conservation Division and is located in SERs
Charleston (SC) field office, which leads SERs efforts on hydropower
projects.
Job Duties:
Develop and maintain data used by SER to report on the status and
progress of individual hydropower projects and to annually set priorities
for hydropower work.
Identify appropriate spatial data for reporting the miles of
mainstem rivers and tributaries that are potentially affected by actions
at approximately 100 projects that affect fish passage.
Identify and compile spatial data needed to implement project
prioritization models developed with SER staff. These data include
quantifying the stream and tributary miles affected by a project;
examining the historic, current, and projected future presence of target
species (usually shad, river herring, sturgeon, striped bass, and American
eel); determining and mapping the acres of habitat suitable for spawning
and maturation; and determining the status of relicensing efforts and
relevant watershed or resource management plans. Data shall be maintained
on a local network and formatted for use by staff using ArcGIS Arc View;
this shall include development of metadata. Summaries and maps shall be
prepared for quarterly reporting to SERs senior managers and to NMFS
Headquarters and on an as-needed basis for technical and outreach meetings
with stakeholders, FERC, and license applicants.
Develop the background information and administrative record for
fishway prescriptions and instream flow recommendations. This information
includes: historic records of target species within affected watersheds,
assessments of factors that might limit projected future distributions and
abundance of target species, recommendations for filling critical
information gaps, and maps and spatial databases that represent these
findings. When required by FERC, this supporting material must be filed
with FERC and others in a prescribed format as part of the administrative
record required for a project.
Compile and coordinate the efforts of SER, Headquarters, and other
staff that are providing NOAAs responses under the administrative
proceedings in the event that NMFS becomes a party to an administrative
hearing governed by the Energy Policy Act.
Provide technical and scientific input during meetings organized
by SER, resource agencies, hydropower applicants, or stakeholders. The
goals of the meetings will be to assess the populations of diadromous fish
within a watershed, the conditions of the watershed with respect to
supporting diadromous fish, and the effectiveness of management actions
designed to protect diadromous fish and their habitat.
Provide maps and summaries of historical and projected future
conditions that affect the distribution and abundance of diadromous fish
within the subject watershed. Maps and summaries shall be designed in a
manner that facilitates objective assessments of habitat conditions, fish
distributions, and restoration opportunities.
Participate in field assessments aimed at characterizing habitat,
water quality, fish abundance, and restoration opportunities.
Requirements:
Experience examining the habitat requirements of riverine,
estuarine, or marine fish and evaluating whether current or proposed
conditions meet those requirements. Specific experience with shortnose
sturgeon or American shad is not essential, but would be beneficial.
Experience using ArcGIS to manage large amounts of environmental
information, develop maps, and examine habitat quality and quantity.
Experience using Microsoft Access is not essential but would be beneficial.
Experience working in a team environment, managing complex
projects, and adhering to project schedules.
Experience developing technical reports, making presentations, and
reporting on project performance. Specific experience with office-level
and agency-level performance metrics is not essential but would be
beneficial.
Knowledge of the hydropower licensing process administered by the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and of the process used to develop
fishway prescriptions is not essential but would be beneficial.
Experience reviewing watershed management plans that include
setting goals for diadromous fish populations not essential but would be
beneficial.
To Apply: Please send your resume, 3 references and a cover letter
explaining how your qualifications meet the requirements of the position
to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the following subject heading: NOA08007 Aquatic
Biologist/GIS Analyst.
IMSG is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
