To the Service With Love: Why One Biological Science Tech Loves Her Job

Kira collecting genetic samples from
Lake Sammamish kokanee salmon

I have a confession. I love playing in the dirt and mud; I love coming home exhausted and dirty from a hard day working in a river; I love going out and collecting information; and I love getting paid to work outside. I currently work as a Biological Science Technician for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in Lacey, WA, and I have also worked for the National Park Service (Crater Lake National Park and Biscayne National Park), several state agencies, and the private sector. My job makes me work my mind and body in ways that test my mental and physical endurance, and at the end of the day I always have something to show for it, be it information gathered, a new tracking or monitoring device placed, an invasive species removed and a native replaced, and/or a sore muscle to remind me that I worked hard today!

The field of science has allowed me to travel many places already and it could take me anywhere in the world in the future. At Biscayne, I was privileged to scuba dive on some of the most pristine coral reefs in the U.S., removing invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles), monitoring algae growth on coral heads, and documenting the population dynamics of the Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus). At Crater Lake, I worked to assess the chemical and biological health of the lake by netting and trapping invasive fish and crayfish, collecting water samples for lab analysis, and installing equipment that will allow scientists to monitor the lake year-round.

Currently my job is to go out into the field and gather information for new and ongoing projects. The best part of my job is that I don’t have one set thing I do. Here is a short list of things I could be asked to do on any given day:

• Work on the urban stream WRIA-8 project (collecting fish and habitat information)
• Organize/fix/maintain field equipment
• Strap on my waders for a river survey
• Don my dry suit to snorkel for freshwater mussels or for a night fish survey in the lake
• Collect fish for brood stock at a hatchery
• Collect genetic samples,
• Bio-sample and retrieve coded wire tags (CWT’s) from adult fish and enter information into an international database
• Remove and relocate endangered fish
• Work in the lab
• Assist other departments on projects they have going on

In short, my job is to be versatile.

Kira assisting with an elk capture with state
and tribal employees  

I have a great feeling of accomplishment when I consider all the information I have gathered and all the organisms I have helped. You always hear "one person can make a difference" and sometimes that is hard to believe when you think of how big the whole picture is. My job has allowed me to experience that one person CAN make a BIG difference! I see positive changes in the world because of things I have done.

I tell everyone to follow their dreams. I am living my dream.


--Kira Mazzi, Biological Science Technician

 

A Regional View of the USFWS Fisheries Program

This week, our Regional office launched a website (Link 1) containing highlights of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Fisheries Program in the Pacific Region for 2011.

We are one of several USFWS Fisheries offices  located in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and the Pacific Islands.  Each office works with tribal, state, and other federal partners to promote conservation of aquatic trust species and the habitats required to sustain them for future generations of Americans.

Several of our western Washington aquatic species conservation projects and youth outreach programs are highlighted in the report (Link 2). We are pleased to share the report and website with you in an effort to raise awareness of aquatic trust species conservation needs and efforts in our region. 

Link 1:  Region 1 website

Link 2:  A Year in the Water: Pacific Region Fishery Resources 2011 Highlights

  

My Life Aquatic - Part 4

My summer as a USFWS STEP employee proved to be an amazing experience! I was given the opportunity to work on multiple field and public outreach projects, job-shadow biologists and technicians, and gain important on-the-job experiences. In addition, this position enabled me to earn my final upper division sciences credits via independent study with The Evergreen State College. With my undergraduate degree in Environmental Science and Stream Ecology under my belt, as well as my newly updated resume, I am now in a great position to compete for future employment opportunities in conservation science.

Since my STEP position with the Washington Fish & Wildlife Office Fisheries Division (USFWS), I have been exploring work opportunities in fisheries, forestry, and plants, as well as public education and outreach work. With more work experience, I plan to develop existing skills, gain new experience, and explore potential areas of focus for a master’s project. The sky is the limit as I have the flexibility to move to different places in order to achieve these goals. In addition to looking for employment, I have been making myself available as a volunteer to the USFWS and the local Stream Team. The Chehalis Watershed Festival, for example, was a great volunteer experience as it allowed me to give back to the USFWS and the community while further honing my outreach skills.

My long-term goal will be to pursue a Master’s of Science degree focused on ecological conservation and restoration. This degree will be the culmination of my training toward becoming a professional biologist. My STEP position was an important stage in this journey and I feel that from the knowledge and experiences gained, I am ready for my future educational and career pursuits.

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Pacific Lamprey - An Unusual Fish

Pacific lamprey being measured

With the decline of lamprey in many rivers of the Washington Coast work is being conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to better understand why.

One type of lamprey that is of special concern is the Pacific lamprey. Lampreys are an unusual fish that resembles an eel, even though they are not related. They are a very important food source to fish, birds and mammals. Pacific lampreys spend more than half of their life buried in sandy or muddy spots of the river. Like a salmon, when the timing is right, young lampreys will move from their home in the river to the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Adults will return to the rivers and move upstream to lay eggs after spending a couple of years at sea.

Work on the Big Quilcene River has begun to see how well the lampreys are doing. To do this, lampreys are coaxed out from the river bottom using a mild electrical current that stuns them long enough to be captured. After a few measurements are taken on each lamprey, the fish are released unharmed at the same spot in the river where they were captured.

Looking for lamprey in the Big Quilcene River

Coho Have Returned!

Sorting coho salmon

It’s that time of year again when thousands of coho salmon return to Quilcene National Fish Hatchery after having spent the last year and a half feeding in the Pacific Ocean.

Our office coded-wire tagged a portion of these fish as juveniles in 2008 in order to measure their survival. We test the returning fish with magnetic detectors to identify those fish that still have tags. The tags are removed and read and the survival rate calculated. Quilcene coho survive at a fairly high rate, so after a day of sampling hundreds of fish for tags our arms are pretty worn out. This year we're especially tired---Hatchery Assistant Manager Dan Magneson said that these are the biggest fish he can recall in recent memory.

Please visit Quilcene National Fish Hatchery to see us in action or to enjoy a guided tour. Tours can be arranged by calling the hatchery at 360-765-3334.

My Life Aquatic - Part 1

A Look At A U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Seasonal Employee's Summer Through A Fish- Eye Lens


My name is Caprice Fasano and I am a stream ecology major at The Evergreen State College. When looking for summer opportunities this past spring, I had three goals in mind: professional field experience in fisheries conservation, college credits, and income. My search ended when I found out about the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) STEP program. The STEP program stands for Student Temporary Employment Program and is designed to provide the opportunity for students to experience the advantages and challenges of working for the Federal Government. The conservation field work opportunities through the Fisheries Division of the Washington Fish & Wildlife Office (USFWS) were exactly what I was looking for, so I applied, went through an interview process and was eventually offered a fisheries technician position. This blog is an opportunity to share this exciting work experience with you.

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