Hydrological Technical Support

The selected candidate will perform the following key tasks:

• Apply engineering principles to conduct hydrological analyses that include:
  • Review and provide comments on hydrologic analyses done by others
  • Analyze and determine monthly average stream flow versus natural variability
  • Determine the percent of unimpaired flow
  • Perform instream flow assessments
  • Assess current, historical, and proposed conditions by analyzing hydrology data, hydrologic models, habitat suitability or productivity models.
  • Use appropriate data collection, hydrologic analysis, computer modeling techniques, and flow management plans to develop technical memoranda identifying project effects on salmonid life-cycle functions and population viability. Participate in stakeholder meetings to present findings
• Perform Hydrological Modeling and be familiar with up-to-date modeling techniques and tools including but not limited to:
  • Analyze weather and hydrological data for use in machine learning forecasting models
  • Provide hydrologic modeling and analysis that informs NOAA-Fisheries staff of watershed conditions, water supply and impacts of various human activity (gravel mining, fish passage, road crossing, channel restoration) to be used to evaluate proposed project impacts on ESA listed species and critical habitat. Use tools such as R language libraries or other statistical software packages as appropriate.
  • Review and provide comments on others’ modeling reports and documentation (i.e. USGS GSFLOW model, MIKE SHE model, CalSim 3, PRMS, CE-QUAL-W2, etc.)
  • Use, maintain, develop, and review state-of-the-art Machine Learning tools in areas such as but not limited to:
    • Analyzing historical data usage in a water distribution system
    • For hydrological processes and forecasting
    • Forecasting models
    • Water temperature machine learning models
    • Predictive streamflow machine learning models
    • Turbidity machine learning model
    • Machine learning modeling scenarios to evaluate changes to instream flow requirements for rivers in the WCR
  • Water Management Issues:
    • Recognize strategies to address water operations, dam discharges and drought plans
    • Use of Machine Learning to analyze historical, current and future data usage in a water distribution system (i.e., reservoirs and water diversions)
    • Review documents regarding river systems basin hydrology and any associated water operations.
  • Create GIS maps for NMFS hydrologic modeling projects
  • Present findings in project memorandum and peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations.
  • For field work or meeting participation, work with respective Branch personnel to plan and carry out activities in a timely manner
  • Be a part of any current or future technical water policy cross divisional team

Geographic focus of hydrology services can include watersheds within the West Coast Region (CA, WA, OR, ID). The selected candidate will act as a subject matter expert, engaging in activities to inform, educate and assist others in areas related to watershed hydrology and its influence on ecosystem functions and habitat conditions for anadromous fish. The candidate will make consistent efforts to stay abreast of developments within the field of hydrology as it relates to fisheries ecology and fisheries management.

Deliverables

• Monthly Reports – No later than the first Friday of each month, provide a written progress report summarizing the previous month’s activities and accomplishments, including the current status of all priority tasks, and an action plan for the coming weeks or months.
• Data and Information Control – Store and maintain all data and reports on NMFS computer networks. Uses of data not specifically related to this task order must be approved by NMFS Project Lead on a case-by-case basis. A summary of data management practices will be required via progress review meetings with the NMFS Project Leader at semi-annual intervals, or more frequently as required by program needs. All data collected by the candidate, or reports, information, and government equipment must be safeguarded and delivered to NMFS upon request, or in case of termination of contract.
• Project Review and Comment Documentation – Provide project review comments and recommendations on the EPSB Project Memo Template. Archive comments and recommendations in the designated project folder on the network for each project assigned and in the designated team project comment, Google Drive folder, within one week of submitting them to the NMFS Project Lead.
• Preparation and Delivery of Science-Based Reports – Prepare and deliver science-based presentations or reports related to specific project activities to internal and external audiences, as identified by NMFS Project Lead.
• Communication, Cooperation, and Status Reports – Maintain good communications and cooperation with the respective NMFS WCR personnel. Participate in RAO Division, EPSB and Region activities as assigned by the Project Lead. Keep Project Lead and lead biologists apprised of on-going activities. Provide summary and status reports of activities, schedules, and accomplishments on a periodic basis.
• Timeframes for Responding to Work Requests – Acknowledge support requests within two (2) business days and perform the work as soon as practicable, or within
• 30 days, depending on the scope and complexity of the task. Copies of all official correspondence shall be furnished to the NMFS Project Lead for review and approval prior to external release, unless otherwise identified by the NMFS Project Lead.