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M.E.S.S.S is always looking for help with fundraising, enhancement projects (see the Clare Winsor project for 2023 and 2024), administration, vehicle maintenance, trail clearing, the list goes on. If you feel you can help us in any way, please don't hesitate to contact us
Lead Stream Technician for Salmon Enumeration and Habitat Monitoring
THIS POSITION IS FILLED FOR 2023
Contract Period: August 15th – November 15th 2023
In conjunction with DFO (the Department of Fisheries and Oceans), the Mainland Enhancement of Salmonoid Species Society annually enumerates and monitors the habitat of escaping salmon in approximately 8 creeks and their tributaries in and around the Echo Bay area of Gilford Island.
The Lead Stream Technician position for 2023 involves leading a team of 2, based in Echo Bay. The 2 Stream Technicians will travel via boat to 7 streams and 10 of their tributaries on a rotation schedule within Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw Territory to conduct salmon enumeration and habitat monitoring via visual stream walking surveys.
For 2023 there will be approximately 70 creek rotations over the span of 3 months.
Lead technician also has the responsibility of inputting the data into DFO’s database as well as a separate MESSS database during the course of the contract. A final report summarizing the data will be required for publication by December 15th 2023.
Pay: $12600 total paid via 3x monthly payments of $4200 (housing and other living expenses not included in contract, but trips to town to resupply will be facilitated)
Schedule: Roughly 5-7 days on, 2-4 days off. The weather, tides and rainfall dictate the schedule, and frequent schedule changes will occur through the season to work strategically with the elements.
Details: The lead Stream Technician will be trained in the official DFO methodology to provide escapement estimates in approximately 7 streams and 10 tributaries. Approximately 70 enumeration surveys will be carried out over the contract period, with between 1 and 2 stream surveys completed per day. This position will assist in salmon habitat monitoring through the collection of water quality data including pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen, as well as monitoring and measuring water levels and flow, quality of spawning substrate, riparian area, and barriers to access. These stream surveys will be conducted visually by walking up streams, some truck driving is necessary to access the tributaries. Minor trail maintenance activities will be required. Boat, fuel, truck will be provided by MESSS.
Necessary requirements for stream lead technician:
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SVOP
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Radio operator’s ticket
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Active and able to hike all day
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basic first aid
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at least 5 years experience running a boat
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driver’s licence
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strong knowledge of salmon ID and life cycles
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Wildlife experience, knowledge of bear/wolf/cougar behaviour and safe interactions,
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Experience with rivers and safe practices around water
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Excellent computer skills
The following qualifications would be an asset but are not required
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Wilderness First Aid Certificate(s)
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Chainsaw skills
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Swift water rescue ticket
Please send resumes to the MESSS board of directors at m.e.s.s.s.echobay@gmail.com by March 31st
Assistant Stream Technician for Salmon enumeration and Habitat monitoring
Contract Period: August 15th – November 15th 2023
In conjunction with DFO, the Mainland Enhancement of Salmonoid Species Society annually enumerates and monitors the habitat of escaping salmon in approximately 7 creeks and their tributaries in and around the Echo Bay area of Gilford Island.
The assistant Stream Technician position for 2023 involves traveling by via boat to the streams and their tributaries on a rotation schedule within Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw Territory to conduct salmon enumeration and habitat monitoring via visual stream walking surveys.
For 2023 there will be approximately 70 creek rotations over the span of 3 months.
Pay: $9600 total paid via 3x monthly payments of $3200 (housing and other living expenses not included in contract, but trips to town to resupply will be facilitated)
Schedule: Roughly 5-7 days on, 2-4 days off. The weather, tides and rainfall dictate the schedule, and frequent schedule changes will occur through the season to work strategically with the elements.
Details: The assistant Stream Technician will be assisting the lead technician to provide escapement estimates in approximately 7 streams and 10 tributaries. Approximately 70 enumeration surveys will be carried out over the contract period, with between 1 and 2 stream surveys completed per day. This position will assist in salmon habitat monitoring through the collection of water quality data including pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen, as well as monitoring and measuring water levels and flow, quality of spawning substrate, riparian area, and barriers to access. These stream surveys will be conducted visually by walking up streams. Minor trail maintenance activities will be required.
Boat, fuel and truck will be provided by MESSS
Necessary requirements for assistant stream technician:
-
Active and able to hike all day
-
driver’s licence
-
5+ years’ boating experience
-
strong knowledge of salmon ID and life cycles
-
Wildlife experience, knowledge of bear/wolf/cougar behaviour and safe interactions,
-
Experience with rivers and safe practices around water
The following qualifications would be an asset but are not required
-
Wilderness First Aid Certificate(s)
-
Chainsaw skills
-
Swift water rescue ticket
-
SVOP
-
Radio operator ticket
Please send resumes to m.e.s.s.s.echobay@gmail.com by March 31st 2023
Volunteer Testimonial
“Working for MESSS was very rewarding and a very valued experience for me… I found the routine of returning to the creeks each day really fostered an unexpected sense of belonging and attachment within me.
Writing to a friend after having been on Gilford Island for only a couple of weeks… what came out in my stream of consciousness ramblings was just how very attached I had become to the idea that what we were doing in these creeks – these seemingly insignificant or small acts of restoration – might actually work. I realized then that I had developed a truly emotional response to the possibility that we might see more fish returning to these creeks! And I find that with every creek that I am fortunate enough to walk or visit, that attachment only wedges deeper. I know I’m not alone in that…On a day to day basis, the work required was nothing special….when it comes to clearing brush and shovelling gravel there’s no sugarcoating it – it’s just work. But I think what made the project so meaningful to me was that process of visiting the same creeks day in and day out, walking around, seeing where the sun created shaded pools, watching for fry.. The more time we spent knee deep in creek water, or exploring the tributary networks through the forest, the more I think we understood what we were doing.” Skye M
Volunteer Testimonial
I spent an amazing month testing the feasibility of a project to enhance salmon spawning habitat for local streams. We carried buckets of gravel to streams with known Coho salmon populations, and strategically placed the gravel in areas that would create optimal spawning habitat. While working on this project, I gained more knowledge about salmon habitat, and learned oral history of the community and its relationship to the natural resources around Echo Bay. This was not my first visit to Echo Bay, nor will it be my last. The wildlife in Echo Bay is spectacular, but what keeps bringing me back to this place of beauty is the community and how connected the people here are with nature. It is amazing to experience the power and passion that such a small community can have and it gives me hope that it is still possible to make a difference to our wild salmon stocks.” Alex S