California Department of Fish and Game, Eureka office
Florie conducting a winter spawner survey.
619 Second Street
Eureka, CA 95501
(707) 441-2006 (Eureka Office)
(707) 445-6664 (fax)
Mentors:
Michelle Gilroy, Fisheries Biologist
Mentor Biography
mgilroy@dfg.ca.gov
Scott Bauer
sbauer@dfg.ca.gov
Current Members:
Sara Bangen
Member Biography
Sam Price
Member Biography
Site Description:
Michelle Gilroy's WSP mentee will primarily assist the DFG District Watershed Biologist with fisheries management responsibilities in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. Member will assiste with planning and implementation for DFG coastal fisheries monitoring and habitat restoration programs (including the DFG/HSU Fisheries Restoration Volunteer Program). Biological field surveys/monitoring may include: direct observation, downstream migrant trapping, minnow trapping, electrofishing, seining, water quality sampling, and stream habitat inventories. Office duties include, but are not limited to: editing and updating the District fisheries literature library, attending meetings, and maintaining fisheries field equipment. There are also many opportunities for educational and outreach events (such as this year's first time ever "Take a Kid Fishing Day" event at Freshwater Lagoon).
Time members spend on each of the following tasks at their site (WSP trainings and mandatory events not included in this breakdown):
Monitoring - 10%
Restoration -
Field Surveys and Data Collection - 40%
Report Writing and Data Entry - 30%
Lab Work - 0%
Education - 10%
Outreach - 10%
Member comments:
"I found the Eureka DFG site very rewarding as a 2nd year member. I was able to lead some aspects of the monitoring (water quality mostly) based on my previous year’s experience while still learning a lot of new things. There is a lot of independence involved at this site making it an excellent opportunity to put previously learned knowledge to use. Michelle puts a lot of effort into ensuring that you are working on projects related to your specific interests and that your talents are used to their fullest. She got me involved in areas that I was interested in such as estuarine monitoring and restoration. I would recommend this site to anyone who feels they have a strong idea of where they want to go in this field, and what types of projects they would like to work on."
- Newt Burks, year 12 and 13 member
Mentor comments:
Please check back!
For a sample calendar of WSP member duties at this site, click
U.S. Forest Service - Six Rivers National Forest, Supervisor's Office
1330 Bayshore Way
Eureka, CA 95501
(707) 442-1721 (SO info desk)
(707) 441-3551 (Cook)
USFS Six Rivers National Forest Webpage
Mentor:
Carolyn Cook, Forest Hydrologist
Mentor Biography
cacook@fs.fed.us
Current Members:
Heidi Klingel
Member Biography
Site Description:
Members assist USDA Forest Service Fisheries Biologists by gathering anadromous and resident fish population and habitat data; aid in the development and implementation of habitat enhancement projects; record, monitor, and analyze fisheries and habitat data; and develop and present K-12 watershed and fisheries curricula in local area classrooms. Please note: This site/ mentor would prefer members with a strong background in the physical sciences.
More site information in WSP member Heidi Klingel's words:
The Watershed Department in the Six Rivers Supervisor’s Office (SO) is a special site. Largely the work involves watershed processes (in contrast to the fisheries focus of most WSP sites). Here, the focus is on the BIG picture. Our job, and challenge, is to manage and restore a large area of land in order to maintain clean water and healthy habitats for the anadramous, aquatic and human dependants. We do this by helping to prevent landslides. Mainly, this is achieved by storm-proofing and decommissioning the vast road system left from a legacy of logging. It feels great to be tackling one of the causes of habitat degradation at its root.
Every year, new projects arise.This keeps the Americorps positions exciting and challenging. Continuing projects and studies are also addressed which offers the opportunity to gain, reuse and finally master a set of skills. The tasks assigned are not busy work, but are much needed within the department. There is plenty of room for personal interest and choices. The group is composed of deeply generous, bright and dedicated people. Americorps projects in the past have included aerial photo interpretation and mapping, GIS and Access database building, report writing, graphic design, survey work, hydrologic data collection, road damage surveys, stream diversion potential surveys, grazing analysis, spawner surveys and snorkel dives.
Time members spend on each of the following tasks at their site (WSP trainings and mandatory events not included in this breakdown):
Monitoring - 50%
Restoration -
Field Surveys and Data Collection - 20%
Report Writing and Data Entry - 10%
Lab Work - 0%
Education - 10%
Outreach - 10%
Member comments:
"Your experience at the USFS SO is what you want to make of it. Many opportunities are open to you, but here it requires that you take the initiative and express your interest. It is important to be independent and full of initiative. It is also extremely helpful to have a background/interest in the earth’s physical processes. If this sounds like you, you will love working with the Six Rivers Watershed Department."
-Heidi Klingel, year 12 and 13 member
Mentor comments:
"The Six Rivers National Forest has been a long-standing supporter of the WSP program for over 13 years. For many WSP members, the opportunities provided by this program provide their first professional experience and help refine their future goals and skills. Many of our past WSP members have moved onto to permanent jobs within the watershed sciences shortly after completing their internship with the Six Rivers National Forest.
We see this program as an invaluable resume building experience. Work assigned to WSP member is of the same nature assigned to professionals within the Watershed Program and as such, provides in-valuable experience for those seeking professional experience in the watershed sciences.
WSP members at this site will work with a cadre of hydrologists and fisheries biologists and have a diverse array of tasks ranging from office work (data analysis, GIS, and report writing in the winter months) and field work in the summer and fall (road decommissioning, in-stream monitoring and fish surveys). The WSP member will work one-on-one with the professional staff in the office and field. Ideally, WSP members applying for placement at this site should have a background in the environmental/physical sciences and should be self-motivated and willing to take on individual tasks with mentor oversight."
- Carolyn Cook, mentor
For a sample calendar of WSP member duties at this site, click HERE .
