11 replies to this topic

[mattknepley]

Copied from the Desert Fishes Council's listserve.


I am on the look out for one volunteer to help with our Little Colorado River (LCR) field work from June 22-July 3, 2017. The volunteer would participate in one twelve day sampling trip in the LCR to sample juvenile humpback chub (an endangered fish native to the Colorado River basin). The field work is very physically demanding as we spend 10+ hours per day hiking over rugged terrain in hot conditions (temperatures can be as high as 110 F, though the river is a pleasant temperature). Also, we work in remote conditions and have very limited communication with the outside world. Volunteers must be 18 years or older and need to be aware of the physical demands and remote conditions before committing. We access the canyon via helicopter, and volunteers would be required to take a 3-5 hour online training prior to the trip. Volunteers would be responsible for traveling to Flagstaff, Arizona, afterwhich food costs and "accomodations" (i.e., camping) are covered.

If you're interested , please send a resume or CV with two references to Maria Dzul (mdzul@usgs.gov). Please include 'LCR volunteer' in the title of your email.

Thanks,

Maria Dzul, Fish Biologist
U.S. Geological Survey
Southwest Biological Science Center
Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center
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DFC-L, via which this message was distributed, is the discussion list of the Desert Fishes Council (http://desertfishes.org)

[UglyJeep]

I saw this one on the DFC list first, but I did apply. I didn't get in, but Maria Dzul passed on my info and I got in on a different trip (in the canyon rather than the LCR). I just got back (hiked out of the grand canyon on bright angel trail 4 hours ago). It was so flipping awesome to work with desert natives (humpback chub, flannel-mouth and bluehead suckers).

Thanks to everyone who posts in this section! I'll continue to follow and hope for more phenomenal opportunities (I also watch the the Texas a&m FW job board and the dfc-l).

[Dustin]

That sounds amazing.  Can you post some details?  This trip would make an excellent article for American Currents too if you have time to document it.

[mattknepley]

That sounds amazing.  Can you post some details?  This trip would make an excellent article for American Currents too if you have time to document it.

That sounds amazing.  Can you post some details?  This trip would make an excellent article for American Currents too if you have time to document it.

Everything Dustin said times ten! I am so jealous! If you want to do a write up for American Currents we would love it! Or perhaps we can do an "interview" with you for the News section of AC if you have no interest in doing a write-up. But please have an interest in doing a write-up. We have ghosts who are really good at helping if you'd want.

[UglyJeep]

Wow... I should update my notification settings.   I was watching for new topics in this forum but not new posts in this topic.

 

As for details - it was HARD work. Long late shifts, hundreds of fish each night (rainbow trout near Lees Ferry and then natives further down - mostly suckers), +120 F daytime temps and water temps in the mid to high 40's. It was amazing. I spent most of my time working evenings/nights on the processing boat, tagging and weighing all the fish caught electrofishing. It was a little nerve-wracking at first when tagging the small humpback chub with my limited experience (I had previously only tagged 8 small goldfish), but I did get the feel for it. I think I will now permanently associate the smell of clove oil with sucker "slime", as I seemed to be constantly covered in both.

[itsme]

Wow... I should update my notification settings.   I was watching for new topics in this forum but not new posts in this topic.

 

As for details - it was HARD work. Long late shifts, hundreds of fish each night (rainbow trout near Lees Ferry and then natives further down - mostly suckers), +120 F daytime temps and water temps in the mid to high 40's. It was amazing. I spent most of my time working evenings/nights on the processing boat, tagging and weighing all the fish caught electrofishing. It was a little nerve-wracking at first when tagging the small humpback chub with my limited experience (I had previously only tagged 8 small goldfish), but I did get the feel for it. I think I will now permanently associate the smell of clove oil with sucker "slime", as I seemed to be constantly covered in both.

 

 

Don't think there's a like button, but LOVE this!  

[Matt DeLaVega]

This is not a yearly event by chance? Anyone know?

[mattknepley]

This is not a yearly event by chance? Anyone know?

I don't know if it's annual or not. Checking out the intel on desertfishes.org and emailing some of the contacts might find someone with an inside scoop. Alton might be a good one to ask, too. I'd like to think it is a project that gets done often. If not with Humpback Chub then with other desert fishes. That is a gig I'd've given my left eye for as a kid!

[Matt DeLaVega]

I don't know if it's annual or not. Checking out the intel on desertfishes.org and emailing some of the contacts might find someone with an inside scoop. Alton might be a good one to ask, too. I'd like to think it is a project that gets done often. If not with Humpback Chub then with other desert fishes. That is a gig I'd've given my left eye for as a kid!

Kind of what I am thinking. The younger of my two son's turns 18 in just less than a year. Could be a neat gig for him. If you find out more, please let me know. Thanks Matt.

[UglyJeep]

Kind of what I am thinking. The younger of my two son's turns 18 in just less than a year. Could be a neat gig for him. If you find out more, please let me know. Thanks Matt.

The monitoring is very regular (both main stem and LCR), multiple trips a year, but I don't know how many (at least 2, I think more). From what I understand, getting in on the LCR work is extremely competitive. If you'd like, go ahead and PM me for contact details of the project lead of the river trips.

[littlen]

Alton, do you have any pictures from the project?  I'd particularly like to see a chub tagging in action. 

 

Our Western natives get overshadowed often.  I really enjoy some of the species out there and am glad there are still ongoing efforts to protect & preserve.  

[UglyJeep]

I don't have many good ones of the fishes - I was often too busy to take photos, as was the biologist I was working with. Most of the time it was just me processing the captured fishes and him entering the data. We had to work quick for the fishes safety, and so that we wouldn't be up until 6 in the morning.

 

However, here's one... (I have a few more but google photos isn't cooperating)

 

 

EDIT: Looks like this photo now isn't cooperating too... I'll see if I can get it to work.