Willow Beach Biotech – AmeriCorps (1 opening)

Conservation Legacy Program: Arizona Conservation Corps

Site Location: Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery, 25808 N. Willow Beach Road, Willow Beach, AZ 86445 

Term of Service:

Start Date: 2/2/2026 (anticipated)

End Date: 7/31/2026

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 Hours 

Purpose:

This is an AmeriCorps position with Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC), which is an AmeriCorps program of Conservation Legacy. The member selected for this position will be serving at the Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery as an AmeriCorps member with Arizona Conservation Corps, and completing service projects for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

AZCC aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's, and is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with communities and conservation service projects on public lands. AZCC operates programs across Arizona that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. AZCC has program offices in Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson. 

Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery:

Since 1871, the National Fish Hatchery system has been at work improving recreational fishing and restoring aquatic species that are in decline, at risk, and are important to the health of our aquatic systems. Across the country the network of National Fish Hatcheries work with states and Tribes to conserve, restore and enhance the fish and aquatic resources of America for future generations. 

Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery in northwest Arizona was established in 1959 in the Black Canyon region of the Lower Colorado River. It is located 11 miles below the Hoover Dam within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Achii Hanyo Native Fish Rearing Facility, a satellite station of Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery, was established in 1996 and is located on lands of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, ten and a half miles southwest of Parker, Arizona.  

Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery and satellite station Achii Hanyo Native Fish Rearing Facility serve the native endangered Razorback sucker and Bonytail chub fish species. The hatchery raises and stocks these species at predetermined sites along the Lower Colorado River in conjunction with the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program and Bureau of Reclamation. Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery also serves the public by raising and stocking Rainbow trout for recreational purposes. These trout are stocked in the Lower Colorado River below the Hoover Dam in Upper Lake Mohave (specifically, the Willow Beach location), below Davis Dam, and in two Tribal lands associated with the Colorado River: Fort Mohave and Fort Yuma Indian Tribes. The hatchery produces up to 130,000 Rainbow Trout annually for sportfishing, while endangered fish are reared in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation to restock the Colorado River system. The hatchery also provides tours for the public, including school group tours.

Description of Duties:

The Willow Beach Biotech Internship is an entry level position, where the member will assist in collecting data on hatchery populations to study health and propagation methods. Fish hatchery operations and studies on efficiency may cover breeding, rearing, and/or growing fish in tanks or raceways, caring for fertilized eggs in trays, observing fish behavior in response to feeding, cleaning, and husbandry operations, determining feed regiments, treating fish disease, and collecting and recording both hard copy and digital data.

The member will assist the hatchery crew in providing daily care to fish in an aquaculture facility, performing assignments and general maintenance required for general fish hatchery upkeep and maintenance. Maintenance duties may include the use of simple hand tools or power equipment, landscaping tools (grass mowers, shrub trimmers, etc.), and other tools for minor repairs on hatchery equipment.

The member will work directly with hatchery biologists to be trained on the daily hatchery routines, and will assist hatchery staff in outreach programs with the public. Housing is available for the member during their term.

Essential Responsibilities and Functions:

• Assist hatchery crew in providing daily care to fish in aquaculture facility.
• Perform assignments and general maintenance required for general fish hatchery upkeep and maintenance, including use of simple hand tools or power equipment, landscaping tools, and other tools for minor repairs on hatchery equipment.
• Use databases and reporting systems to store, compile, and analyze data from studies.
• Collect biological samples ensuring correct documentation, reporting, storage, transport and delivery of samples taken.
• Prepare segments of recurring reports such as monthly activities and progress reports on individual projects.
• Learn and demonstrate knowledge of USFWS laws, regulations, and polices pertaining to the protection of fish.
• Develop news release drafts for area media.
• Develop and deliver informational and/or environmental education programs to individuals, local organizations, and schools.
• Provide basic information on fish and wildlife resources and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to groups and individuals.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Possessing or pursuing a degree in biological sciences (wildlife or fish).
• Willing and able to represent the Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and Arizona Conservation Corps in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• Technical knowledge of principles, practices and terminology of biological sciences and related management practices and a working familiarity with similar disciplines in order to independently plan, lead, and coordinate survey and other biological data collection and analysis projects.
• Practical knowledge of practices that affect natural resources environments (such as agriculture and construction) in order to recognize probable effects on and/or relationship to those resources.
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to speak to the public, with effective oral and written communication skills.
• Able and willing to perform duties outdoors in varying weather conditions, especially hot outdoor conditions.
• Applicants must pass a criminal history background check and possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to communicate orally in order to meet and deal effectively with people of different backgrounds including representatives of state, Federal, and Tribal resource agencies, private agencies, and organizations.
• Ability to follow detailed sampling and laboratory procedures and recognize departures from established quality control and quality assurance guidelines.

Physical Requirements:

Conservation Legacy is committed to all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Environmental risks include extreme heat during summer months, wet/slippery surfaces, directly working in cool/cold water, working in muddy pond environments for extended periods of time, working in cold water while wearing waders, and getting in and out of raceways. Most locations will be in locations around running water and requiring regular and recurring physical activity such as prolonged standing, walking over wet and/or rocky surfaces, stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing, and carrying heavy items may occur.

If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday – Friday, 40 hours per week, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service.

Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

Member will receive an Arizona Conservation Corps Individual Placement Program New Member Orientation at start of service that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,697.50 with successful completion of position.
• Living Allowance of $580 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $100 per week.
• Public Lands Corps Certificate*
• Healthcare Coverage provided by The Corps Network and Cigna
• Childcare Coverage
• Qualifies for Student Loan forbearance and Interest Payment reimbursement through AmeriCorps

*To be eligible for a Public Lands Corps certificate, members must be between the ages of 18-30, or up to 35 if a military veteran, at the time the individual begins the term of service and must complete 640 service hours or more to qualify.

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

This position reports to Kraig Ruebush, Project Leader, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.