| Project Name | Kwethluk River Fish Weir Operations |
| Project Number | 420 |
| Location | Kwethluk River up the Kuskokwim River from Bethel |
| Dates | 2 one week shifts between July 10 and 30 |
| Duration | 1 week |
| Number of Volunteers Needed | 4, 2 per week |
| Description | The Yukon Delta Refuge, second largest refuge in the country, maintains a remote fish counting weir on the Kwethluk River. During the peak of the salmon run, the refuge requests help with camp maintenance and weir operation. Tasks, based on the skill level of the applicants, could include counting fish, troubleshooting and repairing electronics and power sources - solar, battery and generator, general maintenance and cooking for the group.
You would fly to Bethel, check out the refuge visitor center and headquarters, spend the night in the refuge bunkhouse and then travel up river to the weir site in a refuge boat with refuge staff. Three to five refuge employees live at the tent camp. You will be part of this group and share cooking and eating in a wall tent with a full size stove. After hour fishing opportunities would be fantastic and the site also offers hiking, birding and spotting other wildlife like bears on the vast tundra of this refuge.
The refuge would supply housing in Bethel before and after the weir experience, tents if you don\'t want to take your own, and food while at the weir. The refuge is not supplying airfare to Bethel. You will need to get yourself to Bethel unless Friends could get donated miles.
In your application, be sure and specify what job skills you have - particularly if you have weir, fish biology, electronics, engineering or a willingness to cook for a group. Volunteers must apply to Friends with the on-line volunteer application. Please indicate which week or weeks you would be available for within the time period of July 10 - 30. |
| Skills Needed | Must be physically capable of lifting 25 lbs, climbing ladders, carrying your own gear, walking on soft and uneven ground; riding in a small boat and camping in a remote setting with weather that can be rainy and windy. This is a remote site without quick or easy access to medical care so applicants must be in good physical condition with no known medical problems that might require emergency care.
Although it is not required, the refuge is particularly interested in applicants with fish biology, electronic, engineering or handiman backgrounds. Please specify if you have this experience. |
| Contact | Refuge Manager Boyd Blihovde at boyd_blihovde@fws.gov or 907 543-1002 |