Position Summary
Fisheries management internship with Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association, Southcentral Alaska. This project will suppress invasive northern pike (Esox lucius) populations in Shell, Hewitt, and Whiskey lakes and the Hewitt-Whiskey Creek outlet as well as assess the sockeye salmon population using Shell Lake. Shell, Hewitt, and Whiskey lakes support populations of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), as well as Chinook (O. tshawytscha), coho (O. kisutch), chum (O. keta) and pink (O. gorbuscha) salmon.
Position includes one unpaid week off mid-season around early July.
Location
Kenai, AK
Schedule
June 11, 2026 – September 11, 2026
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Northern pike will be removed using 1” bar mesh gillnets and hook and line fishing from May through September of 2026. The adult salmon population at Shell Lake will be monitored via video weir from mid-July–September for the duration of the project. Success will be evaluated by (1) estimating the reduction in northern pike relative abundance, (2) estimating the number of juvenile salmon that would have been consumed by northern pike if the pike removal program were not conducted and (3) assessing run-timing and abundance of salmon returning to Shell Lake.
This placement will be paired with a CIAA staff member to form a two-person crew.
All locations are remote, with floatplane only access. Placements will receive training in bear safety, gun safety, use of a variety of fisheries sampling gear, and data collection procedures.
Members will:
• Demonstrate a commitment to service in environmental conditions that will include: cold/heat, smoke, bugs, high winds, wildlife, and a lot of precipitation.
• Be willing to learn how to use hand tools and power tools to accomplish service activities.
• Be eligible to serve as an AmeriCorps Member, which includes:
o Be a citizen, permanent resident, or national of the United States;
o Be at least 18 years or older;
o Have a high school diploma or equivalent or actively working to obtain one;
o Be willing to undergo National Service Criminal History Check, including criminal background, sex offender and FBI checks;
• Ability to lift 50 lbs and walk/hike on uneven terrain, uphill or downhill, physical work for 8-10 hours per day
• Ability to pass SCA’s background check
Marginal Duties
May use field-based technology to record data.
Required Qualifications
Candidates should have an academic background and/or interest in fisheries. They also must be comfortable in small planes, and camping in remote areas surrounded by wildlife, including bears.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience camping in bear country.
Hours
40 per week
Living Accommodations
The crew will live on-site for the duration of the program at Shell and Whiskey/Hewitt lakes in the Susitna River watershed, except for a break at approximately the end of June through the first week of July when the crew will be brought back to Kenai for some time off.
Compensation
$300/week – living allowance
$1,300 – one-time roundtrip travel stipend
Food and housing are paid for by the site organization
AmeriCorps Award (acceptance required) of $1,956.35 (450 hours required)
All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.
Personal Vehicle Information
Not needed
Additional Benefits
Bear Safety
AmeriCorps: Eligible/Required
Equal Opportunity Statement
The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.