Are you interested in coming out to work on the very important work we do for Bull Trout conservation? See below for more details.
Volunteer for Bull Trout Recovery Work
Rescues
Some of the most fulfilling work that MCF and partners perform is emergency rescues of Bull Trout in dewatering areas. You will come out with agency professionals at night to rescue Bull Trout which will soon run out of water!
Habitat Surveys
These surveys help establish pre-restoration baseline conditions and the change in condition post-restoration . If you are limited in nighttime availability, these surveys occur during the day. Limited seasonally dependent on active projects and funding.
In 2024 and 2025 we piloted the “Dedicated Bull Trout Volunteer Program” which allowed us to recruit, train, coordinate, and work with an amazing set of volunteers over two seasons. In 2026, our funding for volunteer coordination and support is limited. For this reason, we will not be able to run the program in the same fashion. However, if you are serious about volunteering with us on any of the activities listed below, please reach out to Aimee at bttf@midcolumbiafisheries.org and she will add you to the existing email list. This email list is where we reach out if we have a need for extra hands or help in the field!
Thank you so much to our previous volunteers and to those of you that continue to be available when the need arises!
Redd Surveys
Redd surveys are simply hiking in the river rather than on trail! This work is repeated annually across established areas, and we cover some truly beautiful terrain! Different areas require different levels of fitness, but overall people should come ready to walk in the river.
Demographic Surveys
Another night-time work opportunity! Come assist our snorkel team as we assess population dynamics in a few key areas! You will start as a bank observer but if you wish to learn how to snorkel and count fish – we will train you.
Rock Dam Removal
You see them everywhere! They are illegal! People use them to cool down in the heat of summer but this keeps fish from getting to the cooler waters they need to lay their eggs. Help us educate recreationists and remove these structures (Reminder: you don’t need to volunteer with us to remove a rock dam! If you see one, feel free to take it down).
Outreach and Education
A large component of MCF is to get out to let people know about Bull Trout. Teaching people about fish ID, threats, recovery projects, and simply being present in the watershed where bull trout live is an important part of our work. We are always representing at a professional level, and our volunteers would be included in this.
TJ Westre, Bull Trout Volunteer 2023
“I chose to volunteer with Mid-Columbia Fisheries with the intent to learn more about local conservation efforts and directly participate in the preservation of wild fish habitat. From the beginning, the team was eager to get me involved, and their enthusiasm and breadth of knowledge made field work both fun and engaging. I got to fully appreciate the planning and execution behind wild fish conservation, and learned just how tenuous some of these river systems and fish species are. The field work led by Mid-Columbia Fisheries is critical to long term sustenance of these habitats, and I was grateful to be a part of that long-term vision. As both an outdoor recreationalist and angler, I have a renewed appreciation for these wild spaces and the people that work to protect them. I’m excited to continue volunteering and learning alongside this organization!”
