Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wetland Program Technician

🎯 Role Definition

A Wetland Program Technician supports wetland monitoring, assessment, restoration, and regulatory programs by performing field-based data collection, laboratory support, GIS mapping, and data management. This role is focused on accurate wetland delineation, vegetation and hydrology surveys, sample collection and processing, invasive species control, and assisting with permit compliance and restoration projects. The Technician works closely with scientists, restoration crews, regulatory staff, and community partners to maintain healthy wetland ecosystems and ensure compliance with state and federal wetland regulations.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Field Technician / Environmental Field Assistant
Recent graduate in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or Natural Resources
Seasonal Wetland Monitoring Technician or Restoration Crew Member

Advancement To:

Wetland Specialist / Wetland Biologist
Restoration Project Coordinator / Restoration Ecologist
Environmental Scientist or Permit Coordinator
Regulatory Compliance Specialist (state or federal agencies)

Lateral Moves:

GIS Technician / GIS Analyst
Water Quality Technician / Hydrology Technician
Invasive Species Control Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct systematic wetland delineations and jurisdictional determinations following USACE (Army Corps of Engineers) and state wetland delineation manuals, documenting indicators of hydrology, hydric soils, and hydrophytic vegetation with photographic evidence and field notes.
Perform vegetation surveys and plant community assessments, identifying native and invasive species to species level where possible, estimating percent cover and community composition for monitoring and restoration reporting.
Collect surface water, soil, and sediment samples in the field following strict chain-of-custody, QA/QC procedures, and laboratory protocols for analyses such as nutrients, metals, and contaminants.
Operate and maintain field instrumentation including GPS/GNSS units, total stations, sondes (YSI multi-parameter), turbidity meters, and water-level loggers for hydrologic monitoring and mapping.
Use ArcGIS/ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, and field data collection apps (Survey123, Collector, Fulcrum) to create and update wetland maps, transects, monitoring plots, and restoration as-built documentation.
Install, maintain, and download data from hydrologic monitoring equipment (piezometers, staff gauges, data loggers) and analyze water-level data to inform wetland hydrology assessments and restoration success metrics.
Assist with design and implementation of wetland restoration and enhancement projects, including invasive species removal, native planting, erosion control installation, and adaptive maintenance.
Support permit application preparation and compliance monitoring (Clean Water Act Section 404/401, state wetland permits), including preparation of supporting documentation, maps, and mitigation monitoring plans.
Conduct routine biological monitoring such as amphibian surveys, benthic macroinvertebrate sampling, and migratory bird/wading bird observations associated with wetland condition assessments.
Maintain accurate electronic and paper field records, daily field logs, sample labels, and Chain of Custody forms; enter and validate data in databases and spreadsheets with attention to QA/QC.
Assist staff scientists with habitat suitability assessments and perform photo-point monitoring to evaluate restoration performance against benchmarks and success criteria.
Perform stormwater and NPDES-related visual inspections and compliance checks for construction sites and restoration activities that affect wetlands and adjacent waters.
Participate in public outreach and stakeholder engagement, representing the program at community events, providing education on wetland functions, and supporting volunteer monitoring initiatives.
Conduct topographic and vegetation transects, profile measurements, and cross-section surveys to document bathymetry, depth, and sediment distribution for restoration design and permitting.
Prepare technical summaries, field reports, monitoring memos, and standardized data packages for internal reviewers, agency partners, and grant reporting requirements.
Operate utility terrain vehicles (UTVs), small boats, and carry out safe off-trail navigation in wetlands and riparian areas while following safety protocols and site-specific health and safety plans.
Implement invasive species control treatments (hand-pulling, mowing, spot herbicide application under supervision) and document treatment areas, methods, and follow-up monitoring results.
Maintain and calibrate field equipment, order supplies, and coordinate equipment maintenance to ensure field readiness and data integrity for ongoing monitoring programs.
Assist with laboratory sample processing tasks such as sieving, sorting, labeling, preservation, and preparing samples for shipping to contract labs in compliance with lab requirements.
Support grant-funded monitoring programs by tracking deliverables, assisting with progress reports, compiling monitoring data, and ensuring timelines and sample schedules are met.
Coordinate field logistics, including site access permissions, landowner communications, scheduling field crews, and transporting materials and equipment to remote sites safely and efficiently.
Follow and enforce health, safety, and environmental protocols including confined space and wetland-specific hazards, PPE use, and cold-weather/warm-weather safety guidelines.

Secondary Functions

Support GIS specialists by digitizing field-collected features, creating map products, and updating metadata to meet agency standards and improve program discoverability.
Contribute to data management improvements by suggesting streamlined field-to-database workflows and implementing standardized attribute schemas for wetland monitoring datasets.
Assist senior staff with literature reviews and compiling baseline conditions for grant proposals, regulatory submittals, and restoration planning documents.
Provide field training and mentorship to seasonal technicians and volunteers on plant ID, sampling protocols, and safe field techniques to build internal capacity.
Participate in adaptive management meetings, helping translate monitoring results into actionable recommendations to improve restoration outcomes.
Help design and test new field forms, mobile data collection templates, and QA/QC checklists to improve accuracy and efficiency of monitoring programs.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Wetland delineation expertise following USACE/state manuals and practical experience documenting hydrology, soils, and vegetation indicators.
Plant identification (wetland and riparian flora) to genus/species level and familiarity with local invasive species.
Proficiency with GPS/GNSS units (sub-meter and survey-grade), handheld navigation, and spatial data collection workflows.
Experience with ArcGIS/ArcGIS Pro and/or QGIS for mapping, geoprocessing, and producing wetland maps and monitoring layers.
Field sampling techniques including surface water, sediment, soil, and biological sampling; strict adherence to Chain-of-Custody and QA/QC protocols.
Operation and maintenance of field instruments (YSI sondes, turbidity meters, water level loggers) and basic troubleshooting/calibration procedures.
Experience using mobile data collection tools (ESRI Survey123, Collector, ArcGIS Field Maps, Fulcrum, or similar).
Basic data management skills: entering, cleaning, and organizing field data in spreadsheets and relational databases; familiarity with CSV, shapefiles, and geodatabases.
Familiarity with regulatory frameworks (Clean Water Act Section 404/401, state wetland regulations) and mitigation monitoring requirements.
Experience supporting restoration activities: plant propagation/installation, erosion control best practices, and invasive species management techniques.
Basic GIS analysis skills: creating transects, buffers, area calculations, and producing printable field maps and as-built deliverables.
Ability to read and interpret topographic maps, survey notes, and construction/engineering drawings relevant to restoration and mitigation.
Safe operation of field vehicles, small boats, UTVs, and carrying heavy sampling equipment across difficult terrain.

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy, QA/QC, and reproducible field methods.
Clear written communication: able to produce concise field reports, monitoring summaries, and technical documentation for regulators and partners.
Effective verbal communication and interpersonal skills for coordinating with landowners, stakeholders, and multidisciplinary teams.
Problem-solving mindset and adaptability to changing field conditions, weather, and project priorities.
Time management and organization: capable of managing multiple sites, sample schedules, and equipment checklists.
Team player with leadership potential; able to train seasonal staff and mentor volunteers in field protocols.
Physical stamina and resilience for extended field days in remote, wet, and rugged environments.
Professionalism, ethical conduct, and compliance with workplace safety standards and environmental regulations.
Critical thinking to interpret field indicators and provide reasonable professional judgments under supervision.
Customer-service orientation when interacting with the public, agency partners, and community volunteers.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED with at least 1–2 years of practical field experience in environmental monitoring, OR
Associate degree in Environmental Science, Natural Resources, Biology, or related field with relevant field experience.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Wetland Science, Environmental Science, Biology, Natural Resources, or related discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Wetland Science / Ecology
Environmental Science / Biology
Natural Resources Management
Hydrology / Watershed Science
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0–5 years (entry to mid-level)

Preferred:

2–4 years of hands-on experience conducting wetland delineations, vegetation surveys, water quality sampling, and using GPS/GIS in field monitoring programs.
Demonstrated experience supporting restoration projects, permit compliance monitoring, or mitigation monitoring preferred.
Certifications such as HAZWOPER (40-hour or 8-hour refresher depending on duties), pesticide applicator certification (for invasive species control), boat safety or PWC training, or surveying course completion are advantageous.