Water Resources Technician Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established January 6, 1961

Scope

This series specification describes two Water Resources Technician classes used in the Department of Water Resources.

Definition of Series

The Water Resources Technician series describes field and office work to be learned and performed in providing technical assistance in any phase of the State's water resources program. Incumbents in these classes function as assistants to professional engineering and surveying staff.

Entry Level

Entry into this series is typically through the class of Water Resources Technician I.

Factors Affecting Position Allocation

Water Resources Technician levels are differentiated by the following factors: scope and complexity of data compiled; latitude for independent judgment and action; extent and types of knowledge and abilities required; degree of supervision received; and lead responsibility given. This last factor is particularly important to the Water Resources Technician II level.

Definition of Levels

Water Resources Technician I

This is the entry and first working level for the series. Under supervision, incumbents at this level perform the less complex and difficult nonprofessional engineering work in any phase of the State's water resources program. Typical Water Resources Technician I tasks include making field and laboratory tests on construction materials or water samples; assisting with foundation and hydraulic investigations; making routine engineering calculations; assisting with design work, plans, estimates, reports and specifications; making and revising working plans, drawings, maps, charts, and diagrams; preparing property descriptions; distributing the water of a stream system or ground water basin in accordance with agreements or court orders; installing, calibrating, operating, and maintaining water measuring devices; making current meter measurements, computing stream flow, and rating gauging stations; participating in snow surveys, and in ground water, crop, land use, and irrigated area investigations; preparing reports and memoranda; acting as a member of a survey party under the direction of a licensed surveyor performing field surveying tasks; inspecting the maintenance of levees, channels, floodways, and control structures; may use underwater diving equipment in connection with underwater inspection and repair of structures and facilities of the State Water Project; may operate computers in the course of the work; and performing other related work.

Water Resources Technician II

This is the full journey level for the series. Under general supervision, incumbents at this level perform the more complex and difficult nonprofessional engineering work in any phase of the State's water resources program. Incumbents have lead responsibility and coordinate the work of lower level technicians. Typical Water Resources Technician II tasks include directing field and laboratory tests on construction materials or assisting in the development and installation of new testing procedures and equipment; directing tests on water samples; assisting with foundation and hydraulic investigations; assisting with design work, plan, estimates, reports, and specifications; making and revising work plans, drawings, maps, charts, and diagrams; leading the activities of two or more current meter cres; leading the field activities of data gathering crews in connection with hydrologic or hydrographic investigations, including ground water problems; making ground water measurements and preparing data for ground water maps; distributing the water of streams or other sources of supply to water users entitled to its use under a fixed schedule; leading a crew making snow surveys and studies of investigations of ground water, crop, and land use; preparing reports and memoranda on work; acting as a member of a survey party under the direction of a licensed surveyor performing field surveying tasks; inspecting the maintenance of levees, channels, floodways, and control structures; keeping reports on progress payments; preparing change orders; making engineering calculations; may operate computers; may use underwater diving equipment in connection with underwater inspection and repair of structures and facilities of the State Water Project; and performing other related work.

Minimum Qualifications

Water Resources Technician I

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing duties comparable to a Junior Engineering Technician, Range B.

Or II

Three years of nonprofessional civil engineering experience. (Experience in California state service applied toward this pattern must include one year of experience performing appropriate duties comparable in level of responsibility to those of a Junior Engineering Technician, Range B.) (Coursework in an engineering curriculum beyond the twelfth grade may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.)

Water Resources Technician II

Either I

Two years of experience in the California state service performing the duties of a Water Resources Technician I.

Or II

Three years of nonprofessional engineering experience in one or a combination of the following: (Experience in California state service applied toward this pattern must include two years of experience performing appropriate duties comparable in level of responsibility to a Water Resources Technician I.)

1. Member of a survey party on a location or construction of major engineering projects excluding buildings; or

2. Technical engineering inspection of a variety of major engineering projects such as bridges, roads, dams, aqueducts, levees, and similar structures to enforce compliance with plans and specifications; or

3. Gathering, compiling, and processing technical engineering data, including the making of surveying and engineering calculations; or

4. Physical testing of engineering construction material; or

5. Preparation of plans, specifications, and estimates for various types of projects, such as bridges, roads, dams, aqueducts, levees, and similar structures; or

6. Installing, calibrating, and maintaining meteorological or hydrological data stations.

Knowledge and Abilities

Water Resources Technician I

Knowledge of: Surveying methods; methods, material, tools, and equipment used in engineering construction; methods of proportioning and handling concrete; physical characteristics and approved testing methods of measuring water and construction materials; methods of measuring water and water measuring devices; using packaged computer programs to process information.

Ability to: Read and write English at a level required for successful job performance; use surveying instruments, and assist in the preparation of designs, plans, estimates, reports, and specifications; install and maintain water-stage recorders and other water measuring devices; prepare property descriptions; gather data for and make civil engineering and surveying computations and compilations; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; prepare reports.

Water Resources Technician II

Knowledge of: Practical application of civil engineering practices in the fields of surveying; material testing; meteorological and hydrological measuring an water testing methods and devices; common descriptions of real property; practices of an the methods and equipment used in hydrology; factors affecting the accuracy of water measuring and water controlling devices; using packaged computer programs to process information.

Ability to: Performance; act as a leadperson over a small group of subordinates; read planimetric and topographic maps; recommend the type of and install flow measuring devices; install and service water-stage recorders and automatic radio water-stage transmitters; make ground water and snow surveys; make hydrographic computations and compilations in connection with stream flow measurements, flood routing, water distribution, water utilization, water quality, ground water surveys, and prepare stream flow rating curves and tables; do mapping and drafting; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; and prepare reports.

Class History