Exam Bulletin

Department of Water Resources

Exam Code: EX-2935

Examination Plans Included:

  • WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING ASSOCIATE (SPECIALIST) - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING ASSOCIATE (SPECIALIST): $7,062.00 - $8,841.00 per Month

View the WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING ASSOCIATE (SPECIALIST) classification specification.

Application Instructions

This is not a timed exam. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the exam until the request is processed.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING ASSOCIATE (SPECIALIST) - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

    2935

For WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING ASSOCIATE (SPECIALIST), once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-02935

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00103042 - WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING ASSOCIATE (SPECIALIST)

Either 1

Three years of engineering experience in the California state service performing duties comparable in level of responsibility to those of Water Resources Technician II.

Or 2

Four years of engineering experience in one or a combination of the following: (Experience in the California state service applied toward this requirement must be in a class comparable in level of responsibility to Water Resources Technician II.)
  1. As chief of a survey party on a location or construction of major engineering construction projects excluding buildings; or
  2. Technical engineering inspection of major engineering construction projects excluding buildings; or
  3. Gathering, compiling, and processing technical engineering data, including the making of engineering calculations; or
  4. Physical testing of engineering construction of materials; or
  5. Preparation of plans, specifications, and estimates for engineering projects such as bridges, roads, aqueducts, levees, and similar structures.

Position Description

00103042 - WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING ASSOCIATE (SPECIALIST)

Prepares maps, drawings, charts, and property descriptions for engineering projects; makes preliminary, location, and construction surveys for dams, aqueducts, levees, buildings, wharves, and similar structures; gathers, compiles, and analyzes data pertaining to engineering investigations, including hydrologic, hydrographic, meteorologic, foundation and right-of-way studies; performs the inspection of engineering construction or maintenance; performs the physical testing of construction material; performs one of the hydrographic activities of the Department of Water Resources, or is responsible for a complex technical assignment in a specialized hydrographic field; performs the activities of current meter, data gathering, and water distribution crews in an assigned district; performs the installation and maintenance of hydraulic measuring devices; computes complex rating curves; determines the amount of water required for irrigation and other uses by field investigations; collects data and makes field investigations of physical facts for use in technical reports prepared for the adjudication of water rights; makes investigations of surface and groundwater supply and other water resources as directed; assists in the preparation of annual hydrographic reports; assembles and compiles information from field reports and investigations; prepares technical reports and dictates correspondence.

Additional Desirable Qualification

Education equivalent to completion of the 12th grade.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for optimal performance when accessing the examination.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1CalHR Online ExamN/A100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. Methods, procedures and equipment used in major engineering construction projects
  2. Water measuring methods and devices 
  3. Practical application of the principles and practices of civil engineering
  4. Surveying, mapping, and drafting
  5. Practical application of principles and procedures of water quality analysis 
  6. Practices of and methods and equipment used in hydrography and hydrology 
  7. Factors affecting the accuracy of water measuring and controlling devices 
  8. Practical methods of irrigation 
  9. Strength, properties, and uses of engineering construction materials and methods of testing such materials 
  10. Divisions 1 and 2 of the Water Code and related water laws and court decisions
Ability to:
  1. Read and write English at a level required for successful job performance
  2. Prepare specifications, estimates, and property descriptions pertaining to engineering projects
  3. Inspect engineering project work for compliance with specifications
  4. Make snow surveys, collect data on floods, and on surface and underground water supplies, and assist in the analysis of such data
  5. Gather, compile, and process engineering data
  6. Prepare technical engineering reports and dictate correspondence
  7. Analyze situations accurately and take effective action

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING ASSOCIATE (SPECIALIST) Classification will be established for:

  • Department of Water Resources

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Water Resources Engineering Associate (Specialist) Training and Experience Exam Preview

Instructions:
Rate your experience performing specific job-related tasks.

Respond to each of the following statements by indicating how the statement applies to you. You are required to respond to every question and provide relevant examples. Also, indicate the references who can verify the information provided.

In responding to each statement, you may refer to your WORK EXPERIENCE, whether paid or volunteer.

PLEASE NOTE: This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your education, training, and experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position. Possession of specific education is not required to be successful in this examination; however, such achievements may substitute for desirable levels of experience. All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position.

  1. Installing, maintaining, and calibrating measuring devices to gather accurate data.
  2. Providing technical expertise and training on proper installation and maintenance of real time instrumentation to ensure accurate readings.
  3. Providing technical guidance to troubleshoot issues with equipment (e.g., equipment failure), events (e.g., power outages, natural disasters), and/or structures (e.g., structural faults, flow gates) and recommending additional steps needed to correct or repair.
  4. Assisting with the planning, designing, and/or installation of stream gauging stations to record and measure flows.
  5. Training staff on performing flow measurements using Doppler current profilers, flow station site reconnaissance, site surveying, and velocity mapping to maintain hydrographic records.
  6. Checking accuracy of field measurements (e.g., stream gauging, water quality, surveillance) and recorded data to ensure proper measurements are taken and recorded.
  7. Investigating surface and groundwater supply and other water resources as directed to gather data.
  8. Assisting with data collection, review, and analysis of instrumentation pertaining to water project plants, aqueducts, and related facilities.
  9. Using computer programs (e.g., CADD, Microsoft Office) to record and retrieve data for projects.
  10. Collecting data on water resources from a variety of sources (e.g., snow surveys, floods, surface and ground water) to gather information and create technical reports.
  11. Gathering, compiling, and analyzing data pertaining to engineering investigations, including hydrologic, hydrographic, meteorologic, foundation, and right-of-way studies, to formulate guidance and make recommendations.
  12. Utilizing water software programs to download, edit, and manage data from various sources (e.g., automated measuring stations, databases) to ensure accurate information is recorded and communicated.
  13. Performing routine engineering calculations (e.g., quantity estimations, cost estimates, material calculations, flow estimates) to assist with the preparation of test reports.
  14. Coordinating with the appropriate entity (e.g., field division, district, headquarters office, federal bureau) to reconcile water/flow discrepancies detected in data analysis.
  15. Maintaining a safe working environment using departmental policies and procedures.
  16. Preparing requisitions (e.g., purchasing equipment, services), schedules, memoranda, letters, and other routine administrative documents.
  17. Reading and interpreting various laws, rules, regulations, and policies related to water resource management to ensure departmental compliance.
  18. Communicating effectively with various audiences (e.g., staff, the public, property owners, contractors) to provide information and guidance on work tasks, issues, inquiries, and/or other water resource management topics.
  19. Managing multiple work tasks and priorities to ensure project completion.

Testing Departments

  • Department of Water Resources

Contact Information

Technical questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Department of Human Resources
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@CalHR.CA.GOV

Administrative questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Department of Water Resources
Department of Water Resources
P. O. Box 1079
Sacramento, CA 95812
Phone: (916) 653-4838

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

Department of Water Resources reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)