Exam Bulletin - Water Resources Technician II

Department of Water Resources

Exam Code: EX-2938

Examination Plans Included:

  • WATER RESOURCES TECHNICIAN II - Open

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

Classification Details

WATER RESOURCES TECHNICIAN II: $5,320.00 - $6,657.00 per Month

View the WATER RESOURCES TECHNICIAN II 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 TECHNICIAN II - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 9 months:

Exam Code(s):

    2938

For WATER RESOURCES TECHNICIAN II, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 9 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-02938

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.

00103043 - WATER RESOURCES TECHNICIAN II

Either 1

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

Or 2

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.

Position Description

00103043 - 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.

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. Practical application of civil engineering practices in the fields of surveying 
  2. Material testing
  3. Meteorological and hydrological measuring an water testing methods and devices 
  4. Common descriptions of real property 
  5. Practices of an the methods and equipment used in hydrology 
  6. Factors affecting the accuracy of water measuring and water controlling devices 
  7. Using packaged computer programs to process information
Ability to:
  1. Performance
  2. Act as a leadperson over a small group of subordinates 
  3. Read planimetric and topographic maps
  4. Recommend the type of and install flow measuring devices
  5. Install and service water-stage recorders and automatic radio water-stage transmitters 
  6. Make ground water and snow surveys 
  7. 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
  8. Do mapping and drafting
  9. Analyze situations accurately and take effective action 
  10. Prepare reports

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the WATER RESOURCES TECHNICIAN II 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 Technician II Training and Experience Exam Preview

Section 1: Tasks

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, you have completed.

PLEASE NOTE: This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position. All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position.

  1. Organizing and/or leading various field and office activities while working cooperatively with others and/or independently.
  2. Reviewing reports (e.g., well completion, construction, regulatory compliance, inspection) for accuracy and completeness.
  3. Writing and/or preparing reports (e.g., construction, daily reports, regulatory compliance, inspection) to document activities and information using computer software (e.g., hydrography software, Microsoft Office).
  4. Editing a variety of documents and written materials (e.g., memos, letters, reports, procedures) to ensure the accuracy and completeness of information presented.
  5. Preparing and/or reviewing documents (e.g., maps, as-builds, memos, letters, encroachment permits, correspondence) to communicate with peers, supervisors, outside agency personnel, and the public.
  6. Determining appropriate field and/or laboratory test conditions to maintain a safe testing environment.
  7. Performing routine inspections of water conveyance (e.g. levees, dams, pipelines, diversions) and storage facilities for reporting conditions to verify proper operation.
  8. Maintaining competency levels from training courses (e.g., confined space, Qualified Atmosphere Tester (QAT), lock out/tag out, fall protection) to maintain a safe working environment.
  9. Responding to emergencies (e.g., flood, earthquake, pollution spills, fires) conducting inspections to ensure public safety and regulatory compliance.
  10. Operating and maintaining equipment (e.g., vehicles, boats, ATV) to access remote field locations.
  11. Reviewing and analyzing plans (e.g., contract, drawings, specifications) to provide support for engineering (e.g., geologist, civil, water operations) design.
  12. Measuring and recording groundwater levels and seepage in pipes using equipment (e.g., sounders, steel tapes, continuous data loggers) to determine groundwater conditions.
  13. Installing, calibrating, and/or repairing water measurement equipment (e.g. groundwater, surface water, water quality, storm water) to ensure proper functionality.
  14. Performing field surveys (e.g. water elevation, land, subsidence) to monitor water and conveyance conditions.
  15. Compiling and evaluating recorded water data and making adjustments as needed for contractual and regulatory compliance.
  16. Making routine mathematical computations to evaluate current water supply conditions.
  17. Collecting and/or maintaining historical data to evaluate current water supply conditions.
  18. Managing workload and assignments to meet deadlines and performance objectives.

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)