Center for Aquatic Technology Transfer (CATT) (RWU-4353)

Stream Divers

The Center for Aquatic Technology Transfer (CATT) is a science delivery program. CATT biologists and technicians are Southern Research Station (SRS) employees funded by the National Forest System (NFS). Guided by core values of communication, partnership, inclusion, accountability, and safety, we collaborate with the Forest Service science community and others to develop custom solutions for our project partners.

CATT Techs

Take a look at the variety of projects CATT was involved in last year: CATT Fiscal Year 2024 Report

The CATT was created in 1995 in response to the growing need for research technologies to be applied directly to management challenges. The number of research personnel was, and still is, too small relative to the number of fisheries and aquatics resource managers to satisfy specific needs. Our mission is to increase the capacity of our partners through delivery of science-based support.

Full-time CATT personnel are stationed in Blacksburg, Virginia, and provide services throughout the United States.

Our focus is on aquatics related management challenges. Our flexible organizational structure allows us to rapidly develop and apply custom solutions to both short- and long-term projects. Past projects range from providing a field technician for an afternoon of fish sampling, to region-wide, multi-year efforts, including sampling design, personnel management, data analysis, and reporting.

If you enjoy working in streams and rivers, want to make a positive impact on our national forests, and are seeking opportunities to contribute to science then we hope you will consider joining our team!

When is CATT hiring? We are hiring now! Submit your resume today and we will contact you to discuss our current job openings and your availability.

I am a current undergraduate student. Can I apply? Yes! Some of our positions are short-term, during the traditional college summer break. Our short-term jobs are great for gaining hands-on fisheries field work experience and developing teamwork skills.

Does CATT offer year-round positions? Yes! We offer positions that allow you to work year-round for up to 1,500 hours per year. Our year-round positions provide for flexible work schedules while you gain fisheries field work experience and develop leadership skills.

What type of work will I do with CATT? Some days you may wade miles of national forest streams to assess habitat quality, other days you may assess fish growth with a tagging study, and some days you might share the underwater world with visitors through a snorkeling program. We never know what might be coming next, but we know you won’t be bored! Check out our website for more information about our recent projects.

Where is CATT and will I get to travel? Our home office is in Blacksburg, VA, but most of our work has us travelling to national forests, national parks, and adjoining lands throughout the Southeast. We provide fleet vehicles, lodging, and money to cover meals while you are traveling.

Does CATT provide networking opportunities? In addition to our full-time CATT biologists, you will work with natural resource professionals from state and federal agencies, university researchers, graduate students, and others. Your work can span from the mountains, to piedmont, to coastal plain allowing you to explore a wide range of work settings and opportunities.

Will my work with CATT make a difference? Absolutely! Our teams collect information used directly by national forest managers to protect vulnerable aquatic animals and identify high-impact stream restoration projects. Our teams contribute to cutting-edge scientific research needed to better understand and manage our nation’s waters.

How can I prepare myself for a CATT job? Interest in the outdoors, enthusiasm, and positive attitude are the foundation for success in your CATT job! CATT employees hike several miles per day with backpacks in rocky streams, so stay fit. Working around water means swimming ability is a must. CATT employees have a valid drivers license with less than 2 accidents and less than 3 moving violations in the past 4 years.

How do I apply? Simple! Email a resume to colin.w.krause@usda.gov. We will be in touch.

Alabama

William B. Bankhead-Conecuh-Talladega-Tuskeegee National Forests

1997

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2014

2016

2018

2020

2022

2023

2024

Arkansas

Ouachita and Ozark-St. Francis National Forests

1998

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2010

2011

2013

2017

2021

2022

2024

Aquatic Organism Passage

Multiple Forests

2005

2006

2007

2008

  • Provided to Regional Office and Forests as GIS map product. Contact Southern Region or CATT for most recent version.

2009

  • Provided to Regional Office and Forests as GIS map product. Contact Southern Region or CATT for most recent version.

2010

2012

  • Provided to Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest as GIS map product. Contact CATT for most recent version.
  • Provided to Regional Office and Mark Twain National Forest as GIS map product. Contact CATT for most recent version.

2014

2015

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Florida

Apalachicola-Ocala-Osceola National Forests

2006

2020

2021

Georgia

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests

1996

1997

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2009

2012

2015

2016

2017

2024

Kentucky

Daniel Boone National Forest and Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area

1995

1997

1999

2001

2002

2004

2005

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2016

2017

2018

2020

2022

2023

Louisiana

Kisatchie National Forest

2007

2018

2019

2021

2023

Mississippi

Bienville-Delta-DeSoto-Holly Springs-Homochitto-Tombigbee National Forests

2006

Missouri

Mark Twain National Forest

2010

2012

New Hampshire

White Mountain National Forest

1998

North Carolina

Croatan-Nantahala-Pisgah-Uwharrie National Forests

1996

1997

1999

2000

2005

2007

2017

2018

2024

2025

Puerto Rico

El Yunque National Forest

1997

2001

2005

2014

2019

2023

South Carolina

Francis Marion-Sumter National Forests

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2008

2009

2010

2011

2013

2014

2015

2016

2018

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Tennessee

Cherokee National Forest

1997

2006

2020

2021

2022

2023

Texas

Angelina-Davy Crockett-Sabine-Sam Houston National Forests, Caddo-Lyndon B. Johnson National Grasslands

2006

2007

Virginia

George Washington & Jefferson National Forests

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2015

2017

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

 

West Virginia

Monongahela National Forest

1998

FY 2011

  • Ouachita NF — Stream habitat and fish inventories
  • Ozark NF — Stream habitat and fish inventories
  • Daniel Boone NF — Stream habitat and fish inventories
  • Sumter NF — Stream habitat and fish inventories
  • NF in Alabama — Freshwater mussel inventories

FY 2010

  • Francis Marion NF — Fish inventories
  • Sumter NF — BVET methods training provided to SCDNR
  • Ozark NF — Stream habitat and fish inventories
  • Mark Twain NF — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • Talladega NF — Presence/absence of freshwater mussel host fish inventories
  • Pisgah NF — BVET methods training provided to The Catena Group
  • Daniel Boone NF — Examintation of non-game fish passage at road-stream crossings using mark-recapture, genetic, and PIT tag techniques
  • Daniel Boone NF — Stream habitat and fish inventories

FY 2009

  • Sumter NF — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • Ozark NF — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • NF in Mississippi — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • George Washington Jefferson NF — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • Daniel Boone NF — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • Sumter NF — Stream habitat and fish inventories
  • Ozark NF — Stream habitat and fish inventories
  • Daniel Boone NF — Stream habitat and fish inventories
  • NF in Alabama — Stream habitat and fish inventories
  • Chattahoochee NF — Stream habitat and macroinvertebrate inventories

FY 2008

  • Ozark NF — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • Ouchita NF — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • Nantahala NF — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • Kisatchie NF — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • NF in Texas — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • Ozark NF — Stream habitat and fish inventories
  • St. Francis NF — Stream habitat and fish inventories
  • Sumter NF — Stream habitat and fish inventories
  • Daniel Boone NF — Stream habitat and fish inventories
  • NF in Alabama — Stream habitat and fish inventories
  • George Washington Jefferson NF — Stream habitat inventories
  • Sumter NF — Large wood inventories in the Chattooga river and tributaries
  • Nantahala NF — OHV road reconnaissance in the Tellico watershed

FY 2007

  • Chattahoochee-Oconee NF — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • Daniel Boone NF — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • George Washington Jefferson NF — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • NF in North Carolina — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • Ozark NF — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • Land Between the Lakes — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • Land Between the Lakes — Aquatic organism passage reconnaissance
  • Daniel Boone NF — Stream habitat and fish inventories
  • NF in Alabama — Stream habitat and fish inventories
  • Ozark NF — Stream habitat and fish inventories

FY 2006

  • Apalachicola NF — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • Daniel Boone NF — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • Sumter NF — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • George Washington Jefferson NF — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • NF in Texas — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • NF in Mississippi — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • NF in Alabama — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • Cherokee NF — Aquatic organism passage surveys
  • Francis Marion NF — Stream habitat and fish inventories
  • Ouachita NF — Stream habitat and fish inventories
  • Ozark NF — Stream habitat and fish inventories
  • Daniel Boone NF — Stream habitat and fish inventories
  • Sumter NF — Crane Creek brook trout restoration
  • Sumter NF — BVET methods training provided to SCDNR
  • Nantahala NF — Cheoah river reconnaissance

FY 1995–2005

Please contact us if you require 1995–2005 project information.

  • Highlighted in the Forest Service Knowledge Sharing and Conservation Practices Library (January 2014) — The Center for Aquatic Technology Transfer
  • Station Director's Award for Natural Resources Leadership (May 2007) — Craig Roghair
  • Rise to the Future Award for Collaborative Aquatic Resource Stewardship (May 1999) — Andy Dolloff, Martin Underwood, Kevin Leftwich, Mel Warren, Wendell Haag
  • Chief's Award for Technology Transfer (June 1999) — Andy Dolloff, Martin Underwood, Kevin Leftwich, Mel Warren, Wendell Haag

Key Personnel

Project Leader

  • Person

    Carl C. Trettin, PhD

    Team Leader & Suprv. Research Soil Scientist

Staff

  • Person

    Colin Krause

    Fisheries Biologist
  • Person

    Craig Roghair

    Fisheries Biologist

Multimedia

Publications

Last updated September 26, 2025