Sandra L. Downing

Technology developed for diverting passive integrated transponder (PIT) tagged fish at hydroelectric dams in the Columbia River Basin

Data collected on juvenile salmonids tagged with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags as they migrate seaward through the Columbia River Basin provide fisheries managers and resource agencies with valuable information to evaluate the effectiveness of current management actions and restoration strategies. The development of new technology to route PIT-tagged fish through multiple alternative pathways as they pass through the interrogation systems at the fish bypass/monitoring facilities at hydroelectric dams provides another valuable real-time tool to monitor and evaluate the migration, passage, and survival of PIT-tagged juvenile salmonids in the basin. The authors describe the current computer program and gate-control technology for routing fish, and provide detailed descriptions of three new types of fish-diversion gates. The comparative advantages and disadvantages of each gate are discussed. The prototype of a fourth diversion gate, with only one moving part, is also described.

A Study to Determine the Biological Feasibility of a New Fish Tagging System; Annual Report 1994-1996.

This report covers work done during 1997 and 1998 (FY98) on a project to expand and improve technology for Passive-Integrated-Transponder tags (PIT tags) throughout the Columbia River Basin (CRB).

A Study to Determine the Biological Feasibility of a New Fish Tagging System : Annual Report 1990-1993.

In 1983, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) began a multiyear cooperative research program with the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to evaluate a new miniaturized identification system that could be used with salmonids. The system is referred to as the passive-integrated-transponder (PIT) tagging and interrogation system. The program has focused on determining the effects of PIT tags on juvenile and adult salmonids, as well as the development and evaluation of tagging and interrogation methods. Earlier results of the program have been reported in annual reports and journal articles cited in this report. This report covers the work per formed from 1990 through 1993. For convenience, the report is divided into three sections: (1) Interrogation and separation systems at Columbia River Basin dams; (2) Systems development and evaluation; and (3) Information and technology transfer.

A Study to Determine the Biological Feasibility of a New Fish-Tagging System : Annual Report 1998-1999.

This report covers our work during 1998 and 1999 (FY99) on a project to expand and improve technology for passive-integrated-transponder tags (PIT tags) throughout the Columbia River Basin. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in cooperation with the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) conducted the work. Timely and accurate information derived from PIT-tag technology is increasingly critical to resource stakeholders in assessing the effectiveness of efforts to enhance survival of juvenile and adult salmonids. Continued development of PIT-tag technology will enable researchers and fisheries managers to address issues expressed in the NMFS biological opinions for operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) and the proposed Snake River Recovery Plan. The FY99 work was divided into individual projects that are covered separately in this report.

A Study to Determine the Biological Feasibility of a New Fish-Tagging System, 1996-1997; Annual Report.

This report covers work performed by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) during 1996 and 1997 in cooperation with the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). The project focused on expanding and improving PIT-tag technology throughout the Columbia River Basin (CRB).