The Project 198331900 "New Marking and Monitoring Techniques for Fish," focuses on research and development (R&D) activities to expand the current PIT-tag interrogation and tagging technologies for juvenile and adult fish.  These efforts are directed at enabling the fisheries community to successfully carry out the actions, research, and monitoring activities outlined in the NMFS 2004 Biological Opinion (BiOp) to maintain non-jeopardy for operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS).  Some R&D effort also needs to be expended toward developing technology that if successful would enable the fisheries community to conduct key research projects that currently are not possible.

PIT-tag detection is a critical tool for performing the monitoring and evaluation of mitigation actions within the Columbia River Basin (CRB) that the Northwest Power and Conservation Council's (NWPCC) Fish and Wildlife Program identifies as needed to support its adaptive management framework that also covers within-year fish-passage management (e.g., spill requirements).  For example, knowing when and how many smolts are leaving key natal streams could be very useful information in helping to develop and then use a passage criteria methodology for turning spill on at the beginning of the fish-passage season and turning it off at the end of the season.  Currently, over 60 NWPCC Fish and Wildlife Program projects utilize PIT tags, as do many projects funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps).  

This proposal addresses the need for PIT-tag interrogation systems that will collect data on migrating salmonids through mainstem sections of the CRB and on all life-stages transiting small streams.  Collecting these PIT-tag data is essential for fish managers to evaluate the population recovery and restoration efforts spelled out in the 2004 BiOp.  For example, expanding the technology will enable studies to be conducted that will yield more accurate estimates of conversion rates, effects of transportation, and smolt-to-adult return rates (SARs).  PIT-tag system development efforts include designing and fabricating the electronic components (transceivers, tags, and antenna systems) as well as conducting biological evaluations with fish to determine tag-reading efficiencies of the developed systems.  These fish tests also help determine the accuracy of the statistical models the fisheries community will depend on in the future.  

Therefore, this SOW covers the following PIT-tag system research and development work for the period
1 October 2005 through 30 September 2006 (FY06).  The proposed work is divided into three main work elements:

1. Project administration, transfer of technology, and provide information and assistance to users of PIT-tag technology

2. Assist in the development of the G2 transceiver

3. Continue development and evaluation of in-stream interrogation systems


1.  Administration/Technology assistance--Proper project administration is necessary to ensure that this project stays on track with its work schedules.  Project administration involves planning, issuing contracts when necessary, and then monitoring the work and budget to make certain that the milestones are reached and the project stays within budget.  It involves attending management, planning, and budgetary meetings on the project.  It also involves writing project plans, progress, technical, and annual reports.

Since NMFS personnel designed or helped to develop many of the present PIT-tag system components within the CRB, they are an important resource for providing technical support and training to ensure the reliable operation of PIT-tag technology throughout the CRB.  


2.  G2 transceiver--DA has been developing the G2 transceiver for 2 years.  Currently, the prototype does not include the ability to automatically switch among multiple antennas (multiplexing), a feature that was prominent in getting community support for the project.  This capability is critical for implementing more sophisticated in-stream interrogation systems.  NMFS proposes in FY06 to continue working with DA in helping them understand how multiplexing is used by fisheries researchers and help them add this ability to the G2 transceiver.  If the G2 transceiver is finished in FY06, NMFS would recommend that BPA support a full evaluation of the new transceiver to ensure that the product actually includes all of the features promised originally.  Otherwise, the G2 transceiver might not be able to meet the currently identified needs of the fisheries community much less have the flexibility to meet future, unidentified needs.


3.  Instream interrogation systems--PIT-tag users from numerous agencies have indicated the need for an interrogation system to monitor juvenile and adult salmonids in small steams.  In fact, even though development is not complete, many federal, state, and tribal agencies are already adapting this technology for their research projects to address BiOp issues.  A "stand alone" in-stream interrogation system (i.e., system that would be located in a remote area without access to the power grid) would enable PIT-tag users to obtain information on overwinter stream survival, migration timing, and recruitment success with minimal human interface.  Many juvenile salmonids are presently being captured, PIT tagged, and released in small streams.  

With the development of an in-stream interrogation system, a number of studies could be designed to address questions without additional fish handling such as what is the in-stream survival for a specific stream reach, what type of stream environment is best suited for a particular species or life stage, and when do fish start to migrate from that stream.  It may be in the near future that knowing when and how many smolts are leaving key natal streams will be used to develop a passage criteria methodology that would determine when spill was started for the beginning of the fish-passage season and when it was stopped.

The development of an instream interrogation system is a dynamic process that depends on the continued development of technology in three areas.  First, antenna systems need to be designed that reduce or eliminate the electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems that are often encountered with the large unshielded antennas.  Second, cost effective power systems need to be designed for remote locations.  Once available, these power systems will need to be evaluated to determine which power systems work best for different site conditions.  The transceiver is the third area that needs additional development to meet the requirements of a stand-alone system.  For this system, the transceiver must be able to log data, auto-tune, and automatically switch among antennas (multiplexing).  The upgraded G2 transceiver was conceived to satisfy the transceiver needs.  
Since the multiplexing transceivers are limited to a maximum of 6 antennas, in order to conduct research in larger streams, it is necessary to develop larger antennas.  Developing larger antennas depends on both testing different antenna wires as well as different housing material as the antenna structure becomes less rigid as it gets larger.

Developing cost-effective power systems to use for small stream PIT-tag systems in remote locations has been a challenging task.  During FY04 and FY05, NMFS directly contracted a company in California that is developing an oxygen cell, which is lightweight, has no moving parts and may be suitable for augmenting the power required to operate PIT-tag equipment at remote locations.  In FY06, we plan to issue a contract to the system developer to construct a 1-watt (enough power to operate a laptop computeror PDA) prototype unit that can be evaluated in a stream near Manchester, Washington.

We have spent a lot of time monitoring the progress of alternative power systems for the off-grid stream applications.  People in the energy segment have been re-examining Stirling generators and have recommended that we test them.  Therefore, we are proposing to assemble a power system using a Stirling engine generator.  Once we have assembled a power system using a Stirling engine generator, we will evaluate it first in the laboratory and then if it is promising, find a NMFS project where it can be evaluated under field conditions.