This project addresses how to expand the current fish-tracking technologies to enable the fisheries community to successfully carry out the actions, research, and monitoring activities outlined in the 2000, 2004, and 2008 BiOps, 2004 UPA, Fish and Wildlife Program, and 2003 systemwide passage summary.  The goal of the project is to satisfy these needs by developing interrogation systems that will collect data on migrating juvenile and adult salmonids through mainstem Columbia River Basin (CRB) dams including juvenile salmon transiting surface-bypass systems and all life-stages transiting small streams.  These fish-tracking technologies are then used to assess the effectiveness of management actions and strategies for recovery of ESA-listed fish populations.  For example, development of PIT-tag systems that will work in large streams or even rivers are essential for determining the effectiveness of all types of restoration programs on stock recovery supported by BPA.  In addition, these systems would help delineate the different types of interactions between hatchery and wild stocks in the field.  

Within this project, we propose to develop technologies that help monitor the stocks at critical (if possible, all) life stages and critical locations.   For example, many juvenile salmonids now use unmodified spillbays, spillbays outfitted with temporary spillway weirs (TSWs) or removable spillway weirs (RSWs), and turbines during their migration, but we are unable to monitor them in these locations because they lack PIT-tag interrogation systems.  Consequently, we are collecting fewer data points for the different survival models.  Therefore, we are proposing to start or continue development programs for interrogation systems (tags, antennas, receivers, etc) that will enable us to monitor these migrating fish through these pathways.  

Due to reduced funding, we will concentrate our efforts on two main research areas or work elements besides project administration during this performance period (December 2012- November 2013):

1. Finished development of the spillway PIT-tag system
                         a)   Evaluate the ogee transceiver at Pasco and Lower Granite Dam
                         b)   Oversee the manufacturing and delivery of ogee transceivers for the Lower Granite installation  
                         c)    Work with the Corps, PSMFC, and Biomark in finalizing the Corps' installation drawings

2.             Continue the development of in-stream interrogation systems
                         a)   Evaluate the new multiplexing transceiver
                         b)   Evaluate alternative interrogation technologies - HDX systems and ISO transceivers