Drivers of Ecosystem Change
Restoration Ecology and Species Recovery
Western Fisheries Research Center
Research at the WFRC focuses on the environmental factors responsible for the creation, maintenance, and regulation of fish populations including their interactions in aquatic communities and ecosystems. Within these pages you will find research information on Pacific salmon; western trout, charr, and resident riverine fishes; desert and inland fishes; aquatic ecosystems and their resources.
Peer Reviewed Publications
Peer Reviewed Publications
Dive into our research through our rich and diverse publications.
News
EcoNews - Vol. 7 | Issue 3
EcoNews - Vol. 7 | Issue 3
Exclusive: Artificial Light and Salmon
Exclusive: Artificial Light and Salmon
USGS Scientists Share Their Research at the 2026 Bay-Delta Science Conference
USGS Scientists Share Their Research at the 2026 Bay-Delta Science Conference
Publications
Water and endangered fish in the Klamath River basin revisited: Does old age or Upper Klamath Lake surface elevation and water quality affect adult Lost River Sucker and Shortnose Sucker survival? A response to Kann and Walker Water and endangered fish in the Klamath River basin revisited: Does old age or Upper Klamath Lake surface elevation and water quality affect adult Lost River Sucker and Shortnose Sucker survival? A response to Kann and Walker
Our update responds to recent scientific critiques and again finds no evidence that lake levels or water conditions influence adult sucker survival. This reaffirms our prior work (Krause et al., 2022) and suggests that recent declines in adult survival may reflect an aging population.
From sediment pulse to ecological recovery: A nine-year study of benthic macroinvertebrate response to Elwha River dam removal From sediment pulse to ecological recovery: A nine-year study of benthic macroinvertebrate response to Elwha River dam removal
Large dam removals are increasingly important river restoration actions, but long-term ecological responses remain poorly understood, especially for removals involving large sediment releases. We evaluated benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI) responses following removal of the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams on the Elwha River, Washington, USA. At the time of removal (2011–2014), these were the...
Science
Artificial Light and Salmon
Artificial light is changing the nighttime environment of Lake Washington and reshaping the survival of salmon.
Where Land Meets Sea: USGS Science for Resilient Coastal Habitats
USGS coastal science plays a critical role in supporting the effective, science-based management of coastal ecosystems, where the biodiversity of land and sea meet. It provides managers with the information they need to make sound decisions. Through cutting-edge research, predictive modeling, and decision-support tools, USGS empowers resource managers to make informed, science-based choices. From...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, California Water Science Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Western Fisheries Research Center, Western Geographic Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
The Science of Suckers: What’s driving population declines in the Klamath River basin?
USGS and its partners are working tirelessly to monitor suckers and understand why they are disappearing from lakes and streams in the Klamath River Basin