Images

Using an ultra-light plane, researchers are looking at the landscapes where herring spawn in Prince William Sound Alaska.

Chinook salmon orient into the water current of the swim flume during a performance trial.

Dr. David Paez observes as Chinook salmon undergo a swim performance trial. Water velocity in the swim chamber is increased over a prescribed period to determine time of exhaustion for each individual fish. Virus-exposed and healthy control fish are swum together in a small group and must be watched carefully.

(Left to Right) Dr. David Paez, Joanna Salzer, Dr. Jee Youn Hwang and Bill Batts observe as Chinook salmon are conditioned in the swim flume prior to swim performance trials.

(Left to Right) Bill Batts, Joanna Salzer, and Dr. Jee Youn Hwang sample fish during a swim performance trial. Once fish have completed swim trials they are euthanized and kept fresh on ice. Sampling includes length and weight measurements, and collection of a small portion of tissues to confirm the presence of virus.

USGS scientist setting up underwater video cameras in an eelgrass meadow on the Skagit River Delta. Eelgrass grows in shallow marine and estuarine waters where it forms structurally complex habitats that support many other aquatic species by providing attachment substrate, food, refuge from predation, and nursery areas.

USGS scientist setting up underwater video cameras in an eelgrass meadow on the Skagit River Delta. Eelgrass grows in shallow marine and estuarine waters where it forms structurally complex habitats that support many other aquatic species by providing attachment substrate, food, refuge from predation, and nursery areas.

Pacific Lamprey ammocoetes in a measurement tank. Tissues collected from the lamprey will be analyzed for mercury as part of a study on mercury contamination in the Columbia River Basin.

Multi-tribal ceremonial release of adult Chinook to the Spokane River during 2022 National American Fisheries Society Meeting. Here, people line up to participate in ceremonial multi-tribal fish release in the Spokane River.

Multi-tribal ceremonial release of adult Chinook to the Spokane River during 2022 National American Fisheries Society Meeting. Here, fish biologist Ian Jezorek participates in ceremonial multi-tribal fish release in the Spokane River.

Multi-tribal ceremonial release of adult Chinook to the Spokane River during 2022 National American Fisheries Society meeting. Here, fish biologist, Jill Hardiman, participates in the event by releasing an adult Chinook salmon into the Spokane River.

Overhead view of the Spokane River, where adult Chinook salmon were released during a multi-tribal ceremonial fish release. During 2022 National American Fisheries Society, many scientists and citizens took part in a ceremonial fish release. Adult Chinook salmon are currently blocked by dams and unable travel upstream to their historic range.

USGS scientist Dalton Lebeda is measuring a Fall Chinook salmon captured in the Snake River. This study is being conducted to determine the percentages of natural and hatchery origin spawners in the upper reach of Hells Canyon.

Scenic picture taken with a sUAS (drone) of Hells Canyon, Fall 2023. In the bottom of the picture, you can see one of our USGS work boats pulled onto shore. USGS scientists are conducting redd surveys for spawning Fall Chinook salmon.

Canyon walls and riparian vegetation are reflected in the water of the Colorado River in Glen Canyon, upstream of Lees Ferry. Lees Ferry is downstream of Glen Canyon Dam. Photo by Mariah Giardina, SBSC, USGS.

USGS scientist helped the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FISHBIO to collect and tag adult green sturgeon on the Sacramento River. The purpose of the project is to monitor fish movements and behavior in relation to flood control projects in the Sacramento River.

USGS scientist helped the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FISHBIO to collect and tag adult green sturgeon on the Sacramento River. The purpose of the project is to monitor fish movements and behavior in relation to flood control projects in the Sacramento River.

Scientist collected a stream sample during an urban stormwater runoff event in Seattle, WA

USGS, Western Fisheries Research Center scientist tagging an invasive silver carp with an acoustic transmitter to evaluate the effectiveness of a BioAcoustic Fish Fence (BAFF) to deter upstream migration of invasive carp at Barkley Lock and Dam, Kentucky in October 2022.

The sun setting behind the Olympic Mountains from a beach on Hood Canal, Washington.  A beautiful ending of another day.

Coho salmon migrating on the Sol Duc River, Washington to spawning grounds upstream. Fish must leap through a series of small waterfalls called the Salmon Cascades in Olympic National Park to reach the waters where they were born to complete their life cycle by spawning the next generation.