Congratulations to Tobyn Rhodes for Winning this Issue’s Photo Contest!
By Western Fisheries Research Center
April 14, 2026
We are excited to announce Tobyn Rhodes as the winner of this issue’s photo contest!
This mesmerizing video, recorded by Tobyn N Rhodes, is from USGS Western Fisheries Research Center’s field work on the lower Salmon River this past fall. Partnering with the Nez Perce Tribe, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Idaho Power, Rhodes and his team counted the number of fall Chinook salmon nests, known as redds, using a drone piloted from a jet boat. This information is used to gauge the health and abundance of fall Chinook salmon that successfully return to spawn in the Snake River basin. Snake River Fall Chinook salmon are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
This specific video clip shows Rhodes recording WFRC scientist, Brad K Bickford, driving the jet boat through China Rapid, a class III section of the Salmon River.
Check out the links below for more information:
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
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Related
Research, monitoring, and evaluation of emerging issues and measures to recover the Snake River fall Chinook Salmon ESU Research, monitoring, and evaluation of emerging issues and measures to recover the Snake River fall Chinook Salmon ESU
The portion of the Snake River fall Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ESU that spawns upstream of Lower Granite Dam transitioned from low to high abundance during 1992–2018 in association with U.S. Endangered Species Act recovery efforts and other federally mandated actions. This annual report focuses on (1) numeric and habitat use responses by natural- and hatchery-origin spawners...
Authors
Kenneth F. Tiffan, Russell W. Perry, John M. Plumb, Dalton Hance, Brad Bickford, Tobyn Rhodes
Snake River fall Chinook salmon life history investigations, 1/1/2013 – 12/31/2013 Snake River fall Chinook salmon life history investigations, 1/1/2013 – 12/31/2013
Smallmouth bass predation on subyearling fall Chinook salmon was examined in the upper portion of Lower Granite Reservoir during 2013. During the time subyearlings were present in the reservoir, smallmouth bass were collected, their stomach contents removed for diet analysis, and their abundance estimated with mark-recapture techniques. In 2013, the greatest consumption of subyearlings...
Authors
Kenneth F. Tiffan, William P. Connor
Spatial consistency of chinook salmon redd distribution within and among years in the Cowlitz River, Washington Spatial consistency of chinook salmon redd distribution within and among years in the Cowlitz River, Washington
We investigated the spawning patterns of Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha on the lower Cowlitz River, Washington, using a unique set of fine- and coarse-scale temporal and spatial data collected during biweekly aerial surveys conducted in 1991–2009 (500 m to 28 km resolution) and 2008–2009 (100–500 m resolution). Redd locations were mapped from a helicopter during 2008 and 2009...
Authors
Katherine J.C. Klett, Christian E. Torgersen, Julie A. Henning, Christopher J. Murray
Snake River fall Chinook salmon life history investigations, annual report 2008 Snake River fall Chinook salmon life history investigations, annual report 2008
In 2009, we used radio and acoustic telemetry to evaluate the migratory behavior, survival, mortality, and delay of subyearling fall Chinook salmon in the Clearwater River and Lower Granite Reservoir. We released a total of 1,000 tagged hatchery subyearlings at Cherry Lane on the Clearwater River in mid August and we monitored them as they passed downstream through various river and...
Authors
Kenneth F. Tiffan, William P. Connor, Brian J. Bellgraph, Rebecca A. Buchanan
The effects of summer flow augmentation on the migratory behavior and survival of juvenile Snake River fall Chinook salmon. Annual report 2003 The effects of summer flow augmentation on the migratory behavior and survival of juvenile Snake River fall Chinook salmon. Annual report 2003
This report summarizes results of research activities conducted in 2002 and years previous to aid in the management and recovery of fall chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in the Columbia River basin. The report is divided into self-standing chapters. For detailed summaries, we refer the reader to the abstracts given on the second page of each chapter. The Annual Reporting section...
Authors
Kenneth F. Tiffan, Craig A. Haskell, William P. Connor
Imaging fall Chinook salmon redds in the Columbia River with a dual-frequency identification sonar Imaging fall Chinook salmon redds in the Columbia River with a dual-frequency identification sonar
We tested the efficacy of a dual-frequency identification sonar (DIDSON) for imaging and enumeration of fall Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha redds in a spawning area below Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River. The DIDSON uses sound to form near-video-quality images and has the advantages of imaging in zero-visibility water and possessing a greater detection range and field of...
Authors
K.F. Tiffan, D.W. Rondorf, J.J. Skalicky
Influence of flow and temperature on survival of wild subyearling fall chinook salmon in the Snake River Influence of flow and temperature on survival of wild subyearling fall chinook salmon in the Snake River
Summer flow augmentation to increase the survival of wild subyearling fall chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha is implemented annually to mitigate for the development of the hydropower system in the Snake River basin, but the efficacy of this practice has been disputed. We studied some of the factors affecting survival of wild subyearling fall chinook salmon from capture, tagging...
Authors
W.P. Connor, H.L. Burge, J.R. Yearsley, T.C. Bjornn
Effects of summer flow augmentation on the migratory behavior and survival of juvenile Snake River fall Chinook salmon. Annual report 2002 Effects of summer flow augmentation on the migratory behavior and survival of juvenile Snake River fall Chinook salmon. Annual report 2002
Abstract not available
Authors
K.F. Tiffan, W.P. Connor