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Patrick Connolly, Ph.D.

Patrick is a Scientist Emeritus and Research Fish Biologist working for the Columbia River Research Laboratory.

Research Interests:

Projects investigating life history diversity of fish and effectiveness of habitat restoration.

Professional Experience

  • 1997 to Present - Lead Research Fish Biologist, USGS, WFRC, Columbia River Research Laboratory, Cook, WA

  • 1990-1996 - Research Assistant, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

  • 1988-1991 - Fish Biologist--Sub basin Planner, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Corvallis, OR

  • 1987-1988 - Fish Biologist--Research, Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Columbia River Research, Clackamas, OR

  • 1985-1987 - Fish Biologist, Beak Consultants Inc., Portland, OR

  • 1984-1985 - Fishery Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Field Station, Cook, WA

  • 1983 - Fish Habitat Surveyor, Idaho Transportation Department, Coeur d’Alene, ID

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. 1996. Fisheries Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

  • M.S. 1983. Zoology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID

  • B.S. 1977. Biology, Center College of Kentucky, Danville, KY

  • B.S. 1977. Biology, Center College of Kentucky, Danville, KY

  • 1984-1985 - Fishery Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Field Station, Cook, WA

  • 1983 - Fish Habitat Surveyor, Idaho Transportation Department, Coeur d’Alene, ID

Science and Products

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USGS science for a changing world logo

Dam removal: synthesis of ecological and physical responses

Dam decommissioning is rapidly emerging as an important river restoration strategy in the U.S., with several major removals recently completed or in progress. But few studies have evaluated the far-reaching consequences of these significant environmental perturbations, especially those resulting from removals of large (>10-15 m tall) structures during the last decade. In particular, interactions b
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John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis
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Dam removal: synthesis of ecological and physical responses

Dam decommissioning is rapidly emerging as an important river restoration strategy in the U.S., with several major removals recently completed or in progress. But few studies have evaluated the far-reaching consequences of these significant environmental perturbations, especially those resulting from removals of large (>10-15 m tall) structures during the last decade. In particular, interactions b
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An estuary with many channels widening towards the sea through lush forests and grasslands, village in distance.

Climate Change Threats to Fish Habitat Connectivity

Many fish species, including mountain whitefish and bull trout, need a variety of habitat types throughout their different life stages that include appropriate water temperatures, flows, refugia from predators, and adequate food. Key to a fish finding and using these different habitats is the connectivity between them. Changing conditions in the future, including increased air and water temperatur
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Climate Adaptation Science Centers
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Climate Change Threats to Fish Habitat Connectivity

Many fish species, including mountain whitefish and bull trout, need a variety of habitat types throughout their different life stages that include appropriate water temperatures, flows, refugia from predators, and adequate food. Key to a fish finding and using these different habitats is the connectivity between them. Changing conditions in the future, including increased air and water temperatur
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Filter Total Items: 84

Wind River Subbasin Restoration, Annual report of U.S. Geological Survey activities, January 2016 through December 2016

We used Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT)-tagging and a series of instream PIT-tag interrogation systems (PTISs) to investigate life-histories, populations, and efficacy of habitat restoration actions for steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss in the Wind River subbasin, WA. Our tagging focused on parr in headwaters areas of the subbasin and our instream readers provided information on movement of these
Authors
Ian G. Jezorek, Patrick J. Connolly
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory (CRRL)

Risk assessment for the reintroduction of anadromous salmonids upstream of Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee Dams, Northeastern Washington

The Upper Columbia United Tribes (UCUT; Spokane, Colville, Kootenai, Coeur d’Alene, and Kalispel Tribes) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife want to reintroduce anadromous salmonids to their historical range to restore ecosystem function and lost cultural and spiritual relationships in the upper Columbia River, northeastern Washington. The UCUT contracted with the U.S. Geological Survey
Authors
Jill M. Hardiman, Rachel B. Breyta, Craig A. Haskell, Carl O. Ostberg, James R. Hatten, Patrick J. Connolly
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory (CRRL), Fish Health Program (FHP)

Dam removal: Listening in

Dam removal is widely used as an approach for river restoration in the United States. The increase in dam removals—particularly large dams—and associated dam-removal studies over the last few decades motivated a working group at the USGS John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis to review and synthesize available studies of dam removals and their findings. Based on dam removals thus far
Authors
Melissa M. Foley, James Bellmore, James E. O'Connor, Jeffrey J. Duda, Amy E. East, Gordon G. Grant, Chauncey W. Anderson, Jennifer A. Bountry, Mathias J. Collins, Patrick J. Connolly, Laura S. Craig, James E. Evans, Samantha Greene, Francis J. Magilligan, Christopher S. Magirl, Jon J. Major, George R. Pess, Timothy J. Randle, Patrick B. Shafroth, Christian E. Torgersen, Desiree D. Tullos, Andrew C. Wilcox
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis, Oregon Water Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Volcano Science Center, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory (CRRL)

Wind River Subbasin Restoration, annual report of U.S. Geological Survey activities: Parr monitoring and instream passive integrated transponder detection, January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015

We used Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT)-tagging and a series of instream PIT-tag interrogation systems (PTIS) to investigate life-histories, populations, and efficacy of habitat restoration actions for steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss in the Wind River subbasin, WA. Our tagging focused on parr in headwater areas of the subbasin and our PTISs provide information on movement of these parr, which i
Authors
Ian Jezorek, Patrick Connolly
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory (CRRL)

Synthesis of common management concerns associated with dam removal

Managers make decisions regarding if and how to remove dams in spite of uncertainty surrounding physical and ecological responses, and stakeholders often raise concerns about certain negative effects, regardless of whether or not these concerns are warranted at a particular site. We used a dam-removal science database supplemented with other information sources to explore seven frequently-raised c
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Desiree D. Tullos, Mathias J. Collins, J. Ryan Bellmore, Jennifer A. Bountry, Patrick J. Connolly, Patrick B. Shafroth, Andrew C. Wilcox
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory (CRRL)

Salmon and steelhead in the White Salmon River after the removal of Condit Dam–Planning efforts and recolonization results

Condit Dam, at river kilometer 5.3 on the White Salmon River, Washington, was breached in 2011 and completely removed in 2012. This action opened habitat to migratory fish for the first time in 100 years. The White Salmon Working Group was formed to create plans for fish salvage in preparation for fish recolonization and to prescribe the actions necessary to restore anadromous salmonid populations
Authors
Brady Allen, Rod O Engle, Joseph S Zendt, Frank C Shrier, Jeremy T Wilson, Patrick J. Connolly
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory (CRRL)

Wind River subbasin restoration: Annual report of U.S. Geological Survey activities January 2014 through December 2014

Executive Summary The Wind River subbasin in southwest Washington State provides habitat for a population of wild Lower Columbia River steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss, which are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. No hatchery steelhead have been planted in the Wind River subbasin since 1994, and hatchery adults are estimated to be less than one percent of adults in any year (Thoma
Authors
Ian G. Jezorek, Patrick J. Connolly
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory (CRRL)

Biotic and abiotic influences on abundance and distribution of nonnative Chinook salmon and native ESA-listed steelhead in the Wind River, Washington

Biotic and abiotic factors influence fish populations and distributions. Concerns have been raised about the influence of hatchery fish on wild populations. Carson National Fish Hatchery produces spring Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in the Wind River, Washington, and some spawn in the river. Managers were concerned that Chinook salmon could negatively affect wild steelhead O. mykiss and
Authors
Ian G. Jezorek, Patrick J. Connolly
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory (CRRL)

Spatial complexity reduces interaction strengths in the meta-food web of a river floodplain mosaic

Theory states that both the spatial complexity of landscapes and the strength of interactions between consumers and their resources are important for maintaining biodiversity and the 'balance of nature.' Spatial complexity is hypothesized to promote biodiversity by reducing potential for competitive exclusion; whereas, models show weak trophic interactions can enhance stability and maintain biodiv
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James Ryan Bellmore, Colden Vance Baxter, Patrick J. Connolly
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory (CRRL)

Methow River Studies, Washington: abundance estimates from Beaver Creek and the Chewuch River screw trap, methodology testing in the Whitefish Island side channel, and survival and detection estimates from hatchery fish releases, 2013

Salmon and steelhead populations have been severely depleted in the Columbia River from factors such as the presence of tributary dams, unscreened irrigation diversions, and habitat degradation from logging, mining, grazing, and others (Raymond, 1988). The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been funded by the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) to provide evaluation of on-going Reclamation funded e
Authors
Kyle D. Martens, Teresa M. Fish, Grace A. Watson, Patrick J. Connolly
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory (CRRL)

Juvenile anadromous salmonid production in upper Columbia River side channels with different levels of hydrological connection

We examined the contribution of three types of side channels based on their hydrologic connectivity (seasonally disconnected, partially connected, and connected) to production of juvenile anadromous salmonids. Juvenile steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss and Chinook Salmon O. tshawytscha were found in all three of these side channel types and in each year of the study. Upon connection with the main stem
Authors
Kyle D. Martens, Patrick J. Connolly
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory (CRRL)

Wind River subbasin restoration: U.S. Geological Survey annual report November 2012 through December 2013

Executive Summary The Wind River subbasin in southwest Washington State provides habitat for a population of wild Lower Columbia River steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss. There have been no hatchery steelhead planted in the Wind River subbasin since 1994, and hatchery adults are estimated to be less than one percent of adults in any year (pers comm. Thomas Buehrens, Washington Department of Fish and Wi
Authors
Ian G. Jezorek, Patrick J. Connolly
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory (CRRL)
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Western Fisheries Science News, September 2015 | Issue 3.9

Using Challenges and Prizes to Find Innovative Solutions

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Western Fisheries Science News, January 2014 | Issue 2.1

The Secret Lives of Mountain Whitefish

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