Explore the underwater world of Skagit Bay eelgrass meadows with this short video that shows off several fish species in their native environment. Observe the elegant Pacific Herring school gliding across the water, followed by the unusual Snake Prickleback.
Steve Rubin
Steve is a Fish Biologist at the Western Fisheries Research Center.
Research Interests:
My current research focusses on three aspects of Puget Sound restoration evaluation: (1) juvenile salmon and forage fish use of eelgrass and other delta tide flat and nearshore habitats, (2) response of soft-sediment intertidal benthic macroinvertebrates to Nisqually River delta dike removal and restored tidal inundation, and (3) response of shallow sub-tidal benthic microalgae, invertebrates, and fish to increased sediment delivery following removal of the Elwha River dams. Another area of research is assessing impacts of hatchery supplementation on wild salmon and steelhead.
Professional Experience
1994 to Present - Fish Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
1991-1994 - Research Associate, Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Moscow, ID
1986-1991 - Research Assistant, Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Moscow, ID
Education and Certifications
M.S. 1990. Fisheries Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
Science and Products
USGS science supporting the Elwha River Restoration Project
Data collected in 2009-2012 to assess benthic macroinvertebrate response to dike removal on the Nisqually River delta
Eelgrass and substrate characteristics in Bellingham Bay, Washington, July 2019 and July-August 2020
Data collected in 2008-2022 to assess nearshore subtidal community responses to increased sediment load during and after removal of the Elwha River dams, Washington State, USA
Data collected in 2008-2010 to evaluate juvenile salmon and forage fish use of eelgrass on the Skagit River Delta, Washington State, USA
Data collected in 2008-2014 to assess nearshore subtidal community response to increased sediment load during removal of the Elwha River dams, Washington State, USA
Explore the underwater world of Skagit Bay eelgrass meadows with this short video that shows off several fish species in their native environment. Observe the elegant Pacific Herring school gliding across the water, followed by the unusual Snake Prickleback.
Explore the underwater world of Skagit Bay eelgrass meadows where a diverse group of fish are visible, including the elegant Pacific Herring school , the unusual Snake Prickleback, the striking Pacific Spiny Dogfish, the graceful Shiner Perch, and the majestic juvenile Chinook Salmon.
Explore the underwater world of Skagit Bay eelgrass meadows where a diverse group of fish are visible, including the elegant Pacific Herring school , the unusual Snake Prickleback, the striking Pacific Spiny Dogfish, the graceful Shiner Perch, and the majestic juvenile Chinook Salmon.
Close-up image of Nisqually Delta eelgrass.
Close-up image of Nisqually Delta eelgrass.
USGS divers Steve Rubin and Reg Reisenbichler laying out a survey transect. Completing his 12th dive at the site in 2023, Rubin has been conducting dive surveys around the mouth of the Elwha River for over a decade as part of an evaluation of ecosystem health and recovery since the Elwha dams were breached in 2011.
USGS divers Steve Rubin and Reg Reisenbichler laying out a survey transect. Completing his 12th dive at the site in 2023, Rubin has been conducting dive surveys around the mouth of the Elwha River for over a decade as part of an evaluation of ecosystem health and recovery since the Elwha dams were breached in 2011.
Benthic macroinvertebrate response to estuarine emergent marsh restoration across a delta-wide environmental gradient
Nearshore subtidal community response during and after sediment disturbance associated with dam removal
Seasonal use of a nonnatal marine basin by juvenile hatchery chinook salmon
Impacts of suspended sediment on nearshore benthic light availability following dam removal in a small mountainous river:In situ observations and statistical modeling
Juvenile Chinook salmon and forage fish use of eelgrass habitats in a diked and channelized Puget Sound River Delta
Increased sediment load during a large-scale dam removal changes nearshore subtidal communities
2010-2015 Juvenile fish ecology in the Nisqually River Delta and Nisqually Reach Aquatic Reserve
Migratory behavior of Chinook salmon microjacks reared in artificial and natural environments
Effectiveness of an integrated hatchery program: Can genetic-based performance differences between hatchery and wild Chinook salmon be avoided?
Distribution of Pacific lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus in watersheds of Puget Sound Based on smolt monitoring data
Fish: Section 4.8 in Climate change and the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary: Interpreting potential futures.
A test for the relative strength of maternal and stock effects in spring Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) from two different hatcheries (Study site: Warm Springs Hatchery; Stocks: Warm Springs Hatchery and Carson Hatchery; Year class: 1993)
Chinook Salmon Use of Eelgrass Habitats Skagit River Delta Washington
Science and Products
USGS science supporting the Elwha River Restoration Project
Data collected in 2009-2012 to assess benthic macroinvertebrate response to dike removal on the Nisqually River delta
Eelgrass and substrate characteristics in Bellingham Bay, Washington, July 2019 and July-August 2020
Data collected in 2008-2022 to assess nearshore subtidal community responses to increased sediment load during and after removal of the Elwha River dams, Washington State, USA
Data collected in 2008-2010 to evaluate juvenile salmon and forage fish use of eelgrass on the Skagit River Delta, Washington State, USA
Data collected in 2008-2014 to assess nearshore subtidal community response to increased sediment load during removal of the Elwha River dams, Washington State, USA
Explore the underwater world of Skagit Bay eelgrass meadows with this short video that shows off several fish species in their native environment. Observe the elegant Pacific Herring school gliding across the water, followed by the unusual Snake Prickleback.
Explore the underwater world of Skagit Bay eelgrass meadows with this short video that shows off several fish species in their native environment. Observe the elegant Pacific Herring school gliding across the water, followed by the unusual Snake Prickleback.
Explore the underwater world of Skagit Bay eelgrass meadows where a diverse group of fish are visible, including the elegant Pacific Herring school , the unusual Snake Prickleback, the striking Pacific Spiny Dogfish, the graceful Shiner Perch, and the majestic juvenile Chinook Salmon.
Explore the underwater world of Skagit Bay eelgrass meadows where a diverse group of fish are visible, including the elegant Pacific Herring school , the unusual Snake Prickleback, the striking Pacific Spiny Dogfish, the graceful Shiner Perch, and the majestic juvenile Chinook Salmon.
Close-up image of Nisqually Delta eelgrass.
Close-up image of Nisqually Delta eelgrass.
USGS divers Steve Rubin and Reg Reisenbichler laying out a survey transect. Completing his 12th dive at the site in 2023, Rubin has been conducting dive surveys around the mouth of the Elwha River for over a decade as part of an evaluation of ecosystem health and recovery since the Elwha dams were breached in 2011.
USGS divers Steve Rubin and Reg Reisenbichler laying out a survey transect. Completing his 12th dive at the site in 2023, Rubin has been conducting dive surveys around the mouth of the Elwha River for over a decade as part of an evaluation of ecosystem health and recovery since the Elwha dams were breached in 2011.