Collin D. Smith
I am a fish biologist with the WFRC Columbia River Research Laboratory. I joined the USGS in 2000, and my research has focused on Pacific salmon and dams in the Pacific Northwest. My expertise includes the use of imaging sonar systems to monitor abundances and behaviors of fish near collection and passage sites, as well as passage, migration, and survival of salmonids using acoustic telemetry.
Research Interests:
My research interests include the evaluation of dam passage and survival, development of fish passage options at high-head dams, reintroduction of salmon and steelhead to areas blocked by dams, and predation and behavioral studies near entrances to fish collection structures. I am currently working on studies that evaluate the effects of tidal cycles on juvenile salmon and native fish survival, assessments of migration and survival of juvenile salmon, and developing methods to automate imaging sonar data processing.
Professional Experience
2000 to Present – Fish Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Cook, WA
1999-2000 – Wildlife Intern, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Savanna Army Depot, Savanna, IL
1998-1999 – Laboratory Technician, Illinois Natural History Survey, Sullivan, IL
Education and Certifications
M.S. 2000. Biological Sciences, Eastern Illinois University, IL
B.A. 1997. Zoology, Eastern Illinois University, IL
Science and Products
An evaluation of fish behavior upstream of the water temperature control tower at Cougar Dam, Oregon, using acoustic cameras, 2013
High-speed limnology: Using advanced sensors to investigate spatial variability in biogeochemistry and hydrology
Behavior and dam passage of juvenile Chinook salmon at Cougar Reservoir and Dam, Oregon, March 2012 - February 2013
Behavior and dam passage of juvenile Chinook salmon and juvenile steelhead at Detroit Reservoir and Dam, Oregon, March 2012-February 2013
Passage and survival probabilities of juvenile Chinook salmon at Cougar Dam, Oregon, 2012
Behavior and dam passage of juvenile Chinook salmon at Cougar Reservoir and Dam, Oregon, March 2011 - February 2012
Passage probabilities of juvenile Chinook salmon through the powerhouse and regulating outlet at Cougar Dam, Oregon, 2011
Interim results from a study of the behavior of juvenile Chinook salmon at Cougar Reservoir and Dam, Oregon, March--August 2011
Hydrography of and biogeochemical inputs to Liberty Bay, a small urban embayment in Puget Sound, Washington
Tailrace egress and hydraulic conditions during tests of a top spillway weir (TSW) at John Day Dam, 2008
Survival estimates and tailrace egress of yearling Chinook salmon through The Dalles Dam spillway using radiotelemetry, 2006: Final report of research
Bathymetry, substrate and circulation in Westcott Bay, San Juan Islands, Washington
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 28
An evaluation of fish behavior upstream of the water temperature control tower at Cougar Dam, Oregon, using acoustic cameras, 2013
This report describes the initial year of a 2-year study to determine the feasibility of using acoustic cameras to monitor fish movements to help inform decisions about fish passage at Cougar Dam near Springfield, Oregon. Specifically, we used acoustic cameras to measure fish presence, travel speed, and direction adjacent to the water temperature control tower in the forebay of Cougar Dam during tAuthorsNoah S. Adams, Collin Smith, John M. Plumb, Gabriel S. Hansen, John W. BeemanHigh-speed limnology: Using advanced sensors to investigate spatial variability in biogeochemistry and hydrology
Advanced sensor technology is widely used in aquatic monitoring and research. Most applications focus on temporal variability, whereas spatial variability has been challenging to document. We assess the capability of water chemistry sensors embedded in a high-speed water intake system to document spatial variability. This new sensor platform continuously samples surface water at a range of speedsAuthorsJohn T. Crawford, Luke C. Loken, Nora J. Casson, Colin Smith, Amanda G. Stone, Luke A. WinslowBehavior and dam passage of juvenile Chinook salmon at Cougar Reservoir and Dam, Oregon, March 2012 - February 2013
The movements and dam passage of individual juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) were studied at Cougar Reservoir and Dam, near Springfield, Oregon, during 2012 and 2013. Cougar Dam is a high-head flood-control reservoir with a temperature control tower as its outlet enabling selective withdrawals of water at various depths to control the temperature of water passed downstream. ThisAuthorsJohn W. Beeman, Hal C. Hansel, Amy C. Hansen, Scott D. Evans, Philip V. Haner, Tyson Hatton, Eric E. Kofoot, Jamie M. Sprando, Collin SmithBehavior and dam passage of juvenile Chinook salmon and juvenile steelhead at Detroit Reservoir and Dam, Oregon, March 2012-February 2013
The in-reservoir movements and dam passage of individual juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and juvenile steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were studied at Detroit Reservoir and Dam, near Detroit, Oregon, during 2012 and 2013. The goal of the study was to provide data to inform decisions about future downstream passage alternatives and factors affecting downstream passage rates with tAuthorsJohn W. Beeman, Hal C. Hansel, Amy C. Hansen, Scott D. Evans, Philip V. Haner, Tyson W. Hatton, Eric E. Kofoot, Jamie M. Sprando, Collin D. SmithPassage and survival probabilities of juvenile Chinook salmon at Cougar Dam, Oregon, 2012
This report describes studies of juvenile-salmon dam passage and apparent survival at Cougar Dam, Oregon, during two operating conditions in 2012. Cougar Dam is a 158-meter tall rock-fill dam used primarily for flood control, and passes water through a temperature control tower to either a powerhouse penstock or to a regulating outlet (RO). The temperature control tower has moveable weir gates toAuthorsJohn W. Beeman, Scott D. Evans, Philip V. Haner, Hal C. Hansel, Amy C. Hansen, Collin D. Smith, Jamie M. SprandoBehavior and dam passage of juvenile Chinook salmon at Cougar Reservoir and Dam, Oregon, March 2011 - February 2012
The movements and dam passage of juvenile Chinook salmon implanted with acoustic transmitters and passive integrated transponder tags were studied at Cougar Reservoir and Dam, near Springfield, Oregon. The purpose of the study was to provide information to aid with decisions about potential alternatives for improving downstream passage conditions for juvenile salmonids in this flood-control reservAuthorsJohn W. Beeman, Hal C. Hansel, Amy C. Hansen, Philip V. Haner, Jamie M. Sprando, Collin D. Smith, Scott D. Evans, Tyson W. HattonPassage probabilities of juvenile Chinook salmon through the powerhouse and regulating outlet at Cougar Dam, Oregon, 2011
Cougar Dam near Springfield, Oregon, is one of several federally owned and operated flood-control projects within the Willamette Valley of western Oregon that were determined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service in 2008 to impact the long-term viability of several salmonid stocks. In response to this ruling, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers isAuthorsJohn W. Beeman, Amy C. Hansen, Scott D. Evans, Philip V. Haner, Hal C. Hansel, Collin D. SmithInterim results from a study of the behavior of juvenile Chinook salmon at Cougar Reservoir and Dam, Oregon, March--August 2011
The movements and dam passage of yearling juvenile Chinook salmon implanted with acoustic transmitters and passive integrated transponder tags were studied at Cougar Reservoir and Dam, near Springfield, Oregon. A total of 411 hatchery fish and 26 wild fish were tagged and released between March 7 and May 21, 2011. A series of 16 autonomous hydrophones placed throughout the reservoir were used to dAuthorsJohn W. Beeman, Hal C. Hansel, Amy C. Hansen, Philip V. Haner, Jamie M. Sprando, Collin D. Smith, Scott D. EvansHydrography of and biogeochemical inputs to Liberty Bay, a small urban embayment in Puget Sound, Washington
This multi-chapter report describes scientific and logistic understanding gained from a 2 year proof-of-concept study in Liberty Bay, a small urban embayment in central Puget Sound, Washington. The introductory chapter describes the regional and local setting, the high-level study goals, the site-specific urban stressors, and the interdisciplinary study approach. Subsequent data chapters describeAuthorsRenee K. TakesueTailrace egress and hydraulic conditions during tests of a top spillway weir (TSW) at John Day Dam, 2008
n/aAuthorsT.L. Liedtke, C. D. Smith, R.G TomkaSurvival estimates and tailrace egress of yearling Chinook salmon through The Dalles Dam spillway using radiotelemetry, 2006: Final report of research
No abstract availableAuthorsA.L. Puls, C. D. SmithBathymetry, substrate and circulation in Westcott Bay, San Juan Islands, Washington
Nearshore bathymetry, substrate type, and circulation patterns in Westcott Bay, San Juan Islands, Washington, were mapped using two acoustic sonar systems, video and direct sampling of seafloor sediments. The goal of the project was to characterize nearshore habitat and conditions influencing eelgrass (Z. marina) where extensive loss has occurred since 1995. A principal hypothesis for the loss ofAuthorsEric E. Grossman, Andrew W. Stevens, Chris Curran, Collin Smith, Andrew Schwartz