John Plumb, Ph.D.
John is the lead scientist for the Lower Snake River Field Station, Clarkston, WA with the mission to conduct research that informs the recovery of Snake River fall Chinook Salmon. His broader research aims to provide novel ways to quantify and assess the growth, movement, and survival of fishes within the Columbia, Snake, and Sacramento rivers.
John’s expertise is in the application and development of statistical and mechanistic models to answer specific research and river management questions. For example, his current projects seeks to (1) monitor and quantify the life cycle production of naturally produced Snake River fall Chinook salmon, (2) monitor and model gas bubble trauma of resident fishes below Snake and Columbia rivers dams, and (3) conduct field experiments to measure the effects of dissolved oxygen, temperature, and sedimentation on egg-to-fry survival of winter run Chinook Salmon in the upper Sacramento River.
John’s duties include writing research proposals, determining project budgets, study design and analysis of data, the application of novel statistical models, and the writing, publishing, and communication of research findings. As the lead scientist John directs and supports the activities of 10 scientists and technicians, and the boats, equipment, and needs of the Lower Snake River Field Station.
Professional Experience
2024-Present: Supervisory Research Fisheries Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Cook, WA
2020-2024: Research Fisheries Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Cook, WA
2012-2020: Fisheries Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Cook, WA
2009-2012: Research Associate, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
2007-2009: Fisheries Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Cook, WA
2005-2007: Research Associate, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB, CA
1996-2005: Fisheries Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Cook, WA
Education and Certifications
PhD. 2012. Natural Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
M.S. 2012. Applied Statistics, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
M.S. 2007. Zoology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, CA
B.S. 1994. Biology, Ohio University, Athens, OH
A.S. 1992. Ecology and Environmental Technology, Paul Smith’s College, Paul Smith’s, NY
Affiliations and Memberships*
2011: Fisheries Society of the British Isles / Lifetime member
2005: American Fisheries Society / professional member
Honors and Awards
2012: Best professional paper, Idaho Chapter of the American Fisheries Society
Science and Products
Back from the brink: Estimating daily and annual abundance of natural-origin salmon smolts from 30-years of mixed-origin capture-recapture data
Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon research and monitoring
Hydrologic, water operations, reservoir temperature, river temperature, sediment transport, habitat, and fish population modeling for the Trinity River Water Management Plan
Application of the Stream Salmonid Simulator (S3) model to assess fall Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) production in the American River, California
Movement and behavioral states of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in response to a behavioral deterrent in a navigational lock
Calibration of the Trinity River Stream Salmonid Simulator (S3) with extension to the Klamath River, California, 2006–17
Assessment of habitat use by juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Willamette River Basin, 2020–21
Simulating post-dam removal effects of hatchery operations and disease on juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) production in the Lower Klamath River, California
Research, monitoring, and evaluation of emerging issues and measures to recover the Snake River Fall Chinook salmon ESU
Predator and prey events at the entrance of a surface‐oriented fish collector at North Fork Dam, Oregon
Development of a two-stage life cycle model for Oncorhynchus kisutch (coho salmon) in the upper Cowlitz River Basin, Washington
A temporally stratified extension of space‐for‐time Cormack–Jolly–Seber for migratory animals
Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) Locations in Earthen Ponds Exposed to Three Acoustic Signals, June though August, 2018
Daily and annual abundances of natural- and hatchery-origin age-0 fall Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) passing Lower Granite Dam, Washington 1992 - 2021
Acoustic Telemetry Evaluation of Invasive Carp in Kaukauna, Wisconsin (Summer 2019)
Science and Products
Back from the brink: Estimating daily and annual abundance of natural-origin salmon smolts from 30-years of mixed-origin capture-recapture data
Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon research and monitoring
Hydrologic, water operations, reservoir temperature, river temperature, sediment transport, habitat, and fish population modeling for the Trinity River Water Management Plan
Application of the Stream Salmonid Simulator (S3) model to assess fall Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) production in the American River, California
Movement and behavioral states of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in response to a behavioral deterrent in a navigational lock
Calibration of the Trinity River Stream Salmonid Simulator (S3) with extension to the Klamath River, California, 2006–17
Assessment of habitat use by juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Willamette River Basin, 2020–21
Simulating post-dam removal effects of hatchery operations and disease on juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) production in the Lower Klamath River, California
Research, monitoring, and evaluation of emerging issues and measures to recover the Snake River Fall Chinook salmon ESU
Predator and prey events at the entrance of a surface‐oriented fish collector at North Fork Dam, Oregon
Development of a two-stage life cycle model for Oncorhynchus kisutch (coho salmon) in the upper Cowlitz River Basin, Washington
A temporally stratified extension of space‐for‐time Cormack–Jolly–Seber for migratory animals
Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) Locations in Earthen Ponds Exposed to Three Acoustic Signals, June though August, 2018
Daily and annual abundances of natural- and hatchery-origin age-0 fall Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) passing Lower Granite Dam, Washington 1992 - 2021
Acoustic Telemetry Evaluation of Invasive Carp in Kaukauna, Wisconsin (Summer 2019)
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government