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
Migration behavior of radio-tagged juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead relative to the performance of a removable spillway weir at Lower Granite Dam, Washington 2002 Migration behavior of radio-tagged juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead relative to the performance of a removable spillway weir at Lower Granite Dam, Washington 2002
The migration and reservoir delay of radio-tagged juvenile spring Chinook salmon and steelhead in the Snake River during a drought year The migration and reservoir delay of radio-tagged juvenile spring Chinook salmon and steelhead in the Snake River during a drought year
Behavior of radio-tagged juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead in the forebay of Lower Granite Dam relative to the 2000 surface bypass collector and behavioral guidance structure tests Behavior of radio-tagged juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead in the forebay of Lower Granite Dam relative to the 2000 surface bypass collector and behavioral guidance structure tests
Passage behavior of radio-tagged yearling Chinook salmon and steelhead at Bonneville Dam associated with the surface bypass program, 2000 Passage behavior of radio-tagged yearling Chinook salmon and steelhead at Bonneville Dam associated with the surface bypass program, 2000
Comparative performance of sham radio-tagged and PIT-tagged juvenile salmon Comparative performance of sham radio-tagged and PIT-tagged juvenile salmon
Movement, distribution, and behavior of radio-tagged sub-yearling Chinook salmon in the forebay of John Day Dam, 1999 Movement, distribution, and behavior of radio-tagged sub-yearling Chinook salmon in the forebay of John Day Dam, 1999
Estimates of fish and spill passage efficiency of radio-tagged juvenile steelhead and yearling Chinook salmon at John Day Dam, 1999 Estimates of fish and spill passage efficiency of radio-tagged juvenile steelhead and yearling Chinook salmon at John Day Dam, 1999
Estimates of fish-, spill-, and sluiceway-passage efficiencies of radio-tagged juvenile steelhead and yearling Chinook salmon at The Dalles Dam, 1999 Estimates of fish-, spill-, and sluiceway-passage efficiencies of radio-tagged juvenile steelhead and yearling Chinook salmon at The Dalles Dam, 1999
Movements and passage routes of radio-tagged juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead in the forebay of Lower Granite Dam as determined from fixed-site receiver stations Movements and passage routes of radio-tagged juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead in the forebay of Lower Granite Dam as determined from fixed-site receiver stations
Movement, distribution, and behavior of radio-tagged yearling spring Chinook salmon and hatchery steelhead in the forebay of Bonneville Dam, 1999 Movement, distribution, and behavior of radio-tagged yearling spring Chinook salmon and hatchery steelhead in the forebay of Bonneville Dam, 1999
Behavior of juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead relative to the log boom at Lower Granite Dam Behavior of juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead relative to the log boom at Lower Granite Dam
Migrational characteristics of radio-tagged juvenile salmonids during operation of a surface collection and bypass system Migrational characteristics of radio-tagged juvenile salmonids during operation of a surface collection and bypass system
Science and Products
Migration behavior of radio-tagged juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead relative to the performance of a removable spillway weir at Lower Granite Dam, Washington 2002 Migration behavior of radio-tagged juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead relative to the performance of a removable spillway weir at Lower Granite Dam, Washington 2002
The migration and reservoir delay of radio-tagged juvenile spring Chinook salmon and steelhead in the Snake River during a drought year The migration and reservoir delay of radio-tagged juvenile spring Chinook salmon and steelhead in the Snake River during a drought year
Behavior of radio-tagged juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead in the forebay of Lower Granite Dam relative to the 2000 surface bypass collector and behavioral guidance structure tests Behavior of radio-tagged juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead in the forebay of Lower Granite Dam relative to the 2000 surface bypass collector and behavioral guidance structure tests
Passage behavior of radio-tagged yearling Chinook salmon and steelhead at Bonneville Dam associated with the surface bypass program, 2000 Passage behavior of radio-tagged yearling Chinook salmon and steelhead at Bonneville Dam associated with the surface bypass program, 2000
Comparative performance of sham radio-tagged and PIT-tagged juvenile salmon Comparative performance of sham radio-tagged and PIT-tagged juvenile salmon
Movement, distribution, and behavior of radio-tagged sub-yearling Chinook salmon in the forebay of John Day Dam, 1999 Movement, distribution, and behavior of radio-tagged sub-yearling Chinook salmon in the forebay of John Day Dam, 1999
Estimates of fish and spill passage efficiency of radio-tagged juvenile steelhead and yearling Chinook salmon at John Day Dam, 1999 Estimates of fish and spill passage efficiency of radio-tagged juvenile steelhead and yearling Chinook salmon at John Day Dam, 1999
Estimates of fish-, spill-, and sluiceway-passage efficiencies of radio-tagged juvenile steelhead and yearling Chinook salmon at The Dalles Dam, 1999 Estimates of fish-, spill-, and sluiceway-passage efficiencies of radio-tagged juvenile steelhead and yearling Chinook salmon at The Dalles Dam, 1999
Movements and passage routes of radio-tagged juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead in the forebay of Lower Granite Dam as determined from fixed-site receiver stations Movements and passage routes of radio-tagged juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead in the forebay of Lower Granite Dam as determined from fixed-site receiver stations
Movement, distribution, and behavior of radio-tagged yearling spring Chinook salmon and hatchery steelhead in the forebay of Bonneville Dam, 1999 Movement, distribution, and behavior of radio-tagged yearling spring Chinook salmon and hatchery steelhead in the forebay of Bonneville Dam, 1999
Behavior of juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead relative to the log boom at Lower Granite Dam Behavior of juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead relative to the log boom at Lower Granite Dam
Migrational characteristics of radio-tagged juvenile salmonids during operation of a surface collection and bypass system Migrational characteristics of radio-tagged juvenile salmonids during operation of a surface collection and bypass system
*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