This is a photo of fieldwork on the pilot Chinook egg survival study occurring in the Sacramento River, California.
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.
Science and Products
Chinook Salmon Egg Survival Study Fieldwork
This is a photo of fieldwork on the pilot Chinook egg survival study occurring in the Sacramento River, California.
Diagram of Gas Bubbles at Dam
This is a diagram of a cross section of a dam. This diagram is to show where gas bubble trauma could occur.
This is a diagram of a cross section of a dam. This diagram is to show where gas bubble trauma could occur.
Gas Bubble Trauma
This is a photo of a fish with gas bubble trauma. For decades, scientists at the USGS Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC) have worked alongside dam operators to monitor a lesser-known threat to fish in the Columbia and Snake rivers: gas bubble trauma.
This is a photo of a fish with gas bubble trauma. For decades, scientists at the USGS Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC) have worked alongside dam operators to monitor a lesser-known threat to fish in the Columbia and Snake rivers: gas bubble trauma.
Fish Fin With Gas Bubble Trauma
To understand gas bubble trauma, imagine scuba divers surfacing too quickly. As pressure decreases, dissolved gases in their blood can form bubbles, causing joint pain, paralysis, and even death—a condition commonly known as “the bends.” Fish can experience something similar.
To understand gas bubble trauma, imagine scuba divers surfacing too quickly. As pressure decreases, dissolved gases in their blood can form bubbles, causing joint pain, paralysis, and even death—a condition commonly known as “the bends.” Fish can experience something similar.
Sculpin with Gas Bubble Trauma
Since the early 1990s, WFRC has supported state and federal agencies by providing regular assessments of gas bubble trauma in salmon. But salmon aren’t the only fish affected. In 2020, scientists at the Cook lab began monitoring GBT in resident species like sculpin, northern pikeminnow, and three-spined stickleback.
Since the early 1990s, WFRC has supported state and federal agencies by providing regular assessments of gas bubble trauma in salmon. But salmon aren’t the only fish affected. In 2020, scientists at the Cook lab began monitoring GBT in resident species like sculpin, northern pikeminnow, and three-spined stickleback.
Chinook Salmon Egg Survival Fieldwork in the Sacramento River, CA
This is fieldwork from a Chinook salmon egg survival pilot study in the Sacramento River. Egg boxes were placed in the river at different locations to collect data on egg-to-fry survival. Some examples of data collected include water velocity and river flow, gravel temperature, scour and deposition, and sediment type.
This is fieldwork from a Chinook salmon egg survival pilot study in the Sacramento River. Egg boxes were placed in the river at different locations to collect data on egg-to-fry survival. Some examples of data collected include water velocity and river flow, gravel temperature, scour and deposition, and sediment type.
Study Map of Tagged Juvenile Late-Fall Run Chinook Salmon Released Upstream of Shasta Reservoir, California
linkStakeholder interests have spurred the reintroduction of the critically endangered populations of Chinook Salmon to tributaries upstream of Shasta Dam, in northern California. We released two groups of acoustically tagged, juvenile hatchery, late-fall Chinook Salmon to determine how juvenile salmon would distribute and survive.
Study Map of Tagged Juvenile Late-Fall Run Chinook Salmon Released Upstream of Shasta Reservoir, California
linkStakeholder interests have spurred the reintroduction of the critically endangered populations of Chinook Salmon to tributaries upstream of Shasta Dam, in northern California. We released two groups of acoustically tagged, juvenile hatchery, late-fall Chinook Salmon to determine how juvenile salmon would distribute and survive.
Science and Products
Chinook Salmon Egg Survival Study Fieldwork
This is a photo of fieldwork on the pilot Chinook egg survival study occurring in the Sacramento River, California.
This is a photo of fieldwork on the pilot Chinook egg survival study occurring in the Sacramento River, California.
Diagram of Gas Bubbles at Dam
This is a diagram of a cross section of a dam. This diagram is to show where gas bubble trauma could occur.
This is a diagram of a cross section of a dam. This diagram is to show where gas bubble trauma could occur.
Gas Bubble Trauma
This is a photo of a fish with gas bubble trauma. For decades, scientists at the USGS Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC) have worked alongside dam operators to monitor a lesser-known threat to fish in the Columbia and Snake rivers: gas bubble trauma.
This is a photo of a fish with gas bubble trauma. For decades, scientists at the USGS Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC) have worked alongside dam operators to monitor a lesser-known threat to fish in the Columbia and Snake rivers: gas bubble trauma.
Fish Fin With Gas Bubble Trauma
To understand gas bubble trauma, imagine scuba divers surfacing too quickly. As pressure decreases, dissolved gases in their blood can form bubbles, causing joint pain, paralysis, and even death—a condition commonly known as “the bends.” Fish can experience something similar.
To understand gas bubble trauma, imagine scuba divers surfacing too quickly. As pressure decreases, dissolved gases in their blood can form bubbles, causing joint pain, paralysis, and even death—a condition commonly known as “the bends.” Fish can experience something similar.
Sculpin with Gas Bubble Trauma
Since the early 1990s, WFRC has supported state and federal agencies by providing regular assessments of gas bubble trauma in salmon. But salmon aren’t the only fish affected. In 2020, scientists at the Cook lab began monitoring GBT in resident species like sculpin, northern pikeminnow, and three-spined stickleback.
Since the early 1990s, WFRC has supported state and federal agencies by providing regular assessments of gas bubble trauma in salmon. But salmon aren’t the only fish affected. In 2020, scientists at the Cook lab began monitoring GBT in resident species like sculpin, northern pikeminnow, and three-spined stickleback.
Chinook Salmon Egg Survival Fieldwork in the Sacramento River, CA
This is fieldwork from a Chinook salmon egg survival pilot study in the Sacramento River. Egg boxes were placed in the river at different locations to collect data on egg-to-fry survival. Some examples of data collected include water velocity and river flow, gravel temperature, scour and deposition, and sediment type.
This is fieldwork from a Chinook salmon egg survival pilot study in the Sacramento River. Egg boxes were placed in the river at different locations to collect data on egg-to-fry survival. Some examples of data collected include water velocity and river flow, gravel temperature, scour and deposition, and sediment type.
Study Map of Tagged Juvenile Late-Fall Run Chinook Salmon Released Upstream of Shasta Reservoir, California
linkStakeholder interests have spurred the reintroduction of the critically endangered populations of Chinook Salmon to tributaries upstream of Shasta Dam, in northern California. We released two groups of acoustically tagged, juvenile hatchery, late-fall Chinook Salmon to determine how juvenile salmon would distribute and survive.
Study Map of Tagged Juvenile Late-Fall Run Chinook Salmon Released Upstream of Shasta Reservoir, California
linkStakeholder interests have spurred the reintroduction of the critically endangered populations of Chinook Salmon to tributaries upstream of Shasta Dam, in northern California. We released two groups of acoustically tagged, juvenile hatchery, late-fall Chinook Salmon to determine how juvenile salmon would distribute and survive.
*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