Researchers perform gastric lavage on a rainbow trout to sample its stomach contents. This fish was sampled as a part of a food web study on Ross and Diablo Lakes in Washington State to evaluate fish growth and limitations to production.
Rachelle C. Johnson, Ph.D.
Rachelle (Shelley) C. Johnson is a Fish Biologist with the Fish Ecology Section of the Western Fisheries Research Center.
Shelley’s research interests stem from an overarching goal of understanding how natural and human-induced environmental change influence the structure and function of aquatic food webs. Her research utilizes a combination of laboratory experiments, field data collection, and modeling to quantify and better understand the food web processes that may pose limitations to the growth and production of native fishes in a variety of habitats. Current research projects use these methods to understand the impacts of invasive fish species to growth and production of native salmonids and evaluate food web limitations to the feasibility of introducing anadromous salmonids above high-head dams. Shelley has previously participated in research characterizing food web impacts following dam removal in the Elwha River, synthesizing science products and cost estimates for dam removals worldwide for the U.S. Geological Survey Dam Removal Science Database, and improving our understanding of barotrauma in fish associated with turbine passage at hydropower dams.
Professional Experience
2023 to Present – Fish Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
2022 to 2023 – Pathways Intern, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
2019 to 2022 – Research Assistant, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle
2015 to 2019 – Student Contractor/Biological Sciences Technician, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
2012-2014 (summers) - Undergraduate Research Assistant, Ecology Group, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 2023. University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Seattle, WA
B.S. 2015. University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Seattle, WA
Science and Products
Upper Skagit Reservoir Food Web Data, 2005-2021
Bioenergetic Growth Performance of Rainbow Trout in Upper Skagit Reservoir Tributaries, 2018-2021
Compilation of cost estimates for dam removal projects in the United States
Data used to parameterize and evaluate a bioenergetics model for Redside Shiner (Richardsonius balteatus)
USGS Dam Removal Science Database v4.0
Researchers perform gastric lavage on a rainbow trout to sample its stomach contents. This fish was sampled as a part of a food web study on Ross and Diablo Lakes in Washington State to evaluate fish growth and limitations to production.
USGS boat tied to dock at Ross Lake during a week-long sampling trip for a food web study. Ross Lake is a large reservoir on the Upper Skagit River in the North Cascade mountains of northern Washington state.
USGS boat tied to dock at Ross Lake during a week-long sampling trip for a food web study. Ross Lake is a large reservoir on the Upper Skagit River in the North Cascade mountains of northern Washington state.
Marshal Hoy, a Biological Science Technician, angling on Ross Lake for Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC) food web study in October 2021. As a part of this study, fish are sampled for stomach contents, scale samples to assess age and growth, and fin tissue for stable isotopes and genetic analysis.
Marshal Hoy, a Biological Science Technician, angling on Ross Lake for Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC) food web study in October 2021. As a part of this study, fish are sampled for stomach contents, scale samples to assess age and growth, and fin tissue for stable isotopes and genetic analysis.
A native crayfish collected in Diablo Lake for an investigation into food availability for native fish and limitations to their growth. Crayfish are invertebrate prey for salmonids and provide useful representative stable isotope values for benthic members of the food web.
A native crayfish collected in Diablo Lake for an investigation into food availability for native fish and limitations to their growth. Crayfish are invertebrate prey for salmonids and provide useful representative stable isotope values for benthic members of the food web.
Researchers placed a juvenile native char into a viewing box to help identify the species. This fish was collected as a part of a food web study on Ross and Diablo Lakes in Washington State in order to evaluate fish growth and limitations to production.
Researchers placed a juvenile native char into a viewing box to help identify the species. This fish was collected as a part of a food web study on Ross and Diablo Lakes in Washington State in order to evaluate fish growth and limitations to production.
Change in growth and prey utilization for a native salmonid following invasion by an omnivorous minnow in an oligotrophic reservoir
Prey supply and predation as potential limitations to feasibility of anadromous salmonid introductions in a reservoir
Shift in piscivory by salmonids following invasion of a minnow in an oligotrophic reservoir
Leaf litter decomposition and detrital communities following the removal of two large dams on the Elwha River (Washington, USA)
Growth performance of Rainbow Trout in reservoir tributaries and implications for steelhead growth potential above Skagit River dams
Patterns, drivers, and a predictive model of dam removal cost in the United States
Given the burgeoning dam removal movement and the large number of dams approaching obsolescence in the United States, cost estimating data and tools are needed for dam removal prioritization, planning, and execution. We used the list of removed dams compiled by American Rivers to search for publicly available reported costs for dam removal projects. Total cost information could include component c
Bioenergetics model for the nonnative Redside Shiner
Shifting food web structure during dam removal—Disturbance and recovery during a major restoration action
Science and Products
Upper Skagit Reservoir Food Web Data, 2005-2021
Bioenergetic Growth Performance of Rainbow Trout in Upper Skagit Reservoir Tributaries, 2018-2021
Compilation of cost estimates for dam removal projects in the United States
Data used to parameterize and evaluate a bioenergetics model for Redside Shiner (Richardsonius balteatus)
USGS Dam Removal Science Database v4.0
Researchers perform gastric lavage on a rainbow trout to sample its stomach contents. This fish was sampled as a part of a food web study on Ross and Diablo Lakes in Washington State to evaluate fish growth and limitations to production.
Researchers perform gastric lavage on a rainbow trout to sample its stomach contents. This fish was sampled as a part of a food web study on Ross and Diablo Lakes in Washington State to evaluate fish growth and limitations to production.
USGS boat tied to dock at Ross Lake during a week-long sampling trip for a food web study. Ross Lake is a large reservoir on the Upper Skagit River in the North Cascade mountains of northern Washington state.
USGS boat tied to dock at Ross Lake during a week-long sampling trip for a food web study. Ross Lake is a large reservoir on the Upper Skagit River in the North Cascade mountains of northern Washington state.
Marshal Hoy, a Biological Science Technician, angling on Ross Lake for Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC) food web study in October 2021. As a part of this study, fish are sampled for stomach contents, scale samples to assess age and growth, and fin tissue for stable isotopes and genetic analysis.
Marshal Hoy, a Biological Science Technician, angling on Ross Lake for Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC) food web study in October 2021. As a part of this study, fish are sampled for stomach contents, scale samples to assess age and growth, and fin tissue for stable isotopes and genetic analysis.
A native crayfish collected in Diablo Lake for an investigation into food availability for native fish and limitations to their growth. Crayfish are invertebrate prey for salmonids and provide useful representative stable isotope values for benthic members of the food web.
A native crayfish collected in Diablo Lake for an investigation into food availability for native fish and limitations to their growth. Crayfish are invertebrate prey for salmonids and provide useful representative stable isotope values for benthic members of the food web.
Researchers placed a juvenile native char into a viewing box to help identify the species. This fish was collected as a part of a food web study on Ross and Diablo Lakes in Washington State in order to evaluate fish growth and limitations to production.
Researchers placed a juvenile native char into a viewing box to help identify the species. This fish was collected as a part of a food web study on Ross and Diablo Lakes in Washington State in order to evaluate fish growth and limitations to production.
Change in growth and prey utilization for a native salmonid following invasion by an omnivorous minnow in an oligotrophic reservoir
Prey supply and predation as potential limitations to feasibility of anadromous salmonid introductions in a reservoir
Shift in piscivory by salmonids following invasion of a minnow in an oligotrophic reservoir
Leaf litter decomposition and detrital communities following the removal of two large dams on the Elwha River (Washington, USA)
Growth performance of Rainbow Trout in reservoir tributaries and implications for steelhead growth potential above Skagit River dams
Patterns, drivers, and a predictive model of dam removal cost in the United States
Given the burgeoning dam removal movement and the large number of dams approaching obsolescence in the United States, cost estimating data and tools are needed for dam removal prioritization, planning, and execution. We used the list of removed dams compiled by American Rivers to search for publicly available reported costs for dam removal projects. Total cost information could include component c