USGS, Western Fisheries Research Center scientist tagging an invasive silver carp with an acoustic transmitter to evaluate the effectiveness of a BioAcoustic Fish Fence (BAFF) to deter upstream migration of invasive carp at Barkley Lock and Dam, Kentucky in October 2022.
Ryan Tomka
My research interests include juvenile salmon passage and survival at hydroelectric dams using acoustic and radio telemetry, operate radio telemetry equipment to monitor movements of adult salmon, develop and refine standard operating procedures for surgical implantation of transmitters, and train others in surgical implantation of transmitters.
I am currently working in the Klamath River Basin studying survival of juvenile Chinook salmon migrating through reaches known to have Ceratomyxa Shasta. I am also working on a study evaluating the performance of a Bio-Acoustic Fish Fence in the Sacramento River Basin.
I have historically studied urbanization effects on forage fish in Puget Sound (Coastal Habitats in Puget Sound).
Professional Experience
2005 to Present – Biological Science Technician, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory, Cook, WA
Education and Certifications
B.S. 2001. Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
Science and Products
A standard operating procedure for the preparation of purposely killed juvenile salmon used to test survival model assumptions
Behavior and movement of adult winter steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the upper Cowlitz River Basin, Washington, 2017–18
Movements of juvenile Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) in the Yakima and Columbia Rivers, Washington, 2018—A pilot study using acoustic telemetry
Evaluation of sockeye salmon after passage through an innovative upstream fish-passage system at Cle Elum Dam, Washington, 2017
Preliminary evaluation of the behavior and movements of adult spring Chinook salmon in the Chehalis River, southwestern Washington, 2014
Behavior and movements of adult spring Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Chehalis River Basin, southwestern Washington, 2015
Evaluation of juvenile salmonid behavior near a prototype weir box at Cowlitz Falls Dam, Washington, 2013
Behavior and passage of juvenile salmonids during the evaluation of a behavioral guidance structure at Cowlitz Falls Dam, Washington, 2011
Evaluation of angler effort and harvest of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Lake Scanewa, Washington, 2010
Tailrace egress and hydraulic conditions during tests of a top spillway weir (TSW) at John Day Dam, 2008
Data collected in 2010 to evaluate habitat availability for surf smelt and eelgrass in response to sea level rise on Bainbridge Island, Puget Sound, Washington, USA
USGS, Western Fisheries Research Center scientist tagging an invasive silver carp with an acoustic transmitter to evaluate the effectiveness of a BioAcoustic Fish Fence (BAFF) to deter upstream migration of invasive carp at Barkley Lock and Dam, Kentucky in October 2022.
Sockeye salmon preparing to spawn upstream of Cle Elum Dam, Washington.
Sockeye salmon preparing to spawn upstream of Cle Elum Dam, Washington.
Science and Products
A standard operating procedure for the preparation of purposely killed juvenile salmon used to test survival model assumptions
Behavior and movement of adult winter steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the upper Cowlitz River Basin, Washington, 2017–18
Movements of juvenile Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) in the Yakima and Columbia Rivers, Washington, 2018—A pilot study using acoustic telemetry
Evaluation of sockeye salmon after passage through an innovative upstream fish-passage system at Cle Elum Dam, Washington, 2017
Preliminary evaluation of the behavior and movements of adult spring Chinook salmon in the Chehalis River, southwestern Washington, 2014
Behavior and movements of adult spring Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Chehalis River Basin, southwestern Washington, 2015
Evaluation of juvenile salmonid behavior near a prototype weir box at Cowlitz Falls Dam, Washington, 2013
Behavior and passage of juvenile salmonids during the evaluation of a behavioral guidance structure at Cowlitz Falls Dam, Washington, 2011
Evaluation of angler effort and harvest of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Lake Scanewa, Washington, 2010
Tailrace egress and hydraulic conditions during tests of a top spillway weir (TSW) at John Day Dam, 2008
Data collected in 2010 to evaluate habitat availability for surf smelt and eelgrass in response to sea level rise on Bainbridge Island, Puget Sound, Washington, USA
USGS, Western Fisheries Research Center scientist tagging an invasive silver carp with an acoustic transmitter to evaluate the effectiveness of a BioAcoustic Fish Fence (BAFF) to deter upstream migration of invasive carp at Barkley Lock and Dam, Kentucky in October 2022.
USGS, Western Fisheries Research Center scientist tagging an invasive silver carp with an acoustic transmitter to evaluate the effectiveness of a BioAcoustic Fish Fence (BAFF) to deter upstream migration of invasive carp at Barkley Lock and Dam, Kentucky in October 2022.
Sockeye salmon preparing to spawn upstream of Cle Elum Dam, Washington.
Sockeye salmon preparing to spawn upstream of Cle Elum Dam, Washington.