Scott VanderKooi
Scott VanderKooi is a Supervisory Ecologist with over 30 years of experience as a scientist and science manager working on the rivers of the western U.S. Much of his work has emphasized applied science and adaptive management in support of natural resource management.
He began his career as a fish biologist conducting research on salmonids, catostomids and cyprinids in the northwest U.S. throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Areas of research included stress physiology, disease, migratory behavior, predation, and early life-history studies. Scott shifted to managing science programs in the mid-2000s initially in the Klamath River basin, and then in the Colorado River basin first as Chief of the USGS Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center and next as the Director of the Southwest Biological Science Center. Scott is currently the Director of the Washington Water Science Center.
Professional Experience
2023-Present, Center Director, USGS Washington Water Science Center
2021-2023, Center Director, USGS Southwest Biological Science Center
2015-2021, Chief, USGS Southwest Biological Science Center's Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center
2011-2015, Biology Program Manager/Deputy Chief, USGS Southwest Biological Science Center's Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center
Education and Certifications
M.S., Fishery Science, Oregon State University, 1999
B.S., Marine Biology, Oregon State University, 1991
Science and Products
Spring and Summer Spatial Distribution of Endangered Juvenile Lost River and Shortnose Suckers in Relation to Environmental Variables in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon: 2007 Annual Report
Patterns of Larval Sucker Emigration from the Sprague and Lower Williamson Rivers of the Upper Klamath Basin, Oregon, Prior to the Removal of Chiloquin Dam - 2006 Annual Report
Seasonal Distribution and Abundance of Larval and Juvenile Lost River and Shortnose Suckers in Hanks Marsh, Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon: 2007 Annual Report
Near-shore and off-shore habitat use by endangered juvenile Lost River and Shortnose Suckers in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon: 2006 data summary
Patterns of larval catostomid emigration from the Sprague and lower Williamson rivers of the Upper Klamath Basin, Oregon, prior to the removal of Chiloquin Dam. Annual report 2004-2005
Age-0 Lost River sucker and shortnose sucker nearshore habitat use in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon: A patch occupancy approach
Klamath Basin: A watershed approach to support habitat restoration, species recovery, and water resource planning
Riverine movements of adult Lost River, shortnose, and Klamath largescale suckers in the Williamson and Sprague rivers, Oregon. Annual report 2005
Spawning migration movements of Klamath largescale, Lost River, and shortnose suckers in the Williamson and Sprague rivers, Oregon, prior to the removal of Chiloquin Dam. Annual report 2006
Near-shore and offshore habitat use by endangered, juvenile Lost River and shortnose suckers in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon. Annual report 2004
Physiological development of reintroduced Chinook salmon in the Upper Klamath Basin. 2006 final report
Near-shore habitat use by endangered juvenile suckers in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon. Annual report 2002 - 2003
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 47
Spring and Summer Spatial Distribution of Endangered Juvenile Lost River and Shortnose Suckers in Relation to Environmental Variables in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon: 2007 Annual Report
Lost River sucker Deltistes luxatus and shortnose sucker Chasmistes brevirostris were listed as endangered in 1988 for a variety of reasons including apparent recruitment failure. Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and its tributaries are considered the most critical remaining habitat for these two species. Age-0 suckers are often abundant in Upper Klamath Lake throughout the summer months, but catches dAuthorsSummer M. Burdick, Scott P. VanderKooi, Greer O. AndersonPatterns of Larval Sucker Emigration from the Sprague and Lower Williamson Rivers of the Upper Klamath Basin, Oregon, Prior to the Removal of Chiloquin Dam - 2006 Annual Report
In 2006, we collected larval Lost River sucker Deltistes luxatus (LRS), shortnose sucker Chasmistes brevirostris (SNS), and Klamath largescale sucker Catostomus snyderi (KLS) emigrating from spawning areas in the Williamson and Sprague Rivers. This work is part of a multi-year effort to characterize the relative abundance, drift timing, and length frequencies of larval suckers in this watershed prAuthorsCraig M. Ellsworth, Torrey J. Tyler, Scott P. VanderKooi, Douglas F. MarkleSeasonal Distribution and Abundance of Larval and Juvenile Lost River and Shortnose Suckers in Hanks Marsh, Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon: 2007 Annual Report
In the summer of 2007, we undertook an assessment of larval and juvenile sucker use of Hanks Marsh in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon. This 1,200-acre marsh on the southeastern shoreline of the lake represents part of the last remaining natural emergent wetland habitat in the lake. Because of the suspected importance of this type of habitat to larval and juvenile endangered Lost River and shortnose sucAuthorsGreer O. Anderson, Alexander X. Wilkens, Summer M. Burdick, Scott P. VanderKooiNear-shore and off-shore habitat use by endangered juvenile Lost River and Shortnose Suckers in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon: 2006 data summary
Lost River suckers Deltistes luxatus and shortnose suckers Chasmistes brevirostris , listed as endangered in 1988 under the Endangered Species Act, have shown infrequent recruitment into adult populations in Upper Klamath Lake (NRC 2004). In an effort to understand the causes behind and provide management solutions to apparent recruitment failure, a number of studies have been conducted includingAuthorsSummer M. Burdick, Alexander X. Wilkens, Scott P. VanderKooiPatterns of larval catostomid emigration from the Sprague and lower Williamson rivers of the Upper Klamath Basin, Oregon, prior to the removal of Chiloquin Dam. Annual report 2004-2005
No abstract available.AuthorsC.M. Ellsworth, T.J. Tyler, S. P. VanderKooi, D.F. MarkleAge-0 Lost River sucker and shortnose sucker nearshore habitat use in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon: A patch occupancy approach
We examined habitat use by age-0 Lost River suckers Deltistes luxatus and shortnose suckers Chasmistes brevirostris over six substrate classes and in vegetated and nonvegetated areas of Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon. We used a patch occupancy approach to model the effect of physical habitat and water quality conditions on habitat use. Our models accounted for potential inconsistencies in detection prAuthorsS. M. Burdick, H.A. Hendrixson, S. P. VanderKooiKlamath Basin: A watershed approach to support habitat restoration, species recovery, and water resource planning
Water allocation among human and natural resource uses in the American West is challenging. Western rivers have been largely managed for hydropower, irrigation, drinking water, and navigation. Today land and water use practices have gained importance, particularly as aging dams are faced with re-licensing requirements and provisions of the Endangered Species and Clean Water Acts. Rising demand forAuthorsS. P. VanderKooi, L. ThorsteinsonRiverine movements of adult Lost River, shortnose, and Klamath largescale suckers in the Williamson and Sprague rivers, Oregon. Annual report 2005
No abstract availableAuthorsC.M. Ellsworth, T.J. Tyler, S. P. VanderKooi, R.S. ShivelySpawning migration movements of Klamath largescale, Lost River, and shortnose suckers in the Williamson and Sprague rivers, Oregon, prior to the removal of Chiloquin Dam. Annual report 2006
No abstract availableAuthorsC.M. Ellsworth, C.D. Luton, T.J. Tyler, S. P. VanderKooi, R.S. ShivelyNear-shore and offshore habitat use by endangered, juvenile Lost River and shortnose suckers in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon. Annual report 2004
No abstract availableAuthorsH.A. Hendrixson, B.L Herring, S. M. Burdick, S. P. VanderKooiPhysiological development of reintroduced Chinook salmon in the Upper Klamath Basin. 2006 final report
n/aAuthorsA.G. Maule, S. P. VanderKooi, J. Hamilton, R. Stocking, J. BartholomewNear-shore habitat use by endangered juvenile suckers in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon. Annual report 2002 - 2003
n/aAuthorsS. P. VanderKooi, H.A. Hendrixson, B.L Herring, R.H. Coshow - Science