Tobias J Kock
I am a research fish biologist at the Columbia River Research Laboratory in Cook, Washington. I began working on fisheries studies in 1998 and my research has focused on Pacific salmon and dams in the Pacific Northwest. My expertise includes the use of telemetry systems to monitor juvenile and adult salmon and steelhead, and I am currently working on the Willamette and Yakima rivers.
Biography
Education:
M.S. 2004. Fisheries Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
B.A. 2000. Biology, Minor in Religion, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA
Research Interests:
My research interests include the evaluation of dam passage and survival, assessment of fish collection devices, development of fish passage options at high-head dams, reintroduction of salmon and steelhead to areas blocked by dams, and effects of climate change on salmon ecology and dam management. I am currently working on studies that evaluate the effects of flow management on juvenile salmon survival, the responses of adult salmon and steelhead to trap-and-haul procedures, assessment of dam-passage survival of juvenile salmon, and developing methods to estimate survival of salmon fry in reservoirs.
Experience:
2002 to Present - Fish Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Science Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory, Cook, WA
2000-2002 - Graduate Student, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
1998-2000 - Biological Science Technician, University of Idaho and U.S. Geological Survey
Science and Products
Scientific Support of Salmon and Steelhead Reintroductions in Impounded River Basins of the Pacific Northwest
Salmon and steelhead populations in the Pacific Northwest were severely affected by hydropower development that occurred during the first half of the 20th century. Impassable dams were constructed on many rivers throughout the region which prevented returning adult salmonids from accessing important habitats where spawning and rearing historically occurred. In the past two decades...
Behavior and movement of adult winter steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the upper Cowlitz River Basin, Washington, 2017–18
Executive SummaryA 2-year radiotelemetry study was completed to monitor the movements of adult winter steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the upper Cowlitz River Basin. A reintroduction program was established to restore healthy and harvestable populations of steelhead because volitional access to the area was blocked in the 1960s after...
Liedtke, Theresa L.; Kock, Tobias J.; Hansen, Amy C.; Ekstrom, Brian K.; Tomka, Ryan G.
Evaluation of water temperature effects on adult sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) behavior in the Yakima River, Washington, 2019
A study was conducted in the lower Yakima River, Washington, during June–October 2019 to evaluate water temperature effects on adult sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) behavior. A total of 60 sockeye salmon adults were tagged with radio transmitters and monitored during the study. Fourteen of the fish were collected and tagged at Prosser Dam in...
Kock, Tobias J.; Evans, Scott D.; Hansen, Amy C.; Ekstrom, Brian K.; Visser, Richard; Saluskin, Brian; Hoffarth, Paul
Using the STARS Model to evaluate the effects of two proposed projects for the long-term operation of State Water Project Incidental Take Permit Application and CEQA compliance
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) requested analysis of juvenile Chinook salmon survival in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta (henceforth identified as “the Delta”) as part of an effects analysis that will be included in an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) Application. This application is in compliance with the California...
Perry, Russell W.; Hansen, Amy C.; Evans, Scott D.; Kock, Tobias J.
Juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) survival in Lookout Point Reservoir, Oregon, 2018
A field study was conducted to estimate survival of juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in Lookout Point Reservoir, Oregon, during 2018. The study consisted of releasing three groups of genetically-marked fish into the reservoir, and sampling them monthly. Juveniles were released during April 10–13 (116,708 fish), May 15–18 (31,911...
Kock, Tobias J.; Perry, Russell W.; Hansen, Gabriel S.; Haner, Philip V.; Pope, Adam C.; Plumb, John M.; Cogliati, Karen M.; Hansen, Amy C.
Distribution of adult Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in relation to water temperatures, Lake Scanewa, Cowlitz River, Washington, 2012
A trap-and-haul program is operated to move anadromous Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) around dams and reservoirs in the Cowlitz River basin, Washington. The primary release site for adult fish is in Lake Scanewa, a small reservoir created by Cowlitz Falls Dam, the uppermost dam in the basin. Releases in the reservoir are terminated when...
Kock, Tobias J.; Ekstrom, Brian K.; Liedtke, Theresa L.
Movements of juvenile Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) in the Yakima and Columbia Rivers, Washington, 2018—A pilot study using acoustic telemetry
Telemetry has been an invaluable tool to improve our understanding of adult Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) movements and to guide management approaches to protect and restore this species of concern. Juvenile and larval lamprey, however, are much smaller than adults, and have not been monitored with telemetry because available...
Liedtke, Theresa L.; Lampman, Ralph T. ; Deng, Z. Daniel; Beals, Tyler E.; Porter, Michael S.; Hansen, Amy C.; Kock, Tobias J.; Tomka, Ryan G.; Monk, Patrick
Adult sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) behavior and movement from Roza Dam to Cle Elum Dam, Washington, 2018
An evaluation was conducted to describe adult sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) upstream movement patterns from Roza Dam to Cle Elum Dam in the Yakima Basin, Washington. Sockeye salmon adults that arrive at Roza Dam are currently trapped and transported upstream of Cle Elum Dam because upstream fish-passage facilities are not currently in place...
Kock, Tobias J.; Evans, Scott D.; Ekstrom, Brian K.; Hansen, Amy C.
Evaluation of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) fry survival at Lookout Point Reservoir, western Oregon, 2017
A field study was conducted to estimate survival of fry-sized juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in Lookout Point Reservoir, western Oregon, during 2017. The field study consisted of releasing three groups of genetically marked fish in the reservoir and monthly fish sampling. Fish were released during April 18–19 (43,950 fish), May...
Kock, Tobias J.; Perry, Russell W.; Hansen, Gabriel S.; Haner, Philip V.; Pope, Adam C.; Plumb, John M.; Cogliati, Karen M.; Hansen, Amy C.
Assessment of operational and structural factors influencing performance of fish collectors in forebays of high-head dams
Providing efficient downstream passage is critical for improving populations of migratory fishes in impounded river systems. High‐head dams, such as those used for water storage or flood‐risk management, pose unique passage challenges requiring unique solutions. Systems to collect fish in dam forebays (“forebay collectors”) for transport to...
Kock, Tobias; Verretto, Nicholas E; Ackerman, Nicklaus K; Perry, Russell; Beeman, John W; Garello, Michael C; Fielding, Scott D Responses of hatchery‐ and natural‐origin adult spring Chinook Salmon to a trap‐and‐haul reintroduction program
The construction of impassable dams severely affected many Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. populations, resulting in reintroduction efforts that are now focused on returning anadromous fish to areas located upstream of these dams. A primary strategy for moving adult salmon and steelhead O. mykiss around a dam or multiple dams...
Kock, Tobias J.; Perry, Russell W.; Pope, Adam C.; Serl, John D.; Kohn, Mike; Liedtke, Theresa L.
Evaluation of sockeye salmon after passage through an innovative upstream fish-passage system at Cle Elum Dam, Washington, 2017
Executive SummaryThe Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology), working with the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project Workgroup (composed of representatives of the Yakama Nation; Federal, State, county, and city governments; environmental organizations; and irrigation districts), developed...
Kock, Tobias J.; Evans, Scott D.; Hansen, Amy C.; Perry, Russell W.; Hansel, Hal C.; Haner, Philip V.; Tomka, Ryan G.
Passage survival of juvenile steelhead, coho salmon, and Chinook salmon in Lake Scanewa and at Cowlitz Falls Dam, Cowlitz River, Washington, 2010–16
A multi-year evaluation was conducted during 2010–16 to evaluate passage survival of juvenile steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha), and coho salmon (O. kisutch) in Lake Scanewa, and at Cowlitz Falls Dam in the upper Cowlitz River Basin, Washington. Reservoir passage survival was evaluated in 2010, 2011, and 2016, and...
Liedtke, Theresa L.; Kock, Tobias J.; Hurst, William
Western Fisheries Science News, June 2018 | Issue 6.6
Evaluating Innovative Fish Passage Alternatives to Support Upstream Sockeye Salmon Passage
Western Fisheries Science News, October 2016 | Issue 4.10
Transporting Fish around Impassable Dams: An Opportunity and Challenge for Reintroductions