• Projects:
• InRiver Monitoring
• Hydro Facility Monitoring
• Hatchery Monitoring
• Research Projects

Biomark InRiver Monitoring Research Projects

Biomark specializes in the design and construction of stationary monitoring systems for a variety of fisheries applications.  Our experienced staff has developed durable, high performance antenna systems that provide valuable data for fishery research with a minimum of maintenance.  Biomark antenna designs have evolved from openings measured in inches to openings measured in feet.  Our antennas are currently constructed of highly durable and weather resistant fiberglass or thermo plastic.  We have tested different antenna sizes, designs and materials in order to provide monitoring systems that researchers can be confident in.  It is our mission to provide products and services that aid customers in achieving their research goals.

Please take a look at some of the different antenna types that are currently being used to monitor fish movement.

• South Fork Salmon River
• John Day River
• Oregon Hatchery Research Center
• Quartz Creek
• Slikok Creek
• Benewah Creek
• Tucannon River
• Cyclone Creek
• Trail Creek
• Lake Creek

South Fork Salmon River (SFSR), Idaho

Biomark, with support from Nez Perce Tribe personnel, recently installed a PIT tag array on the South Fork Salmon River (SFSR).  The array is currently 80 ft long; another 20 ft antenna will be added in February 2008, increasing the overall length to 100 ft.  We focused our antenna design efforts towards detection of the TX1411SST tag; the best performing 12 mm tag currently available.  The installed antennas detected a TX1411SST test tag at a distance of 20 in. from the antenna surface with consistent detection at 18 inches. Antennas were placed in shallow trenches in order to have the antenna surface near grade level with the river bottom, thereby reducing the potential of them being dislodged by debris or high flow.

The PIT tag array will be used to detect and identify fish marked with PIT tags in the upper mainstem SFSR.  This data in combination with their Johnson Creek and Secesh River projects will provide the information necessary to complete adult abundance estimation for the entire SFSR and is anticipated to:  

1. Provide a means to calculate stream-type Chinook salmon and steelhead adult mortality occurring in the river reaches extending from the uppermost mainstem hydropower dam to the PIT tag array and to the Idaho Department of Fish & Game SFSR adult weir,  
2. Provide adult stream-type Chinook salmon and steelhead escapement estimates for the mainstem SFSR below the McCall Hatchery weir, 
3. Enable calculation of smolt to adult return rates (SARs) for the mainstem SFSR stream-type Chinook salmon population and part of the mainstem SFSR steelhead population, and  
4. Enable the estimation and partitioning of post-release mortality of tagged  juvenile groups released at Knox Bridge in the upper SFSR to the array and from the array to Lower Granite Dam.

John Day River, Oregon

Biomark recently completed installation of an inriver PIT-tag detection system in the John Day River, Oregon. The project was funded by the Portland District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as part of their Anadromous Fish Evaluation Program.

PIT-tag detection data from the site will be evaluated for its use in estimating straying rates of PIT-tagged salmon and steelhead from the Snake River Basin.

A total of six antennas in two pairs of three were installed; each antenna is 20 ft long and 2.6 ft wide and each array is 60 ft long. The antennas detect the TX1411SST PIT-tag at a distance of 18 in. in low “noise” environments.

Antennas were placed in shallow trenches in order to have the antenna surface near grade level with the river bottom, thereby reducing the potential of them being dislodged by debris or high flow.

Oregon Hatchery Research Center in Alsea, Oregon

Biomark recently installed a PIT-tag detection system within the artificial stream channels located at the Oregon Hatchery Research Center in Alsea, Oregon.  The replicated stream channels allow researchers to observe and compare fish behavior in controlled environments. 

Two of the four stream channels are equipped with flat plate antennas; each antenna is 6 ft. long by 2 ft. wide and each channel has three antennas that detect PIT-tagged fish as they pass by specific points.  The six flat plate antennas are powered by the FS1001M multiplexing reader. 

The antenna system allows researchers to monitor fish movement within the streams and will be used in a variety of experiments.

Quartz Creek, Montana

Biomark was contracted by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department to construct and assist with the installation of a PIT-tag Antenna System in Quartz Creek, a tributary of the Kootenai River near Libby, Montana.  The antenna system consists of a FS1001M multiplexing transceiver, two 20 ft. X 4 ft. ID (6 m X 1.2 m ID) and two 10 ft. X 4 ft. ID (3 m X 1.2 m) pass-through antennas set up in two arrays.  This antenna system allows researchers to monitor the movement and migration patterns of bull trout.    

Slikok Creek, Alaska

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is evaluating juvenile salmonid movements proximal to a culvert that was assessed as a fish barrier in Slikok Creek, Alaska. Spawning adults seasonally pass upstream, but juveniles may be seasonally restricted, thus limiting access to rearing habitat. Juvenile salmonids (55-120mm) located upstream and downstream of the culvert were implanted with PIT tags.

Fish movement and culvert passage was monitored using an array of four streamwidth PIT-tag antennas (up to 6.4m wide): 30m upstream of the culvert, the entrance of the culvert, retro-fitted to the exit of the culvert, and 20m downstream of the culvert.

Fish movements are being monitored to determine:

1) if "stacking" occurs as fish approach the culvert and
2) the proportion of successful passage events through the culvert at low, medium, and high discharge periods.

Fish monitoring will continue through the winter of 2006/2007 to allow detections of seasonal movements as well.

Update: 

The original culverts were removed in July 2007 and replaced with a single 17 ft diameter culvert.  The two existing culvert antennas were replaced with 17 x 4 ft pass-through antennas. 

Preliminary PIT-tag detection data has demonstrated an increase in juvenile fish movement, in both directions, through the new culvert.

Benewah Creek, Idaho

The Coeur d'Alene Tribe has established a long-term restoration program for the Benewah Creek watershed.  Benewah Creek is an important tributary that provides critical spawning and rearing habitat for cutthroat trout. 

This antenna system was installed to monitor the movement of migratory cutthroat trout in the Coeur d'Alene Lake basin.  Two 10' X 4' pass-through antennas and the FS1001M reader are powered with a propane generator.

Tucannon River, Washington

Biomark recently completed installation of in-stream PIT antenna systems in the Tucannon River in Washington. The project is funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla district and managed by the USFWS, Idaho Fishery Resource Office. The systems monitor movement of PIT tagged bull trout, the tag model used was the TX1400SGL. Three antenna configurations were utilized: flat plate, pass-through and crump weir.

Flat plate and crump weir antenna designs are less susceptible to being "blown out" by debris during high flow events. The FS1001M multiplexer readers control the antennas and power is provided by thermoelectric generators.

Update:

In September 2006, we re-configured the upper Tucannon PIT-tag array to eliminate the exclusion fence and reduce ponding of water upstream.  All existing antennas were removed and replaced with three pass-through antennas; each measuring 25 ft x 4 ft ID. 

Data from releases of PIT-tagged juvenile steelhead and salmon, by the Washington Department of Wildlife, are being used to evaluate PIT-tag detection efficiency and collection efficiency of a rotary screw trap approximately 100 yds upstream.

Cyclone Creek, Montana

This 12 X 3' pass-through antenna is located on Cyclone Creek, a tributary of the North Fork of the Flat Head River in Northern Montana. It was installed for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to monitor out migration of cutthroat trout tagged with TX1400ST tags. The FS1001A stationary reader powers the antenna, solar panels are used to charge 12V batteries.

Trail Creek, Montana

This antenna system is located on Trail Creek in Northern Montana. It was installed for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to monitor bull trout tagged with TX1400SGL tags. Antennas are integrated into the crump style weirs and powered using the FS1001M multiplexing reader and a propane generator.

Lake Creek, Idaho

This antenna system is located on Lake Creek in Northern Idaho. It was installed for the Coeur d' Alene Tribe to detect cutthroat trout tagged with the TX1400SGL tags. The FS1001M multiplexing reader and three antennas are powered with a propane generator.