John M. Plumb

Email: john_plumb@usgs.gov

B.S. Environmental Biology, Ohio University Athens, Ohio.

Currently, Fishery Biologist, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory, Cook, Washington. Past positions include Fishery Biologist with the U. S. Forest Service, White Bird, Idaho and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dworshak National Fish Hatchery, Asahaka, Idaho.

Mr. Plumb is a scientist with the Anadromous Fish Ecology Team investigating the effects of reservoirs and dams on the migration behavior of juvenile chinook salmon and steelhead in the Snake and Columbia rivers. Specifically, Mr. Plumb has been working with a team to quantify juvenile salmon and steelhead behavior relative to dam operations and fish passage structures in order to improve migration conditions and passage through reservoirs and dams on the Lower Snake River. Recently, Mr. Plumb has been evaluating the performance of a new fish passage structure called the removable spillway weir (RSW) at Lower Granite Dam. If effective, the RSW will provide an alternative route of passage to the turbines, reduce fish delay associated with dam passage, and use less water to pass fish than conventional spillways. His research specialties are the application of radio telemetry technology to study fish behavior, surgical and gastric techniques to implant radio transmitters, computer programming, technical writing, analytical skills, and fish culture and handling.

Representative Publications:

Adams, N. S., D. W. Rondorf, S. D. Evans, J. E. Kelly, R. W. Perry, J. M. Plumb, and D.R. Kenney. 1999. Migrational characteristics of radio-tagged juvenile salmonids during operation of a surface collection and bypass system. Pages 105- 117, in M. Odeh, editor. Innovations in Fish Passage Technology. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland .

Plumb, J. M., A. C. Braatz, J. N. Lucchesi, S. D. Fielding, J. M. Sprando, G. T. George, N. S. Adams, and D. W. Rondorf. in review. Migration Behavior of Radio-Tagged Juvenile Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Relative to the Performance of a Removable Spillway Weir at Lower Granite Dam, Washington. 2002 Final report to the U. S. Geological Survey by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Contract number W68SBV00104592, Walla Walla, Washington.

Mailing Address:

U.S. Geological Survey
Western Fisheries Research Center
Columbia River Research Laboratory
5501-A Cook-Underwood Road
Cook, Washington 98606-9717

Phone: 509-538-2299 x261
Fax: 509-538-2843