Pacific Northwest Aquatic Monitoring Partnership

Modeling and Analysis Session - ETIS 2025 Webinar Series
2025-01-08 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Modeling and Analysis Session: Watch the Recording

(Slide Deck) An Overview of GitHub for Data Analysis Projects – Ben Staton; Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
(Slide Deck) Utilizing R Shiny Within the Likely Suspects Framework – Graeme Diack, Jon Emery, Colin Bull; Missing Salmon Alliance
(Slide Deck) Models facilitate comparison of the social-ecological tradeoffs among Puget Sound management alternatives – Caitlin Magel; University of Washington Puget Sound Institute

See the ETIS 2025 Webinar Program for presentation abstracts.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Session - ETIS 2025 Webinar Series
2025-01-15 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Session: Watch the Recording

AI for capture recapture data: individual instance pattern recognition tools and the GrouperSpotter platform – Brice Semmens; Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego
(Slide Deck) Exploring monitoring methods using text clustering and LLMs – Tomas Bird and Minh Doan; Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada
Improving Hydroelectric Dam Operations Through AI-Powered Fish Monitoring – Aaron Legge; Innovasea

See the ETIS 2025 Webinar Program for presentation abstracts.

Fish Monitoring Work Group Meeting (January 2025)
2025-01-16 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Denver) | Virtual
Join us at 10:00 am (Pacific) on January 16th for the next meeting of the PNAMP Fish Monitoring Work Group (FMWG). During the meeting, we will update participants on current tasks, hear a presentation about innovative fish monitoring, and provide you with opportunities to engage regional managers and experts. These meetings are an opportune time to discuss tasks and get input from members on where they see importance or could use facilitated support.
Tech Talk: RECORDING AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, send email to mdethloff@psmfc.org
Putting Time Back into Space-for-Time Mark-Recapture Models
Authors: Russell W. Perry, Dalton J. Hance, and Adam C. Pope (U.S. Geological Survey)
Summary:
Russell Perry, a Research Fish Biologist in the Quantitative Ecology Section at the US Geological Survey with the Western Fisheries Research Center will present Putting Time Back into Space-for-Time Mark-Recapture Models. Mark-recapture models such as the Cormack-Jolly-Seber and multi-state models are widely used to estimate survival of PIT- and acoustic-tagged fish migrating through stream and river networks. Although mark-recapture models were designed to estimate survival over time between discrete sampling occasions, when applied to migratory animals space can be swapped for time by using the discrete sampling locations to form detection “gates” along the migratory corridor. However, space-for-time models pose significant challenges when interest centers on understanding the effect of time-varying covariates on survival. This is because the environmental conditions that fish experienced upon passing a detection gate is unknown when individuals are not detected. In this presentation, we describe Time-Integrated Migration and Survival (TIMS) models that overcome this limitation of space-for-time mark-recapture models. TIMS models combine a migration model with a mark-recapture model to explicitly model travel times between detection gates and to account for probable arrival times and environmental conditions experienced by undetected fish. We provide example applications of these models to both acoustic- and PIT-tagged juvenile salmon to illustrate how the TIMS modeling framework allows for estimating effects of daily covariates such as flow and temperature on migration and survival.
Agenda

10:00 – Welcome and Introductions
10:05 – Task Updates
10:20 – Tech Talk
11:10 – Q&A
11:30 – Adjourn

Click link below to join on January 16th

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Never been to a FMWG meeting? This meeting is a perfect time to learn about the project, join in, and help guide future work.
Missed a previous FMWG meeting? Check out our YouTube page for presentations or task meetings.

The PNAMP Fish Monitoring Work Group (FMWG), meets quarterly to discuss task progress, share expertise through guest presentations, and support collaboration, communication, and coordination among fish monitoring practitioners for effective monitoring and efficient data sharing. The FMWG is also interested in your work; if you would like to present your innovative fish monitoring ideas or any recent publications at a future meeting please contact Meg Dethloff, mdethloff@usgs.gov

Data QA/QC Session – ETIS 2025 Webinar Series
2025-01-22 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Data QA/QC Session – Watch the Recording

(Slide Deck) Enabling Real Time Data Collection, Quality Control, Reporting, and Visualization to Enhance Field Data Collection Across the West – Justin Welty; U.S. Geological Survey
(Slide Deck) Data QA/QC for Spawning Ground Surveys Using Survey 123 and ArcGIS Enterprise – Brock Lipple; Idaho Department of Fish and Game
(Slide Deck) UI Design for Getting Better Quality Data – Chris Harrington; Idaho Department of Fish and Game

See the ETIS 2025 Webinar Program for presentation abstracts.

Genetics Session - ETIS 2025 Webinar Series
2025-01-29 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Genetics Session – Watch the Recording

Updating Genus Classification and Species Diversity in the OG Fish – Kellie Carim; U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station
How Might Restoration Efforts Help Bring a Bumper Return of Pacific Lamprey to the Columbia River? – Jon Hess; Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
Integrating Genetics into Crayfish Conservation – Zanethia Barnett; USDA Forest Service
Sharing Biological Information Across Generations: Parallels Between Indigenous Knowledge and Genetics for Fisheries Recovery in the Columbia River Basin – Jeremy FiveCrows; Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission

See the ETIS 2025 Webinar Program for presentation abstracts.

River Restoration Northwest 2025
2025-02-03 08:00 - 2025-02-07 17:00 (America/Denver) | Skamania, Washington, Skamania, WA, United States
River Restoration Northwest 2025
For more information: Symposium Information – River Restoration NW
Symposium Dates

Monday February 3, 2025: Short Courses
Tues-Thurs February 4-6, 2025: Symposium
Friday February 7, 2025: Field Trip

2025 Symposium Registration Fees

3-Day Member Registration: $680
3-Day Non-Member Registration: $710
3-Day Student Registration: $340
1-Day Registration: $330
Friday Field Trip: $60

Symposium Lodging

RRNW works with Skamania Lodge, Carson Hot Springs, and the Best Western to provide lodging and shuttles to the event. More information on lodging can be found here

For up-to-date information on symposium details, Abstract Submissions, and the Klingeman Scholarship Application; visit the River Restoration NW symposium logistics page: Symposium Logistics and FAQs (rrnw.org)

Remote Sensing Session - ETIS 2025 Webinar Series
2025-02-05 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Remote Sensing Session – Watch the Recording

Developing Autonomous eDNA Detection – Edgar Rudberg, Ph.D.; Nucleic Sensing Systems
Early Predication Method for Native Migratory Fish Presence at Small Culverts – Courtney Zambory; Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Why on Earth Would We Put Ocean Color Sensors on a Geostationary Weather Satellite? – Ryan Vandermeulen; NOAA Fisheries

See the ETIS 2025 Webinar Program for presentation abstracts.

CRBRP Toxics Monitoring Subgroup Meeting
2025-02-11 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Agenda
5 min, Welcome and Introductions
30 min, What is Data Management, and Why is it Important? Edyth Hermosillo (Aquatic Biologist, EPA Region 10 – Seattle)
30 min, Environmental Data Management at WA Ecology – 25 Years of Insight and Tips, Chris Neumiller (WA Ecology, EIM Data Manager)
20 min, Round Robin

Meeting participants are invited to share 1-2 minute updates about new monitoring on the horizon.

5 min, TMS Updates

News about TMS Core Team tasks and the 2025 TMS Workshop

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2025 Knowledge Exchange Workshop - Large Wood Applications in River Restoration
2025-02-13 09:00 - 15:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Large Wood Applications in River Restoration – Virtual Workshop #7 in the Salmon Habitat Restoration Knowledge Exchange Series
The Knowledge Exchange Workshop Series is co-presented by Fisheries & Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF).
DFO and PSF are pleased to provide an opportunity to share knowledge on some of the latest restoration practices and research from researchers, scientists, and field professionals working in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
DFO, PSF and Washington’s GSRO are pleased to bring together leading experts to present the latest science on wood dynamics and processes in rivers, as well as effective strategies for designing and implementing restoration projects using large wood in both streams and large rivers. Through informational talks and case studies, speakers will present technical details and monitoring results from large wood projects, provide the most current guidance on large wood restoration, and share valuable lessons learned.
Register for the Workshop

Oregon Chapter: American Fisheries Society 2025 Meeting
2025-02-25 08:00 - 2025-02-28 17:00 (America/Denver) | Riverhouse Bend, Oregon, Bend, OR, United States
Oregon Chapter American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting 2025
For more information: 2025 Annual Meeting – Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society
When: Tuesday, February 25 – Friday, February 28
Where: Riverhouse Bend, OR
The annual meeting will showcase Oregon Chapter’s communication through passionate, thought-provoking plenary speakers, workshops that will hone your biological and technical skills, technical sessions and posters that will entice the mind, trade show vendors that provide you with the latest tools to answer the hard questions of today, student-mentor events to inspire the next generation, and of course the legendary networking social events that tie everyone all together.

Technical Sessions:

Fish Passage
Thirty-mile Cr steelhead recovery
Klamath Basin fish monitoring
Marine fishes
Bull Trout
eDNA
Fire and disturbance recovery
Low Tech Process Based Restoration
Beaver restoration

Workshops:

Get your Feet Wet with ArcGIS Pro
Navigating Your Career Path: Essential Tips for Your Next Step

WA-BC AFS Workshop - Fishing for Clarity: Knowledge Modeling to Support Cross-Organizational Collaboration and Data Sharing About Salmon Escapement
2025-03-10 09:00 - 14:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront, 1133 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6E 3T3, Canada
UPDATED March 5, 2025
Fishing for Clarity: Knowledge Modeling to Support Cross-Organizational Collaboration and
Data Sharing About Salmon Escapement
AFS Washington-British Columbia Chapter Meeting Vancouver BC March 10, 2025 9:00 am – 2:30 pm
In person attendees will be in the hotel Salon C (Cordova Level)
Workshop Description
In this workshop (sponsored by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, NCEAS, PSMFC StreamNet, and PNAMP),
participants will learn about using a knowledge modeling approach to integrate data across multiple
organizations engaged in monitoring salmon spawner abundance. Focusing on the challenge of being able to
integrate salmon escapement observations across diverse entities, workshop attendees learn about processes
to develop a shared ontology, starting with mapping of concepts that underlie salmon escapement
observations. The workshop will introduce participants to the skills needed to build scalable, interoperable
data models, an important component of enabling integrated data across organizations for better analysis and
decision-making. Workshop participants will be invited to a future workshop where we share practical tools
and conduct further hands-on exercises to enable a roadmap for advancing data sharing and collaboration in
salmon management.
Workshop Objectives
● Shared Understanding of Challenges: Identify and address challenges in integrating heterogeneous data
from different systems and organizations.
● Strategies for Standardizing Terms: Understand the key principles and methodologies of knowledge
modeling.
● Best Practices for Salmon Data Stewardship: Invite critical review of best practices outlined in
manuscript, identify missing best-practices, coordinate authorship.
● Next Steps for Continued Collaboration: Discuss strategies for ensuring the scalability and sustainability
of data models in collaborative environments.
Workshop Flow:
The workshop will begin with brief roundtable introductions for in-person attendees and chat
introductions for virtual participants, following a welcome from the hosts. The objectives and informal,
discussion-based format for the workshop will be outlined.
Matt Jones (NCEAS) will set the stage by showcasing innovative data science and knowledge
engineering solutions used to improve salmon data integration and discoverability in Alaska. Their
work will serve as a springboard for exploring how similar approaches could address inter-agency and
transboundary data-sharing challenges.
Invited speakers will present their salmon data integration projects, focusing on the challenges of
defining and standardizing terms and how they overcame them to integrate data from disparate
sources.
We will also discuss an in-progress paper on salmon data stewardship principles, inviting new
co-authors to contribute ideas and continue collaboration beyond the workshop.
The hands-on session (1 hour) will be conducted in three breakout groups, each working with a
different dataset. Two in-person groups will focus on NuSEDS and SALHub, while the online breakout
group will work with Streamnet CAX-NOSA. The session will consist of two 30 minute activities: 1)
Decomposing dataset concepts – identifying core concepts and relationships within each dataset’s
vocabulary; 2) Clustering identified concepts – organizing them into broader conceptual categories.
Participants will use Google Sheets and Mural for these activities. Each dataset will have a designated
Google Sheet in the working drive here, containing its vocabulary and definitions. Breakout group
members will use these Sheets to guide their discussions, while the Group Leader and Scribe will
document key insights and results on the Mural Board.
The session will conclude with a discussion on next steps, identifying potential tools, processes, and
venues for formal collaboration toward more interoperable international salmon data.

WA-BC AFS Workshop-Tracking Hatchery Data from Eggs to Spawners Across Regions
2025-03-10 12:30 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront, 1133 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6E 3T3, Canada
Tracking Hatchery Data from Eggs to Spawners Across Regions
We hope you are planning to attend the Washington-British (WA-BC) AFS Chapter meeting this year because PNAMP is co-hosting two workshops with partners. While each workshop has a different goal, both workshops are related to sharing important data needed for salmon recovery work.
Visit the conference website for more information.
If you are in the need for hatchery data specifically, join us for our half-day workshop Tracking Hatchery Data From Eggs to Spawners Across Regions (sponsored by PSMFC StreamNet and PNAMP). In this session, you will learn about the Coordinated Assessments data exchange (CAX), a data-sharing network supported by the Coordinated Assessments Partnership (CAP). CAX provides a system for sharing important hatchery data, including hatchery program details, SARs for hatchery runs, and hatchery releases. The CAX was initially created to share high level indicator data, like Natural Origin Spawner Abundance (NOSA), Recruits per Spawner (R/S) and Smolt to Adult Returns (SAR). Recently, the system has been expanded to include hatchery data, building on its original foundation.

In this workshop, you will gain an understanding of the development process and key elements of data standards, using CAP’s Hatchery Coordinated Assessment (HCA) to explore technical specifications for data storage and exchange. You will also learn about hatchery data availability, how to access data via CAX, and how to use the metadata within records for proper data citation and attribution. This workshop will also provide the opportunity to actively inform the collaborative development of CAX to meet the needs of data providers and users throughout our region.

You could join us in the morning for the first half of the Fishing for Clarity: Knowledge Modeling to Support Cross-Organizational Collaboration and Data Sharing About Salmon Escapement workshop and then jump over to the Hatchery Data workshop! See link above to register for the conference and workshops.

Washington - British Columbia Chapter: American Fisheries Society 2025 Meeting
2025-03-10 13:00 - 2025-03-13 17:00 (America/Denver) | Pinnacle Hotel Vancouver, BC, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Beyond Borders: Connecting Communities, People and Fish, to be held March 10-13 in Vancouver, BC at the Pinnacle Hotel.
The Pinnacle Hotel is offering 45% of our room block at US GOVERNMENT PER DIEM RATES. Please make your reservation as soon as possible in order to secure this special rate by clicking “Book Lodging”.
AFS-Washington British Columbia Chapter – WA-BC Chapter of the American Fisheries Society
Registration for the WA-BC AFS Chapter Meeting is open!

Idaho Chapter: American Fisheries Society 2025 Meeting
2025-04-01 08:00 - 2025-04-04 17:00 (America/Denver)
The 2025 ICAFS meeting will be held in Boise on April 1st – 4th. Details forthcoming; check the Idaho Chapter website, under Annual Meetings for the most up to date information: Home | Idaho Chapter of the American Fisheries Society

Fish Monitoring Work Group Meeting (April 2025)
2025-04-17 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Join us at 10:00 am (Pacific) on April 17th for the next meeting of the PNAMP Fish Monitoring Work Group (FMWG). During the meeting, we will update participants on current tasks, hear a presentation about innovative fish monitoring, and provide you with opportunities to engage regional managers and experts. These meetings are an opportune time to discuss tasks and get input from members on where they see importance or could use facilitated support.
Tech Talk: WATCH RECORDING
Development of a Mid-Sized River Habitat Sampling Protocol
Tyler Hessler (PhD student in the Missouri Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit in Columbia, MO)
The use of technology is increasing in natural resources field and there is a need to determine how these technologies can be utilized to advance our respective fields. In this study, we propose the use of several advanced technologies (acoustic doppler current profilers, ADCPs; unmanned aerial systems, UASs; side scan sonar; 360 cameras) to better standardize and streamline the collection of fish-relevant habitat data in non-wadeable rivers. UASs and 360 cameras allow for efficient capture of important habitat metrics (canopy cover, riparian land use, etc.) with greater accuracy than traditional observational methods that often include a great deal of subjectivity. ADCPs and side scan sonar have seen use in fisheries but are not used as often as they could be to quickly assess habitat. Although the amount of data these technologies collect can be daunting, the use of AI and other software may streamline the implementation of these data and provide another option for managers that can increase confidence associated with making informed decisions that rely on accurate habitat data. Developing a standardized protocol using these technologies could significantly increase the quality of data collected in non-wadeable rivers and also decrease the costs associated with extended time in the field.
Agenda

10:00 – Welcome and Introductions
10:05 – Task Updates
10:20 – Tech Talk
11:10 – Q&A
11:30 – Adjourn

Click link below to join on April 17th

Microsoft Teams Meeting link
Meeting ID: 240 100 065 603
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Dial in by phone
+1 202-640-1187,,595384762# United States, Washington
Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 595 384 762#

Never been to a FMWG meeting? This meeting is a perfect time to learn about the project, join in, and help guide future work.
Missed a previous FMWG meeting? Check out our YouTube page for presentations or task meetings.

The PNAMP Fish Monitoring Work Group (FMWG), meets quarterly to discuss task progress, share expertise through guest presentations, and support collaboration, communication, and coordination among fish monitoring practitioners for effective monitoring and efficient data sharing. The FMWG is also interested in your work; if you would like to present your innovative fish monitoring ideas or any recent publications at a future meeting please contact Meg Dethloff, mdethloff@usgs.gov

Starting Your Journey with PIT Tag Data - FMWG PIT Tag Data & Analysis 2025 Webinar Series
2025-04-24 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Watch the Recording
Links to resources shared during the presentations

PTAGIS Tutorial Videos: https://www.ptagis.org/Resources/VideoLibrary?videoTutorials=Reporting%20Tutorial
Data Overview section in PTAGIS Data Specification: https://www.ptagis.org/content/DataSpecification/topics/data-overview.htm
Query section in PTAGIS Data Specification: https://www.ptagis.org/content/DataSpecification/topics/query.htm
PTAGIS Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.ptagis.org/Faq
Excel Handout: https://pnamp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/FMWG_PIT_Workshop_Dobos_EXCEL_Handout_2025_04_24.docx
Excel Exercise: https://pnamp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/FMWG_PIT_Workshop_Dobos_EXCEL_Exercise_FINAL_2025_04_24.xlsx

New to the PIT tag data and analysis world or maybe you need a refresher? The PNAMP Fish Monitoring Work Group (FMWG) has got you covered! Join us for the first session in the FMWG PIT Tag & Data Analysis 2025 Webinar Series.

Using the PTAGIS advanced reporting system to query and download PIT tag data – Nicole Tancreto; Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission/PTAGIS
Managing PIT Tag Detection Data with Microsoft Excel – Marika Dobos; Idaho Department of Fish and Game

Each session is approximately 90 minutes long; we will also host an optional 30-minute “office hours” after each session where participants can get more hands-on from the presenters. Note, if there are no further questions during the “office hours”, we will conclude the session.
See the FMWG 2025 Webinar Series Program V2 for presentation abstracts.

CANCELED-Salmon Recovery Conference
2025-04-28 08:00 - 2025-04-30 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Notice from Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office:

Thank you for your interest in the 2025 Salmon Recovery Conference.
After considering the overall state budget shortfall and our need to generate savings, we have decided to cancel the conference. We strongly believe the conference is a valuable tool for helping all of us improve our work, make connections, and take salmon recovery to the next level.
We are committed to hosting the conference in the future. After the 2025 legislative session, we will evaluate when might be the next opportunity to convene the conference. We will keep you informed of any decisions. If you have questions, please email Jeannie Abbott.

GitHub for Data Analysis Projects - FMWG PIT Tag Data & Analysis 2025 Webinar Series
2025-05-01 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Watch the Recording
Link to resources shared during the presentation: GitHub Crash Course

Follow along as Dr. Ben Staton gives a live tutorial on GitHub. If you are new to GitHub, it is highly recommended that you watch Ben’s GitHub introduction from the 2025 Emerging Technologies Information Sessions (ETIS) 2025 Webinar Series, link to the session here. This presentation will build on his introduction by diving deeper into GitHub. Join us for the second session of the FMWG PIT Tag & Data Analysis 2025 Webinar Series.

Live Tutorial for Using and Navigating GitHub for Data Analysis Projects – Ben Staton; Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission

Each session is 90 minutes long; we will also host an optional 30-minute “office hours” after each session where participants can get additional help from the presenters. Note, if there are no further questions during the “office hours”, we will conclude the session.
See the FMWG 2025 Webinar Series Program V2 for presentation abstracts.

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Applications: Clean & Organize Your PIT Tag Data - FMWG PIT Tag Data & Analysis 2025 Webinar Series
2025-05-08 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Watch the Recording
Links to resources shared during the presentations:

PITcleanr
PIThy
PIThy 2023 Presentation
PIThy GitHub
Marika Dobos PIThy example
Nicole Tancreto PIThy example
BONAFF PIThy example
An introduction to Git and how to use it with RStudio
NMFS Openscapes
Columbia Cold Water Refuge PIT-Tab Analysis (GitHub)
Mapshaper (GitHub)

You’ve got your data and need to clean it up, now what? Tune in as we cover some tools to help you format your data using helpful tools such as PitcleanR and PIThy, as well as information on helpful GitHub pages. Join us for the third session in the FMWG PIT Tag & Data Analysis 2025 Webinar Series.

Wrangling and Preparing PIT Tag Data using PITcleanr – Kevin See; Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Strategies for Bringing PTAGIS to the Masses – Brian Maschhoff; Salmonetics

Each session is 90 minutes long; we will also host an optional 30-minute “office hours” after each session where participants can get additional help from the presenters. Note, if there are no further questions during the “office hours”, we will conclude the session.
See the FMWG 2025 Webinar Series Program V2 for presentation abstracts.

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2025 AFS Western Division and Colorado-Wyoming Chapter Annual Meeting
2025-05-11 - 2025-05-15
2025 AFS Western Division and Colorado-Wyoming Chapter Annual Meeting
Website: 2025 Annual Meeting in Westminster, Colorado – Western Division of the American Fisheries Society
Dates: May 11-15, 2025
Location: Westin Westminster in Westminster, Colorado
Building Resilience: Investments in Fish Passage, Habitat Restoration, and Hatchery Modernization
The American Fisheries Society’s Western Division and the Colorado-Wyoming Chapter are excited to host their annual meeting on May 11-15, 2025 in Westminster, Colorado. The meeting theme is “Building Resilience” to highlight the substantial investments, such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and other funding initiatives, that are being allocated in the US and Canada to enhance fish passage and habitat restoration projects in an effort to increase resilience in fish populations and their ecosystems. Concurrently, government agencies and private aquaculture are focusing on modernizing existing hatcheries and designing new facilities to withstand future climate challenges. The meeting will feature an exciting plenary and sessions related to the meeting theme, and they also welcome sessions and contributed papers and posters that advance the fisheries profession.
Abstracts can now be submitted for a live, in-person presentation. They are accepting presentations on any topic (contributed papers and posters) and for approved symposia. Symposia descriptions are posted on the Symposia page. More information on abstract submissions can be found on the Abstracts page.

2025 Columbia River Estuary Conference
2025-05-13 - 2025-05-15
2025 Columbia River Estuary Conference:
Echoes of the Estuary – Reflections for a Resilient Future
May 13, 2025 • McMenamins Edgefield • Troutdale, Oregon
Check out their website: Columbia River Estuary Conference 2025 | Estuary Partnership

The theme of the 2025 Columbia River Estuary Conference (CREC) is Echoes of the Estuary – Reflections for a Resilient Future. This theme weaves the deep history of indigenous stewardship and use of the lower Columbia River ecosystem with present day research and resource management which is increasingly echoing indigenous knowledge.
It has been 30 years since the lower Columbia River was designated an “estuary of national significance” and roughly the same since NOAA’s Pacific Ocean transect monitoring and indicators system was established. After so much investment in recovering the lower Columbia River and nearshore ocean ecosystem, CREC provides the opportunity to take stock of our efforts and results, to look forward and plan next steps to ensure a resilient future, and to reconnect with each other to seek out new ideas and collaborate. What have we accomplished as a region and what have we learned? Most importantly, how do we apply these lessons to our future actions?
Due to travel and purchasing restrictions on federal employees, this year’s conference will be held within the Portland Metropolitan Area. It will be an all-day event with technical presentations, a poster session, and an evening social.
McMenamins Edgefield is holding a room block for attendees until March 28: use the code 2505LOWERC to be part of the block.
An additional one-day gathering will be held in October, details TBA.

They are seeking sponsorships to support the conference. Contact Catherine Corbett at 971-380-3629 or by email for sponsorship levels and benefits.

Columbia Basin Research: Data Access in Real Time and Tools - FMWG PIT Tag Data & Analysis 2025 Webinar Series
2025-05-15 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Watch the Recording
Links to resources shared during the presentations

Columbia Basin Research (CBR)
Columbia River DART (Data Access in Real Time)
Tools | Columbia Basin Research
DART PIT Tag Life Stage Filter
DART PIT Tag ESU (Evolutionarily Significant Unit) and DPS (Distinct Population Segment) Filter and Glossary
DART PIT Tag Transportation Filter
DART Metadata, Glossaries, and Methods
DART PIT Tag Columbia Basin ESU & DPS Graphics & Text
DART PIT Tag Adult Returns by Observation Year Detail
DART PIT Tag DART-specific file_id (.DART[N])
DART PIT Tag Adult Returns by Observation Site Historical Run Timing
DART PIT Tag Adult Returns Conversion Rate
DART PIT Tag Columbia Basin ESU & DPS Smolt-to-Adult Return (SAR) Survival
DART Lower Granite Bypass and Spillway Analyses
DART PIT Tag Release and Observation Summary for Generating Survival and Travel Time Estimates with Tag File Selection
DART PIT Tag Juvenile Survival and Travel Time Estimates Methods
DART PIT Tag Upload TagID List Analysis and Reporting
PitPro webpage

Columbia Basin Research experts will lead us through the Data Access in Real Time (DART) site and some of their analysis tools for use with mark-recapture data and an in-depth look at the PIT-tag processing tool, PitPro. Join us for the fourth session in the FMWG PIT Tag & Data Analysis 2025 Webinar Series.
The session features a two-part presentation with opportunities for Q&A interspersed:

Part 1. Columbia Basin Research Data Access in Real Time (DART) – Susannah Iltis, Matt Carter, and Jennifer Gosselin, Columbia Basin Research, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington
Part 2. Columbia Basin Research Mark and Recapture Tools – Rich Townsend and Rebecca Buchanan, Columbia Basin Research, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington

Each session is 90 minutes long; we will also host an optional 30-minute “office hours” after each session where participants can get additional help from the presenters. Note, if there are no further questions during the “office hours”, we will conclude the session.
See the FMWG 2025 Webinar Series Program V2 for presentation abstracts.

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Phone conference ID: 449 412 563#

Beyond PTAGIS: More on applying R and Other Regional PIT Tag Systems - FMWG PIT Tag Data & Analysis 2025 Webinar Series
2025-05-22 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Watch the Recording
Links to resources shared during the presentations

tidyr cheatsheet: https://rstudio.github.io/cheatsheets/tidyr.pdf
dplyr cheatsheet: https://nyu-cdsc.github.io/learningr/assets/data-transformation.pdf
ggplot2 cheatsheet: https://github.com/rstudio/cheatsheets/blob/main/data-visualization.pdf
R Graph Gallery: https://r-graph-gallery.com/
Accessible Color Palette Generator: https://venngage.com/tools/accessible-color-palette-generator
google “hex colors” to find your own colors and make custom color palettes
Mapping basics: SFS GIS R | Basic Mapping
EPSG codes: Spatial Reference List — Spatial Reference
sf library github: Simple Features for R • sf
sf library cheatsheet: cheatsheets/sf.pdf at main · rstudio/cheatsheets · GitHub
pch shape codes: https://www.sthda.com/english/wiki/r-plot-pch-symbols-the-different-point-shapes-available-in-r?title=r-plot-pch-symbols-the-different-point-shapes-available-in-r
Leaflet: Interactive maps with leaflet in R [Complete Guide] | R CHARTS
R for data science: R for Data Science (2e)
Klamath Basin Fisheries Collaborative
Pacific Salmon Foundation Dashboards

Ready to turbocharge your research? Dive into the world of R, the open-source programming language that’s revolutionizing how scientists work. Whether you’re a budding biologist or a seasoned pro, our dynamic webinar is your ticket to mastering R. To wrap up the series, we’ve invited a few folks from other regional systems to give us a brief overview of some of their tools. Join us for the fifth and final session in the FMWG PIT Tag & Data Analysis 2025 Webinar Series.

Beyond PTAGIS: Using R for biological data management, visualization, and reporting – Jennifer Fredrickson, Jennifer Rowe; U.S. Geological Survey Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
LIGHTNING TALKS:

Klamath Basin Fisheries Collaborative Database – Monica Diaz, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
Bottlenecks to Survival Data System & Orphan Tag Database – Brahm White-Gluz, Pacific Salmon Foundation
Using PIT tags to guide salmon recovery in the Green River – Chris Gregersen, King County

Each session is 90 minutes long; we will also host an optional 30-minute “office hours” after each session where participants can get additional help from the presenters. Note, if there are no further questions during the “office hours”, we will conclude the session.
See the FMWG 2025 Webinar Series Program V2 for presentation abstracts.

Microsoft Teams
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Meeting ID: 294 444 747 761 9
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+1 202-640-1187,,790235998# United States, Washington
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Phone conference ID: 790 235 998#

100th Meridian Columbia River Basin Aquatic Invasive Species Team Meeting
2025-06-03 - 2025-06-04
Join the 100th Meridian Columbia River Basin Aquatic Invasive Species Team Meeting!
Registration is now open for the next meeting of the 100th Meridian CRB AIS Team; scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, June 3 & 4, 2025 at the Hyatt Place Boise/Downtown in Boise, ID.
Click Here to Register
Anticipate starting at 10am on June 3 and ending ~ 3pm on June 4.
HOTEL: Hyatt Place Boise/Downtown $191/night per diem rate.
Reservation Deadline: May 5, 2025
Follow these steps to book a room with the reservation link:

Click on the link
Click “Book Now”
You should see “G-CRBA” under the Corporate or Group Code
Select your preferred dates
Select “Book Now”

LUNCH: They will not be ordering lunches for this meeting, however there are quite a few restaurants within walking distance of the hotel.
AGENDA: A draft agenda will be on the registration website and also on Westernais.org. Please contact Leah Elwell for agenda questions at: leah@conservationcollaborations.com.
LOGISTICS: This will be a hybrid meeting. Meeting materials such as minutes and presentations will be made available post-meeting.
QUESTIONS: You may contact Amy Stark at (astark@psmfc.org) or call her at (503) 595-3112.

Columbia River Basin Restoration Working Group Spring Virtual Meeting
2025-06-10 09:00 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
When: June 10 from 9am-12:30pm PT Register here – deadline is June 6, 2025.
Please register (no cost) to choose breakout rooms. Registration information is collected by Eastern Research Group, Inc. (ERG) on contract to EPA and will not be shared.
FYI – An additional Toxics Monitoring Subgroup (TMS) Workshop on June 12 from 9am-12pm PT will focus on Science and Monitoring Strategy development. Working group participants are welcome.
Where: Join the meeting now (phone call-in options below)
June 10th Agenda (times in PT):

9:00-9:15 PT Welcome, Agenda Review, and Introductions
9:15-10:45 Grantee Presentations
10:45-11:00 Break
11:00-11:15 EPA updates
11:15-11:30 (Draft) Columbia River Basin Monitoring Strategy Overview
11:30-12:15 Networking Topic Tables (in MS Teams Breakout Rooms – please register!)

Agriculture
Communication & outreach
Mining & cleanups
Pollution prevention
Stormwater/Green Infrastructure

12:15-12:30 Wrap Up

Working Group Background and Previous Meeting Summaries: https://www.epa.gov/columbiariver/columbia-river-basin-restoration-working-group

Microsoft Teams Need help?

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Meeting ID: 286 856 324 244
Passcode: [REDACTED]

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+1 202-991-0477,,443210159# United States, Washington
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Phone conference ID: 443 210 159#

Restoring Estuaries for Salmon Workshop
2025-06-11 09:00 - 15:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
This virtual workshop will bring together experts to present the latest science and guidance to restore estuary connectivity and habitat for early life stage survival and Pacific salmon recovery. Through informational talks and case studies, speakers will present technical design details from estuary projects, provide the most current guidance on restoration techniques, and share valuable lessons learned. Both morning and afternoon panel discussions will invite participants to raise questions and discuss this important topic. We hope you will join us!
Schedule:

9:00-9:05 | Moderators – Laura Weatherly (DFO) and Jason Hwang (PSF) | Introduction and Welcome
9:10-9:35 | Jonathan Moore, Simon Fraser University | Estuaries as nursery habitat for salmon: from science to stewardship
9:45-10:10 | Greg Hood, Skagit River System Cooperative | Tidal marsh restoration: Then, now and tomorrow. What are we learning?
10:20-10:30 | Break
10:30-10:50 | Jessica Cote, Blue Coast Engineering | Pocket estuary restoration design and implementation in Salish Sea
11:00-11:20 | Steve Henstra, Nature Trust of British Columbia | Estuary restoration case studies on Vancouver Island
11:30-12:15 | Panel Discussion
12:15-13:00 | Lunch Break
13:00-13:25 | Catherine Corbett, Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership | Resource-based habitat coverage targets and climate actions in the Columbia Estuary
13:35-14:00 | Dave Scott, Raincoast Conservation Foundation & U. of British Columbia | Restoring connectivity and habitat for juvenile salmon in the Fraser River Estuary
14:10-14:30 | Melanie Davis, Oregon State University | Nisqually Estuary restoration monitoring: what we’ve learned and where we go from here
14:40-15:30 | Panel Discussion

REGISTER HERE
Past workshop recordings and reports: https://psf.ca/knowledge-exchange-workshop-series/
Questions: Laura.Weatherly@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

CRBRP Toxics Monitoring Subgroup Workshop
2025-06-12 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
We hope you can join us for the Toxics Monitoring Subgroup Virtual Workshop on June 12th from 9:00am-12:00pm Pacific.
Workshop Objectives

Get feedback and further refine draft CRB Toxics Monitoring Strategy, which EPA and USGS are facilitating the development of as a working group document.
Provide tutorial on updated toxics monitoring dashboard

Draft Agenda
9am – Welcome and Introductions

Brief introductions – share name, organization, one way you would hope to use a basin-wide monitoring strategy

9:30am – Setting the Stage

Overview of the CRB Toxics Monitoring Strategy, CWA Section 123, and meeting objectives

9:40am – Strategic Goals and Activities Discussion

Presentation of draft strategy goals

Small group breakout discussions on goal prioritization

Are these the right goals and activities? What’s missing?

Which goals should receive the most resources and attention?

10:05am – BREAK
10:15am – Scope and Prioritization

Overview of basin geography and key considerations

Yakama-led Implementation Plan for Mainstem

Facilitated large group discussion on monitoring priorities

Relative importance of mainstem vs. tributaries vs. wadable streams

Share your priority monitoring work related to toxics (current and planned)

10:50am – Indicators Discussion

Developing indicators and monitoring approach

Chemical indicator selection process

Species monitoring considerations

Facilitated large group discussion on monitoring priorities

Based on these considerations, what indicators come to mind?

11:15am – Approach to Evaluating Risk and Data Collection

Discussion on risk drivers and assessment methods

Screening level methodologies update

Quality Assurance and Data Management

Template Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) approach

Field Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) development

11:35am – Monitoring Dashboard Update and Demo
11:50am – Next Steps and Wrap Up
12:00pm – Adjourn

Microsoft Teams

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Meeting ID: 269 098 600 523 4
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Or call in (audio only)

+1 202-640-1187,,539537953# United States, Washington
Find a local number
Phone conference ID: 539 537 953#

Northwest Power and Conservation Council Meeting (August 2025)
2025-08-12 08:00 - 2025-08-13 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Portland, Oregon
Agenda, meeting time, and other materials will be posted at the NPCC website the week before the meeting here: Council Meeting | Northwest Power and Conservation Council

Protect the Boating Industry - Prevent the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species Webinar - FREE
2025-08-19 09:00 - 10:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
This is a webinar to kick off a multi-year project to reduce the spread of aquatic invasive species by watercraft. This webinar will focus on engaging marina owners, boat brokers, and boat transporters – focused on the Great Lakes and Lower Colorado River regions – as well as those industries, agencies, and organizations involved in the sale, transport, and mooring of boats to identify the key issues and challenges that contribute to watercraft moving aquatic invasive species.

NAISMA Webinar: Research Spotlight: Managing the European Green Crab Invasion - FREE
2025-08-20 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) Webinar:
Research Spotlight: Managing the European Green Crab Invasion

August 20, 2025 @ 11:00 pm – 12:30 pm PDT
Register here for the webinar: Webinar: Research Spotlight: Managing the European Green Crab Invasion – NAISMA

The European green crab is spreading rapidly along the Pacific Coast, threatening ecosystems and aquaculture. In this webinar, three experts will share new research on how we can better understand and manage this invasive species.

Abby Keller (UC Berkeley) will explore how decision theory can guide when to try to remove green crabs—or when to adapt to their presence—as populations grow beyond control.
Mary Fisher (UC Davis) will present research from Willapa Bay, WA, using DNA metabarcoding tools to uncover what green crabs are eating and how their diet differs between aquaculture sites and natural habitats.
Rikke Jeppesen (Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve) will share findings on how native sea otters may help keep green crab populations in check in California estuaries.

This webinar is a great opportunity for anyone interested in invasive species, coastal ecosystems, and science-based management. This webinar is being jointly hosted by NAISMA and Sea Grant.
