Response for project 198331900: New Marking & Monitoring Tech

Comment on proposed FY 2006 budget

The stated $508.6K budget will not cover the work planned for FY06; all of which was covered in the originally approved SOW. The FY06 budget needs to be $1,275K. The corner-collector PIT-tag system ran into problems in FY04 when the prototype antenna failed and so is 1 year behind schedule. Therefore, ongoing development (finalizing a new antenna design, transceiver, and tag), and then the installation and fish evaluation will now occur in FY06, not FY05 (this work alone = $1,180K). The development work is being done by Digital Angel Corporation. Otherwise, work needs to continue on evaluating the prototype G2 transceiver before production units can be fabricated. Work needs to continue on improving instream PIT-tag interrogation systems (antennas and power systems for remote off-grid sites).

Accomplishments since the last review

Corner-collector system 2003: 1) Coordination with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on antenna design, 2) Work started on developing unique transceiver 2004: 1) Development of interim PIT tag model to work in 16’ x 16’ antenna, 2) Working prototype transceiver, 3) Test antenna, transceiver and new tag all work well in demo by Digital Angel, 4) Corp’s fabricated prototype antenna fails tests at Bonneville, and 5) Team develops new slot antenna concept 2005: 1) Antenna design finalized and prototype fabricated, 2) Tests to determine slot antenna size and fabrication material completed, 3) Work on developing final PIT tag model for system, and 4) Final transceiver will be fabricated Instream system 2003: 1) Working prototype of a multiplexing and auto-tuning transceiver (FS1001M) and 2) First portable DC power supply 2004: 1) Production FS1001M units available, 2) Complete systems installed at multiple sites, and 3) Larger antennas fabricated (4’ x 11’) 2005: 1) Thermoelectric generator system evaluated for off-grid sites Miscellaneous 2003: 1) Fish evaluation of new flat-plate interrogation system at Bonneville Dam, 2) Work started on developing new G2 transceiver, and 3) Fish evaluation of new PIT tag model (TX1400ST) 2004: 1) Document written for evaluating new PIT tag models for use in the Columbia River Basin, and 2) Assist PSMFC in developing a new software program for performing separation-by-code function 2005: 1) G2 prototype transceiver delivered and evaluated and 2) Laboratory and fish evaluation of new PIT tag model (TX1400SGL)

FY 2006 goals and anticipated accomplishments

Winter 2005: 1)Evaluate new tags, antenna, and transceiver for corner-collector (CC) system at Bonneville Dam, 2)Finish development and then install CC PIT-tag system, and 3)Evaluate new G2 transceiver at an instream PIT-tag site Spring 2006: 1)Refine the installed CC system (adapting a system to a new site always takes time), 2)Evaluate CC system with fish – phase I, 3) Evaluate antennas and power systems for instream PIT-tag systems Summer-Fall 2006: 1) Fish Evaluation – phase II

Subbasin planning

How is this project consistent with subbasin plans?

The work for this project is not related to a subbasin plan because it addresses on research and development issues that have systemwide application. Project 198331900 has been the primary route of funding for the development of PIT-tag detection systems and increasing the application of the technology over the years. Both the Remanded 2000 Biological Opinion and the Action Agencies’ Updated Proposed Alternative for Operation of the FCRPS indicate that the PIT tag is a critical tool used in research, monitoring and evaluation (RME) activities. RME studies help to estimate survival to determine if the hydropower performance standards are being met each year and are critical to minimize the incidental take of endangered and threatened salmonid stocks at FCRPS hydroelectric sites. Furthermore, having PIT-tag detection in the corner collector at Bonneville Dam is a critical need for researchers estimating reach survival of juvenile salmon. Without this system, survival rates for juvenile salmon cannot be estimated with a reasonable amount of statistical certainty. Researchers are already reporting an increase in the uncertainty of their reach survival estimates due to the new Corner Collector, as it provides a safe passage route for significant percentage of fish but does not have PIT tag detection capabilities. As a result the percentage of PIT detection at Bonneville Dam overall has decreased. Improvements in PIT-tag technology are needed to improve survival estimates as well as to expand the information that can be collected to provide the fisheries managers with the data necessary for them to make informed decisions.

How do goals match subbasin plan priorities?

Because of the dependency on the PIT-tag data that are collected, this project has always been critical for helping most if not all management plans meet their priority goals.

Other comments

Project 198331900 has been the primary route of funding for the development of PIT tag detection systems and increasing the application of the technology over the years. It is important to keep development ongoing so the fisheries community can conduct research tomorrow to answer critical questions being asked today. For instance, the development of a system for the corner collector is a huge technological advancement - the exit flume measures 23’ high by 15’ wide and thus will require PIT-tag antennas that far exceed the size of the largest single antenna that is currently being used for fisheries applications (2’ x 10’). By being able to detect tagged salmonids in larger antennas, in the future, it will be possible to divert fish into larger (more fish friendly) pathways while still interrogating the tagged salmonids and thus getting solid survival estimates.