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Cle Elum Sockeye CollectionSpring operations underway Crew completed four weeks of spring netting operations at Cle Elum Reservoir, sampling two nights per week using Oneida nets. Across the effort, approximately 5,600 juvenile sockeye were collected. The Yakama Nation PIT tagged roughly 5,000 smolts, while USGS acoustic tagged approximately 600 smolts to support detailed movement and survival monitoring. This work is part of a collaborative effort among the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Yakama Nation, USGS, and Bureau of Reclamation to evaluate juvenile sockeye passage through the “Helix”, a juvenile bypass facility designed to safely pass smolts across a range of reservoir water elevations. PIT and acoustic tag data will help partners evaluate survival, movement, and migration timing through the Helix and farther downstream, providing information needed to assess how well the facility supports juvenile passage during the outmigration period. |
Winter Flood Impacts and RebuildRecovery and restoration The December 2025 flood events caused widespread damage to PIT tag monitoring infrastructure across the Yakima Basin. At least 17 sites were damaged, with antennas displaced, buried, or destroyed and associated cables, solar equipment, and battery systems affected at multiple locations. Much of the spring effort has focused on rebuilding antenna systems in the shop before field installation can begin once flows recede. As systems are rebuilt, staff are incorporating upgrades to solar and battery management to improve reliability. Restoring these arrays is important because gaps in detection coverage can limit our ability to interpret fish movement timing, habitat use, and passage effectiveness. |
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Analysis and ReportingOff-season productivity During the winter period, staff focused on analysis and data summary. Much of this work centered on Bull Trout entrainment at Keechelus Dam. A study combining acoustic and PIT telemetry will evaluate Bull Trout movement within Keechelus Reservoir and entrainment at Keechelus Dam in relation to reservoir elevation, discharge, and seasonal timing. A manuscript entitled, “Maintaining Connectivity through Trap and Haul: A Conservation Strategy for Adfluvial Bull Trout in the Yakima River Basin, Washington,” is ready for submission to Fisheries. The manuscript focuses on trap and haul and monitoring work with the North Fork Tieton Bull Trout population. Staff also drafted Reclamation’s 2025 Annual Report for the USFWS Section 10 ESA Recovery Permit. |
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Fisheries Academy 2026Leadership development Congratulations to Connor Cunningham for completing Fisheries Academy, a two-week leadership development course for future leaders within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program. The Academy brought together staff from across FAC, including participants from hatcheries, field offices, and other program areas, to work through leadership challenges, collaborative problem-solving, and program-level conservation issues. Connor’s capstone group project focused on artificial intelligence integration within FAC. The project explored how AI tools could support field offices, data analysis, reporting, coding, and knowledge sharing, while also identifying barriers to adoption. A major theme was that FAC work is often siloed across offices and programs, and that successful AI adoption will require stronger incentives, shared examples, and cross-program collaboration. |
Welcome Dominic SinghNew seasonal technician Please join us in welcoming Dominic Singh, a technician who began with the Yakima team on April 6, 2026. Dominic grew up in Ellensburg, knows the Yakima Basin well, and graduated from Central Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Ecology. Dominic brings strong local field experience and has previously worked with a partner agency, giving him familiarity with many of the projects and field methods our office supports. He is also a lifelong angler with a strong practical understanding of fish behavior and local waters. This background will be valuable as he supports trap and haul operations, antenna construction, field logistics, and other seasonal monitoring work. His arrival adds important field capacity heading into a busy season for a small staff. |
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