Collin Smith and Georgia Martin are inserting passive integrated transponders in juvenile Chinook Salmon at Fall Creek Hatchery, California to track their movements. Data are collected for each fish, including length, weight, and the individual number of the inserted tag.
Ryan Tomka
Ryan's research interests include juvenile salmon passage and survival at hydroelectric dams using acoustic and radio telemetry, operating radio telemetry equipment to monitor movements of adult salmon, developing and refining standard operating procedures for surgical implantation of transmitters, and training others in surgical implantation of transmitters.
Ryan is currently working in the Klamath River Basin studying survival of juvenile Chinook salmon migrating through reaches known to have Ceratomyxa Shasta. Ryan is also working on acoustic telemetry studies monitoring movements of Lost River and shortnose suckers in Upper Klamath Lake.
Ryan has previously studied urbanization effects on forage fish in Puget Sound (Coastal Habitats in Puget Sound) and evaluated BioAcoustic fish fence in the Sacramento River.
Professional Experience
2005 to Present – Biological Science Technician, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory, Cook, WA
Education and Certifications
B.S. 2001. Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
Science and Products
A standard operating procedure for the preparation of purposely killed juvenile salmon used to test survival model assumptions A standard operating procedure for the preparation of purposely killed juvenile salmon used to test survival model assumptions
Behavior and movement of adult winter steelhead (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) in the upper Cowlitz River Basin, Washington, 2017–18 Behavior and movement of adult winter steelhead (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) in the upper Cowlitz River Basin, Washington, 2017–18
Movements of juvenile Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) in the Yakima and Columbia Rivers, Washington, 2018—A pilot study using acoustic telemetry Movements of juvenile Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) in the Yakima and Columbia Rivers, Washington, 2018—A pilot study using acoustic telemetry
Evaluation of sockeye salmon after passage through an innovative upstream fish-passage system at Cle Elum Dam, Washington, 2017 Evaluation of sockeye salmon after passage through an innovative upstream fish-passage system at Cle Elum Dam, Washington, 2017
Preliminary evaluation of the behavior and movements of adult spring Chinook salmon in the Chehalis River, southwestern Washington, 2014 Preliminary evaluation of the behavior and movements of adult spring Chinook salmon in the Chehalis River, southwestern Washington, 2014
Behavior and movements of adult spring Chinook salmon (<em>Oncorhynchus tshawytscha</em>) in the Chehalis River Basin, southwestern Washington, 2015 Behavior and movements of adult spring Chinook salmon (<em>Oncorhynchus tshawytscha</em>) in the Chehalis River Basin, southwestern Washington, 2015
Evaluation of juvenile salmonid behavior near a prototype weir box at Cowlitz Falls Dam, Washington, 2013 Evaluation of juvenile salmonid behavior near a prototype weir box at Cowlitz Falls Dam, Washington, 2013
Behavior and passage of juvenile salmonids during the evaluation of a behavioral guidance structure at Cowlitz Falls Dam, Washington, 2011 Behavior and passage of juvenile salmonids during the evaluation of a behavioral guidance structure at Cowlitz Falls Dam, Washington, 2011
Evaluation of angler effort and harvest of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Lake Scanewa, Washington, 2010 Evaluation of angler effort and harvest of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Lake Scanewa, Washington, 2010
Data collected in 2010 to evaluate habitat availability for surf smelt and eelgrass in response to sea level rise on Bainbridge Island, Puget Sound, Washington, USA Data collected in 2010 to evaluate habitat availability for surf smelt and eelgrass in response to sea level rise on Bainbridge Island, Puget Sound, Washington, USA
Collin Smith and Georgia Martin are inserting passive integrated transponders in juvenile Chinook Salmon at Fall Creek Hatchery, California to track their movements. Data are collected for each fish, including length, weight, and the individual number of the inserted tag.
This photo shows the California Department of Fish and Wilflife’s screw trap on the lower Shasta River, where Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC) scientists surgically implant acoustic telemetry tags and passive integrated transponder tags into juvenil Chinook salmon collected at this site.
This photo shows the California Department of Fish and Wilflife’s screw trap on the lower Shasta River, where Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC) scientists surgically implant acoustic telemetry tags and passive integrated transponder tags into juvenil Chinook salmon collected at this site.
In this photo a USGS Biological Science Technician Brittany Graham is surgically implanting an acoustic telemetry tag into a juvenile salmon on the banks of the lower Shasta River. The Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC) uses fish with acoustic transmitters to track fish movements and estimate survival. This information provides water managers with ro
In this photo a USGS Biological Science Technician Brittany Graham is surgically implanting an acoustic telemetry tag into a juvenile salmon on the banks of the lower Shasta River. The Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC) uses fish with acoustic transmitters to track fish movements and estimate survival. This information provides water managers with ro

USGS, Western Fisheries Research Center scientist tagging an invasive silver carp with an acoustic transmitter to evaluate the effectiveness of a BioAcoustic Fish Fence (BAFF) to deter upstream migration of invasive carp at Barkley Lock and Dam, Kentucky in October 2022.
USGS, Western Fisheries Research Center scientist tagging an invasive silver carp with an acoustic transmitter to evaluate the effectiveness of a BioAcoustic Fish Fence (BAFF) to deter upstream migration of invasive carp at Barkley Lock and Dam, Kentucky in October 2022.
Sockeye salmon preparing to spawn upstream of Cle Elum Dam, Washington.
Sockeye salmon preparing to spawn upstream of Cle Elum Dam, Washington.
Science and Products
A standard operating procedure for the preparation of purposely killed juvenile salmon used to test survival model assumptions A standard operating procedure for the preparation of purposely killed juvenile salmon used to test survival model assumptions
Behavior and movement of adult winter steelhead (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) in the upper Cowlitz River Basin, Washington, 2017–18 Behavior and movement of adult winter steelhead (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) in the upper Cowlitz River Basin, Washington, 2017–18
Movements of juvenile Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) in the Yakima and Columbia Rivers, Washington, 2018—A pilot study using acoustic telemetry Movements of juvenile Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) in the Yakima and Columbia Rivers, Washington, 2018—A pilot study using acoustic telemetry
Evaluation of sockeye salmon after passage through an innovative upstream fish-passage system at Cle Elum Dam, Washington, 2017 Evaluation of sockeye salmon after passage through an innovative upstream fish-passage system at Cle Elum Dam, Washington, 2017
Preliminary evaluation of the behavior and movements of adult spring Chinook salmon in the Chehalis River, southwestern Washington, 2014 Preliminary evaluation of the behavior and movements of adult spring Chinook salmon in the Chehalis River, southwestern Washington, 2014
Behavior and movements of adult spring Chinook salmon (<em>Oncorhynchus tshawytscha</em>) in the Chehalis River Basin, southwestern Washington, 2015 Behavior and movements of adult spring Chinook salmon (<em>Oncorhynchus tshawytscha</em>) in the Chehalis River Basin, southwestern Washington, 2015
Evaluation of juvenile salmonid behavior near a prototype weir box at Cowlitz Falls Dam, Washington, 2013 Evaluation of juvenile salmonid behavior near a prototype weir box at Cowlitz Falls Dam, Washington, 2013
Behavior and passage of juvenile salmonids during the evaluation of a behavioral guidance structure at Cowlitz Falls Dam, Washington, 2011 Behavior and passage of juvenile salmonids during the evaluation of a behavioral guidance structure at Cowlitz Falls Dam, Washington, 2011
Evaluation of angler effort and harvest of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Lake Scanewa, Washington, 2010 Evaluation of angler effort and harvest of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Lake Scanewa, Washington, 2010
Data collected in 2010 to evaluate habitat availability for surf smelt and eelgrass in response to sea level rise on Bainbridge Island, Puget Sound, Washington, USA Data collected in 2010 to evaluate habitat availability for surf smelt and eelgrass in response to sea level rise on Bainbridge Island, Puget Sound, Washington, USA
Collin Smith and Georgia Martin are inserting passive integrated transponders in juvenile Chinook Salmon at Fall Creek Hatchery, California to track their movements. Data are collected for each fish, including length, weight, and the individual number of the inserted tag.
Collin Smith and Georgia Martin are inserting passive integrated transponders in juvenile Chinook Salmon at Fall Creek Hatchery, California to track their movements. Data are collected for each fish, including length, weight, and the individual number of the inserted tag.
This photo shows the California Department of Fish and Wilflife’s screw trap on the lower Shasta River, where Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC) scientists surgically implant acoustic telemetry tags and passive integrated transponder tags into juvenil Chinook salmon collected at this site.
This photo shows the California Department of Fish and Wilflife’s screw trap on the lower Shasta River, where Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC) scientists surgically implant acoustic telemetry tags and passive integrated transponder tags into juvenil Chinook salmon collected at this site.
In this photo a USGS Biological Science Technician Brittany Graham is surgically implanting an acoustic telemetry tag into a juvenile salmon on the banks of the lower Shasta River. The Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC) uses fish with acoustic transmitters to track fish movements and estimate survival. This information provides water managers with ro
In this photo a USGS Biological Science Technician Brittany Graham is surgically implanting an acoustic telemetry tag into a juvenile salmon on the banks of the lower Shasta River. The Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC) uses fish with acoustic transmitters to track fish movements and estimate survival. This information provides water managers with ro

USGS, Western Fisheries Research Center scientist tagging an invasive silver carp with an acoustic transmitter to evaluate the effectiveness of a BioAcoustic Fish Fence (BAFF) to deter upstream migration of invasive carp at Barkley Lock and Dam, Kentucky in October 2022.
USGS, Western Fisheries Research Center scientist tagging an invasive silver carp with an acoustic transmitter to evaluate the effectiveness of a BioAcoustic Fish Fence (BAFF) to deter upstream migration of invasive carp at Barkley Lock and Dam, Kentucky in October 2022.
Sockeye salmon preparing to spawn upstream of Cle Elum Dam, Washington.
Sockeye salmon preparing to spawn upstream of Cle Elum Dam, Washington.