Photograph of a fish release at the Keller Ferry Marina, Lake Roosevelt, Lincoln County, Washington.
Tobias J Kock
(He/Him/His)Toby is a Supervisory Research Fish Biologist in the Western Fisheries Research Center who works out of the Columbia River Research Laboratory in Cook, Washington. His research is focused on Pacific salmon, dam passage and survival, ecology, and fish reintroductions throughout the western United States. His research is highly collaborative and includes State, Federal, Tribal and Private partners.
Toby’s research team conducts investigations focused on dam passage and survival for juvenile and adult Pacific salmon, assesses fish collection and passage devices, researches the ecological effects of high-head dams and reservoirs on anadromous fish, and evaluates various aspects of salmon and steelhead reintroductions upstream of impassable dams. He is currently working on studies that evaluate the effects of flow management on juvenile salmon survival, the responses of adult salmon and steelhead to trap-and-haul, assessment of dam-passage survival of juvenile salmon, and developing methods to estimate survival of salmon fry in reservoirs. His research is highly collaborative. Toby works closely with Tribal, State, Federal, and Private partners to provide unbiased science for use by a diverse group of partners in several watersheds across the western United States.
Science and Products
Willamette FIP Effectiveness Monitoring Framework
The goal of this project is to develop an effectiveness monitoring framework that can be used to inform monitoring and data collection for the Willamette River Focused Investment Partnership (WFIP) Effectiveness Monitoring Program. The USGS is developing this monitoring framework in collaboration with the Benton Soil and Water Conservation District (BSWCD), Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF...
Scientific Support of Salmon and Steelhead Reintroductions in Impounded River Basins of the Pacific Northwest
Salmon and steelhead populations in the Pacific Northwest were severely affected by hydropower development that occurred during the first half of the 20th century. Impassable dams were constructed on many rivers throughout the region which prevented returning adult salmonids from accessing important habitats where spawning and rearing historically occurred. In the past two decades resource...
Steelhead and Spring Chinook Adult Spawning Migration Study in the Klickitat River (Washington)
Fishery biologists from the U.S. Geological Survey are cooperating with Yakama Nation fishery biologists and technicians to conduct a migration behavior study of returning adult steelhead and spring Chinook using radio telemetry.
Photograph of a fish release at the Keller Ferry Marina
Photograph of a fish release at the Keller Ferry Marina, Lake Roosevelt, Lincoln County, Washington.
Photograph of the Sanpoil River in northeast Washington State
Photograph of the Sanpoil River in northeast Washington State. The Sanpoil River is upstream of Grand Coulee and is a tributary of the Columbia River.
Photograph of the Sanpoil River in northeast Washington State. The Sanpoil River is upstream of Grand Coulee and is a tributary of the Columbia River.
Photograph of the Willamette River, Oregon
USGS researchers from the Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory and the Oregon Water Science Center recently completed a study that reviewed existing fisheries datasets and provided an overview of research approaches for estimating habitat availability and carrying capacity of Pacific salmon in the Willamette River Basin.
USGS researchers from the Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory and the Oregon Water Science Center recently completed a study that reviewed existing fisheries datasets and provided an overview of research approaches for estimating habitat availability and carrying capacity of Pacific salmon in the Willamette River Basin.
Cle Elum River, a tributary of the Yakima River in Washington state
The Cle Elum River, a tributary of the Yakima River in Washington state. Sockeye salmon reintroduction efforts were initiated in the Cle Elum River by the Yakama Nation and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in 2009.
The Cle Elum River, a tributary of the Yakima River in Washington state. Sockeye salmon reintroduction efforts were initiated in the Cle Elum River by the Yakama Nation and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in 2009.
Sunrise on Pompey Peak, Washington
Sunrise on Pompey Peak, Washington.
Sunrise on Pompey Peak, Washington.
Science and Products
Willamette FIP Effectiveness Monitoring Framework
The goal of this project is to develop an effectiveness monitoring framework that can be used to inform monitoring and data collection for the Willamette River Focused Investment Partnership (WFIP) Effectiveness Monitoring Program. The USGS is developing this monitoring framework in collaboration with the Benton Soil and Water Conservation District (BSWCD), Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF...
Scientific Support of Salmon and Steelhead Reintroductions in Impounded River Basins of the Pacific Northwest
Salmon and steelhead populations in the Pacific Northwest were severely affected by hydropower development that occurred during the first half of the 20th century. Impassable dams were constructed on many rivers throughout the region which prevented returning adult salmonids from accessing important habitats where spawning and rearing historically occurred. In the past two decades resource...
Steelhead and Spring Chinook Adult Spawning Migration Study in the Klickitat River (Washington)
Fishery biologists from the U.S. Geological Survey are cooperating with Yakama Nation fishery biologists and technicians to conduct a migration behavior study of returning adult steelhead and spring Chinook using radio telemetry.
Photograph of a fish release at the Keller Ferry Marina
Photograph of a fish release at the Keller Ferry Marina, Lake Roosevelt, Lincoln County, Washington.
Photograph of a fish release at the Keller Ferry Marina, Lake Roosevelt, Lincoln County, Washington.
Photograph of the Sanpoil River in northeast Washington State
Photograph of the Sanpoil River in northeast Washington State. The Sanpoil River is upstream of Grand Coulee and is a tributary of the Columbia River.
Photograph of the Sanpoil River in northeast Washington State. The Sanpoil River is upstream of Grand Coulee and is a tributary of the Columbia River.
Photograph of the Willamette River, Oregon
USGS researchers from the Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory and the Oregon Water Science Center recently completed a study that reviewed existing fisheries datasets and provided an overview of research approaches for estimating habitat availability and carrying capacity of Pacific salmon in the Willamette River Basin.
USGS researchers from the Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory and the Oregon Water Science Center recently completed a study that reviewed existing fisheries datasets and provided an overview of research approaches for estimating habitat availability and carrying capacity of Pacific salmon in the Willamette River Basin.
Cle Elum River, a tributary of the Yakima River in Washington state
The Cle Elum River, a tributary of the Yakima River in Washington state. Sockeye salmon reintroduction efforts were initiated in the Cle Elum River by the Yakama Nation and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in 2009.
The Cle Elum River, a tributary of the Yakima River in Washington state. Sockeye salmon reintroduction efforts were initiated in the Cle Elum River by the Yakama Nation and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in 2009.
Sunrise on Pompey Peak, Washington
Sunrise on Pompey Peak, Washington.
Sunrise on Pompey Peak, Washington.
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government