Ryan Koch

Ryan serves as the assistant lead for CRFWCO mass marking and tagging operations throughout the Columbia River Basin. Ryan coordinates with managers and staff to plan and implement projects at federal, state, PUD, and tribal facilities. Ryan also helps coordinate the collection of biological data from hatchery adult salmon returns at our Gorge Complex hatcheries. 

Program: Marking and Tagging

Current Projects:

1. Coordinating biosampling for adult salmon returns at the Columbia River Gorge Complex Hatcheries
2. Implanting PIT-tags into hatchery salmon prior to release
3. Managing mass marking operations at regional NFHs

Past Projects:

1. Managed research hatchery at Oregon State University using alternative rearing strategies to produce spring Chinook Salmon and winter Steelhead smolts to look and behave like wild counterparts.
2. Bull Trout recovery in the Walla Walla River Basin
3. Studied behavior of adult and juvenile salmonids in relation to the Federal Columbia River Power System

Background:

Prior to current position at CRFWCO, Ryan managed a research hatchery (Fish Performance and Genetics Laboratory) at Oregon State University and cultured spring Chinook Salmon and winter Steelhead. His first stint at CRFWCO was from 2005 to 2017 and he worked on the research and recovery of Bull Trout primarily in the Walla Walla River Basin. Ryan's federal experience started during 2002 at USGS, Columbia River Research Laboratory where he spent over three years working on research projects detailing the behavior of adult and juvenile salmonids in relation to the operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System (lower four Snake and Columbia river dams). His first job after graduating from Oregon State University was operating smolt traps on the Oregon Coast for ODFW.

At CRFWCO since: 2005