This project (2018-002-00; Integrated IPTDS O&M) supports programmatic evaluations of salmonid escapement and migration by providing operation and maintenance (O&M) of In-stream Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) Tag Detection Systems (IPTDS) throughout the Snake, John Day, and upper-Columbia river basins. The use of IPTDS as a tool to estimate adult escapement and juvenile survival has become commonplace, as demonstrated by application in the Integrated Status and Effectiveness Monitoring Program (ISEMP; BPA Project Number 2003-017-00). Numerous IPTDS were installed in the Snake, upper-Columbia, and John Day river basins to support ISEMP habitat action effectiveness and status and trend monitoring initiatives. When ISEMP was largely de-funded in late 2017, co-managers identified a subset of project IPTDS for which continued operation was a high priority. This project was primarily developed to assume O&M responsibility for the subset of ISEMP-related IPTDS with continued management utility; currently 93 sites. Secondarily, this project was envisioned as an opportunity to develop operational standards (best management practices) to improve IPTDS reliability and data quality.

This project is highly coordinated and integrated with (depends upon and required by) other contracts that trap, PIT tag, and characterize fish passing Lower Granite Dam, contracts that detect PIT tags, and contracts that analyze PIT tag detection data generated by this project. The IPTDS method and many of the arrays implemented under this project are identified within the Anadromous Salmonid Monitoring Strategy (ASMS) that was collaboratively developed by state, tribal, and federal fish and wildlife managers, Bonneville Power Administration, and the Northwest Power and Conservation Council and now serves a cornerstone to FWP RME strategy.  Quite simply, this project enables estimation of population specific adult steelhead and Chinook salmon abundance information that is highly desired, and for most steelhead populations not previously possible.

The importance of this project can be summarized as a change in business model for operation of IPTDS; ultimately intended to increase transparency, reduce cost, increase reliability, and improve data quality. As previously mentioned, many of the IPTDS serviced by this project were associated with the now defunct ISEMP project – whether directly or appended by other regional processes such as the Skamania Process (formally reflected in the ASMS) and subsequent “fast-track” proposal process. Although the need for IPTDS was well-developed by these projects/processes, implementation of the technology was somewhat “organic,” with installation approaches, equipment selection, and O&M activities varying as a function of the agency/organization that ultimately operated a given IPTDS. Far from a criticism, this model yielded useful contrast in implementation, ultimately leading to the best management practices adopted by this project for a) remote communications and data management, b) routine O&M, and c) non-routine O&M.

This project is responsible for administering remote communications (satellite, cellular, landline, or Ethernet) and data management for 93 IPTDS in the Columbia River Basin. An automated data management system (BioLogic) automatically accesses modems at these sites and uploads interrogation, diagnostic, and environmental probe (air temperature, water temperature, and water depth) data every four hours. Raw data are stored in a cloud server in redundant fashion. Data are automatically parsed, and interrogation data are uploaded to the PIT tag Information System (PTAGIS) six times daily. Diagnostic data are summarized in graph form and deviations from acceptable values trigger automated email alerts sent to individuals responsible for a given IPTDS.


In addition to remote communications and data management, additional routine O&M responsibilities are conducted at 44 of the 93 IPTDS included in this project. Routine O&M includes a single annual visit to each IPTDS to assess site security, ensure in-stream antennas are properly armored, prosecute firmware updates, and repair, replace, or upgrade equipment as necessary. Emergency (non-routine) O&M activities are conducted as necessary to maintain IPTDS operation.

Given the large geographic area over which project IPTDS are located, the project uses a decentralized labor model. Highly trained “first-responders” are located in the upper-Columbia, Northeast Oregon, and Idaho. These first responders have the technical training and tools to diagnose and repair common IPTDS problems and are optimally located to execute maintenance and repair with minimal travel/delay. Currently, first responders are fielded by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Nez Perce Tribe (NPT), and Biomark, Inc. Although the project maintains a single centralized inventory, inventory items follow the same decentralized model as labor. Replacement and upgrade parts are distributed among first responders to facilitate routine and emergency O&M actions.


The typical O&M staff hierarchy of the project is three tiered. The highest tier is Biomark O&M/Installation technicians, followed by the trained first-responder staff of WDFW, NPT, ODFW, and IDFG. The lowest tier is comprised of untrained technicians which may be called upon to perform simple yet sometimes crucial tasks at the directions of trained individuals. Untrained individuals are seldom used but sometimes critical in maintaining operations.


Staff coordination occurs throughout the contract period to advise IPTDS site owners of the status and condition of sites. Daily remote reporting is used to determine operations of the power, communications, and reader components at each IPTDS. In the event of a problem at an IPTDS Biomark staff and dedicated first-responders receive alerts via the Biomark data management tool (BioLogic). First-responder and Biomark staff coordinate site visits and O&M procedures based up remote telemetry information to find the most efficient solution to the problem. If the untrained staff and trained first-responders are unable to troubleshoot or solve a given problem, Biomark staff will produce a written plan of action to the site owners describing the IPTDS issues and potential solutions. The course of action is dependent on a variety of conditions (infrastructure and environmental) but an initial plan is communicated between site owners and Biomark within 72-hours. Major repairs are coordinated and prioritized across the project by a project lead team with a representative from BPA, Biomark, IDFG, NPT and WDFW, which may be members of the PTAGIS Steering Committee.


Annual training is provided by Biomark on an as-needed basis for all IPTDS first responders. This training occurs regionally (Washington, Oregon, and Idaho) to provide a complete education of all IPTDS components, troubleshooting, and safety best-practices. The training will not occur if the technology and staff is unchanged from year to year or is otherwise unneeded. Training will occur during the normal course of O&M activities or annual site visits. A complete list of Biomark and first-responder staff is created and shared at the start of the contract period with first-responders tasked with specific sites or regions.


Aside from O&M, the project produces/updates three reports on an annual basis to support best management practices: 1) site audit/recommendations; 2) site and infrastructure selection guide; and 3) O&M schedule, checklist, and troubleshooting guide. The site audit/recommendations report is a “living document” that serves as an annual and long-term planning tool. The report uses information from annual O&M visits to identify immediate and long-term equipment replacement, removal, and/or upgrade requirements. This report is delivered to BPA annually for review, and recommended actions are pursued after BPA approval. This serves to maintain transparency and reduce fluctuations in annual budget requests. This document also serves as a vehicle for co-managers, action agencies, and regulatory agencies to provide input on equipment upgrade priorities and identify IPTDS for removal (i.e., when studies are concluded and/or when an IPTDS is determined to be duplicative). The latter two reports document “best-practices” developed over 15 years of operating IPTDS and provide first-responders (and others) with resources to assist in the implementation and operation of IPTDS technology.

Improving data quality and IPTDS reliability are the keystones of this project. Like the change in business model underlying implementation of IPTDS technology, model products servicing the needs of status and trend and action effectiveness monitoring have become increasingly centralized and reliant on IPTDS. IPTDS in the Columbia River Basin are increasingly used as a network, with products such as escapement estimates relying on data of known quality from that network. Seemingly simple metrics, such as periods of inoperability for a given IPTDS are not routinely or uniformly reported - yet have profound influence on some estimators. Of the many best-practices developed and implemented by this project, the infrastructure and post-processing to support standardized approaches to estimate efficiency are paramount – particularly as time-steps for efficiency estimation requirements become smaller.

To date, this project has accomplished several milestones that directly support improved data quality. Foremost is the implementation of remote communications at all project IPTDS. The economy-of-scale afforded by the accumulation of IPTDS under one project has enabled a nearly 85% reduction in the cost of remote communications. This advent enables near-real-time alerts when IPTDS diagnostics deviate from operational tolerances. In turn, this reduces periods of inoperability and supports quantitative metrics of data quality (e.g., the ability to discern whether periods with no tag detections are a function of no tagged fish versus system failure). Furthermore, reductions in the cost of remote communications have allowed us to forego manual data downloads, which might have previously occurred daily, weekly, monthly, or seasonally – meaning that tremendous amounts of data were subject to loss due to system failure between download intervals. Additionally, the best-practices documented/implemented by this project significantly improve the reliability/resiliency of IPTDS installations – the first, and likely most important factor underlying data quality.

In 2017 and 2018 standardized site audits were conducted at each project IPTDS to document the types of equipment composing each IPTDS and to evaluate their condition, potential upgrade requirements, and estimate longevity. These site audits will be repeated annually to develop a near and long-term work plan.
In 2018, 58 Campbell Scientific CR1000 data-loggers were replaced with new datalogger boards at 58 sites. We anticipate that this upgrade will save approximately 640 labor hours annually, previously dedicated to the reconciliation of data corrupted by the CR1000 data-logger.
In 2018, we completed O&M, troubleshooting, installation, component selection guidance documents that formalize standards and best-management practices.
In 2018, we completed standard permitting to ensure environmental compliance requirements were met for all IPTDS.
In 2018 and 2019 we replaced 56 3g cellular modems in advance of the expected termination of 3g cellular service in 2019. Additionally, we replaced 28 satellite modems, reducing data transmission costs by over 85%.
In 2018 and 2019, we replaced 16 battery switchers. Replacement switchers include a low-voltage disconnect feature, anticipated to substantially extend battery life.
In 2018 and 2019 we completely upgraded five IPTDS, replacing FS1001 transceivers with IS1001 reader boards and IS1001 MTS controllers.
Data-logger and modem upgrades enabled all IPTDS to be supported by automated data management.
Lastly, we completely upgraded all Radio Frequency Identification components at four sites.