New Marking and Monitoring Technologies for the Passive Integrated Transponder, 2025

One of the primary goals for expansion of passive integrated transponder (PIT) technology is to develop interrogation systems that will collect data on tagged salmonids migrating through the Columbia River Basin. An important component of this goal is to provide interrogation capability for juveniles passing dams via surface-collection routes, such as removable or temporary spillway weirs, as well as to capture detections below the hydropower system in order to monitor annual survival. This expanded capability will be applicable to interrogation systems in streams and rivers, where fish implanted with PIT tags can potentially be monitored at all life stages. These systems will provide data for determining the effectiveness of stock recovery and restoration programs supported by the Action Agencies (BPA, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and USACE). This report summarizes work conducted by NOAA in 2025 to 1) incorporate additional pile dike PIT detection sites below Bonneville Dam and, 2) work directly with Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) to provide feasible concepts for new detection capabilities at Bonneville and McNary Dams.