Anchor Point, AK
FWS biologists Kevin, Meredith, and Bill start their morning checking the weir, measuring the fish, then releasing the fish upstream in order to test the precentage of fish the weir catches.
A warning to fishermen who are tempted to use the floating weir as a fishing location.
A workstation where the days catch is measured and recorded.
Meredith uses a special measuring device to determine the length of the fish.
Kevin inspects the camera trap, which allows the FWS to monitor all the fish passing through this section of the river 24 hours a day.
Kevin and Bill, along with a Forest Service biologist, check the footage from the underwater camera and record their findings.
The days plan is laid out on a ping pong table in the garge of the FWS bunk house.
Bill and Meredith seek refuge from the mosquitos in their head nets.
Kevin has been given the important task of bear safety today. A serious task on this tall grass lined river.
Bill unfolds a net which will be used to close off a section of river for monitoring.
The net is strechted and anchored to prevent any fry (baby fish) from slipping through.
The knots must be secured tight to prevent the net coming loose due to the pressure from the water.
Kevin admires their completed project.
This section of river is sealed off on both ends to allow the biologist a controlled environment for salmon fry counts.
Water pressure caused the lower net to collapse.
Traps baited with salmon eggs are used to catch and monitor fish fry.
A line of traps waiting to be deposited into the river.
Pink flags help the bioligist locate the traps which can be easily lost against the brown river bottom.
A makeshift monitoring station is constructed along the river bank where the traps are emptied, the species and its size are recorded, and the fish are placed in a bucket until they have finished with tht location and they can be returned to the river.
a Forest Service biologist displays the measuring device used to determine fish size.
