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At least 1,477 records · Page 82
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Burrowing Owl Conservation Report: 2020

The Western Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) is a small migratory species of owl found throughout the Western United States. Burrowing Owls are found throughout a variety of habitats including shrubsteppe; and during the breeding season the Hanford Site is situated at the center of the predicted distribution of Burrowing Owls in Washington State (Smith et al. 1997). The Western Burrowing Owl is declining over much of its range, including on the Hanford Site and throughout the Columbia Basin (HNF-59375, Conway 2006). These declines have been attributed to habitat loss and a subsequent loss in burrowing mammals that the owls depend on for nesting habitat (Conway et al. 2006, Johnson et al. 2010). The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife lists Western Burrowing Owls as a Candidate Species, meaning the species is a candidate for listing as Sensitive, Threatened, or Endangered in Washington (WDFW 2020). Without intervention, continued declines may result in the extirpation of Burrowing Owls from the Hanford Site and the Columbia Basin.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Y-12 National Security Complex Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program—2024 Calendar Year Report

This report provides the results of the CY 2024 sampling of East Fork Poplar Creek (EFPC) as part of the Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12) Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program (BMAP). The results are presented in the context of historical trends. The Y-12 BMAP was developed in 1985 to demonstrate that the effluent limits established for Y-12 protected the classified uses of the receiving stream, particularly the growth and propagation of aquatic life (Loar et al. 1989). Over the years, the BMAP has become an important and valuable long-term measure of stream conditions resulting from actions and activities at the Y-12 Complex. The BMAP currently consists of three tasks: (1) bioaccumulation monitoring, (2) benthic macroinvertebrate community monitoring, and (3) fish community monitoring. The benthic macroinvertebrate community monitoring task includes studies to evaluate the receiving stream’s biological integrity annually in comparison with Tennessee Water Quality Criteria following Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) protocols. In addition to presenting the EFPC biological monitoring results, this report includes results from Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act–funded BMAP programs in Bear Creek and McCoy Branch (presented in Appendixes A and B, respectively), as required in the Y-12 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. Additional biological testing at the Y-12 Complex includes toxicity testing of select storm drains as required in the NPDES permit. Although toxicity testing is not formally part of the BMAP, toxicity testing results from 2024 are provided in Appendix C.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Optimization and Commercialization of the Juvenile Eel/Lamprey Acoustic Transmitter and Micro-battery (CRADA 477)

Through collaboration with partners under this CRADA, we continued to optimize the Eel/Lamprey Acoustic Transmitter (ELAT) of the Juvenile Salmon Acoustic Telemetry System (JSATS) to enhance its capability to track sensitive species and early life stages of fish with 3D and sub-meter accuracy. The transmitter firmware was improved to offer new functionalities, and the circuit design was revised to provide significantly more accurate frequency transmission. The transmitter's transducer was replaced with a shorter, more energy-efficient model. Additionally, the manufacturing processes for the transmitter and the microbattery used in it were improved. The outcomes of this work help advance understanding of migration timing and behaviors, habitat use, and survival rates of these species, supporting more informed management decisions for new and existing hydroelectric facilities and better designs for new hydropower systems that minimize or avoid environmental impacts.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2013

Hanford Reach Fall Chinook Redd Monitoring Report for Calendar Year 2012

Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), also commonly referred to as king salmon, are the largest of the Pacific salmon (Myers et al. 1998, Netboy 1958). The Columbia River supports three major runs (spring, summer, and fall) of Chinook salmon generally based upon the season during which the adults re-enter the estuary to begin their upstream migration to spawn. Chinook salmon that spawn in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River are fall-run fish. Fall Chinook salmon enter freshwater at an advanced stage of maturity, move rapidly to their spawning areas on the mainstem or lower tributaries of the rivers, and spawn within a few days or weeks of freshwater entry (Myers et al. 1998, Fulton 1968, Healey 1991). Adult fall Chinook salmon destined for the Hanford Reach are upriver brights (URB), which enter the Columbia River in late summer and spawn in the fall. Spawning in the Hanford Reach typically begins in mid-October and lasts through November. From 1948 through 1988, the firstobservation of spawning ranged from September 28 to October 26 with a median date of October 16 (Dauble and Watson 1990). Females fan out nests or “redds” in suitable gravel substrate and deposit eggs in an egg pocket while males simultaneously extrude milt to fertilize the eggs. Redds are readily identifiable at this time and appear as clean swept gravel patches amidst darker undisturbed substrate that is covered by algae (periphyton). “Redd life” is a term describing the period of time when periphyton growth has not rendered the redd substrate indiscernible from the surroundings. Redd life is typically about six weeks on the Hanford Reach (Dauble and Watson 1990).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2012

Fall Chinook Redd Monitoring Report Calendar Year 2011

Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), also commonly referred to as king salmon, are the largest of the Pacific salmon (NMFS 1998, Netboy 1958). The Columbia River supports three major runs (spring, summer, and fall) of Chinook salmon generally based upon the season during which the adults re-enter the estuary to begin their upstream migration to spawn. Chinook salmon that spawn in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River are fall-run fish. Fall-run Chinook salmon enter freshwater at an advanced stage of maturity, move rapidly to their spawning areas on the main stem or lower tributaries of the rivers, and spawn within a few days or weeks of freshwater entry (NMFS 1998, USFWS 1968, Healey 1991). Adult fall Chinook salmon destined for the Hanford Reach are upriver brights (URB), which enter the Columbia River in late summer and spawn in the fall. Spawning in the Hanford Reach typically begins in mid-October and lasts through November. From 1948 through 1988, the first-observation of spawning ranged from September 28 to October 26 with a median date of October 16 (PNL-7289). Females fan out nests or 'redds' in suitable gravel substrate and deposit eggs in an egg pocket while males simultaneously extrude milt to fertilize the eggs. Redds are readily identifiable at this time and appear as clean swept gravel patches amidst darker undisturbed substrate that is covered by algae (periphyton). 'Redd life' is a term applied to mean the period of time during which periphyton growth has not rendered the redd substrate indiscernible from the surroundings. Redd life is typically about six weeks on the Hanford Reach (PNL-7289).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2012

Steelhead Redd Monitoring Report for Calendar Year 2012

Steelhead are a prized recreational fish throughout the Pacific Northwest and within the Columbia Basin. Although a non‐tribal commercial fishery for steelhead does not exist, steelhead are a primary component of tribal fisheries in the Columbia Basin. Steelhead use the Hanford Reach for rearing as juveniles, as a migratory corridor as both juveniles and adults, and for spawning as adults. Both Mid‐ Columbia and Upper Columbia summer‐run steelhead potentially use the Hanford Reach, both of which are currently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). Because of their high public value and ESA listing status, steelhead were selected for monitoring under this program.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2012

Snake Hibernacula Monitoring Report for Calendar Year 2012

For the general public, snakes are one of the least understood and most feared groups of animals, often resulting in the intentional killing of individuals and destruction of habitat. However, snakes fill an important role in the ecosystems they occupy, eating a variety of prey, and providing a source of food for many other predators. Snakes in temperate climates must seek shelter from freezing temperatures to survive the winter, and will congregate at specific sites known as hibernacula. A single hibernaculum may contain hundreds of snakes, often of several different species. Snakes show strong site fidelity to these specific locations year after year. Finding and protecting snake hibernacula is critical to maintaining Hanford Site populations of both common and sensitive species. The striped Whipsnake (Masticophis taeniatus), the night snake (Hypsiglena torquata), and racers (Coluber constrictor) are three sensitive species of snakes documented on the Hanford Site. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) consider the striped Whipsnake a Candidate for listing as Threatened or Endangered. The striped Whipsnake is known to den with other species including western rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis), racers, and gopher snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) (Larsen 1997). The Department of Natural Resources considers hibernacula destruction a key threat to this species (Hallock 2005). The night snake and racer are on the WDFW State Monitor list. These three sensitive species could be sharing hibernacula with other snakes that are known to be present on the Hanford Site, including gopher snakes, common garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis), western terrestrial garter snakes (Thamnophis elegans), and western rattlesnakes. Although not documented, rubber boas (Charina bottae) also potentially occur on the Hanford Site.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Evaluating Movement Patterns of the Rattlesnake Hills Elk Herd on Hanford for Calendar Years 2019-2024

Biologists first documented elk on the Hanford Site in 1972; since then, the elk herd known as the Rattlesnake Hills Elk Herd (RHEH) has grown substantially (PNNL-13331, Population Characteristics and Seasonal Movement Patterns of the Rattlesnake Hills Elk Herd: Status Report 2000). Through the 1990s, the core range of the RHEH was focused on the portion of the Hanford Reach National Monument known as the Fitzner-Eberhardt Arid Lands Ecology (ALE) Reserve. More recently, larger numbers of elk have been occupying the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Hanford Field Office (HFO), formerly the DOE, Richland Operations Office managed portion- of the Hanford Site, known as central Hanford (Figure 1-1). This began with bachelor groups of bulls occupying the site intermittently, and the herd has grown to resident herds, including bulls, cows, and calves. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) established a target herd size for the RHEH of less than 350 animals to minimize damages on adjacent private agricultural lands (Washington State Elk Herd Plan–Yakima Elk Herd [WDFW 2002]). Attempts to control the RHEH population through hunting on private lands and a relocation effort during 2000 have failed to limit growth of the population toward the WDFW target, and the herd exceeds 1,600 according to recent counts (PNNL-13331; DOE/RL- 2023-20, Hanford Annual Site Environmental Report for Calendar Year 2022). Although elk are present on central Hanford year-round, they continue to move between areas offsite, the ALE Reserve, and central Hanford throughout the year, and it is these movements that result in many of the elk-vehicle collisions (EVC) that occur along Hanford Site roads and on the Washington State highways bordering the site. In addition, changes in management strategies on the ALE Reserve, including recent and potential future tribal elk hunts, may alter herd behavior and result in additional animals transiting onto and off central Hanford.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2012

Black-Tailed Jackrabbit Monitoring Report for Fiscal Year 2012

Anecdotal evidence suggests both black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) and white-tailed jackrabbits (L. townsendii) were historically abundant; however, the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) currently list both the black-tailed and white-tailed jackrabbits as 'candidate' species of concern (WDFW 2012). Threats to jackrabbits include habitat loss and fragmentation. Lack of recent monitoring or sightings on the Hanford Site has led some to believe the population is declining, while others believe that jackrabbits may follow a cyclical pattern of population density. Black-tailed jackrabbits play an important role in the ecosystem, serving as a food source for large raptor and mammal predators including the coyote, golden eagle, and the State Threatened ferruginous hawk. Jackrabbits do not migrate long distances or go into a hibernation or estivation period, and rarely use underground burrows or dens (Best 1996). This highly localized and active ecology provides surveying opportunities through most of the year.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2012

Ground Squirrel Monitoring Report for Calendar Year 2012

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) lists the Townsend’s ground squirrel (Urocitellus townsendii) as a “State Candidate” (WDFW 2012). These animals are important to the shrub-steppe ecosystem for many reasons. They serve as a food source for many mammals such as badgers and coyotes and fall prey to predatory birds such as hawks, falcons, and owls. The ground squirrel diet consists of a variety of foods including seeds, which contributes to native plant seed dispersal. The process of digging burrows helps aerate the soil and provides burrows for other species including burrowing owls (Sato 2012). Their decline is due to the loss of suitable habitat and isolation of their communities through fragmentation. Townsend’s ground squirrels can be difficult to monitor due to their concealed underground lifestyle and short seasons of activity.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Burrowing Owl Survey Report for Sandia National Laboratories: 2025

The Burrowing Owl Survey Report for Sandia National Laboratories: 2025 provides data and analysis on occupancy surveys that were conducted during the 2025 survey season. The surveys were conducted in partnership with Kirtland Air Force Base’s Natural Resource Program and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to maintain and expand on the long-term dataset on burrowing owls on base. Ecology Program biologists conducted roadside census surveys at survey areas previously identified by Kirtland Air Force Base along with several additional survey areas deemed suitable for occupancy. Remote sensor camera monitoring was also conducted on three nest burrows. In total, 12 breeding pairs of burrowing owls were confirmed in 2025. Several owls were confirmed to have leg bands, indicating previous captures and recurrence of these specific individuals on base. Occupancy surveys on burrowing owls continue to provide valuable information on ecosystem health and can serve to inform future management direction and decisions.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Bat Acoustic Survey Data Collected June 2024 in and near Self Sufficiency Parcel-2 (SSP2) on the Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR)

The US Department of Energy (DOE) Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) is located in Anderson and Roane Counties, Tennessee. A portion of the ORR, known as Self-Sufficiency Parcel 2 (SSP2) is planned for transfer for private use. The SSP2 Site is approximately 670 acres (Figure 1-1), although the current plan is to only clear and develop a portion of this acreage. Any inquiries about the land transfer and future development should be directed to DOE Oak Ridge Environmental Management, as this is beyond the scope of the Natural Resources Management Team (NRMT). NRMT records bat data for the entire ORR, including acoustic monitoring, mist netting and cave surveys. A few surveys have previously been conducted for small land transfers adjacent to SSP2 (See Appendix A), but not for the entire SSP2 area. Since bats have a large range, it was decided that collecting data while SSP2 was still accessible would be beneficial for the NRMT dataset. Acoustic data was therefore collected within and near SSP2 during the summer of 2024. This write-up is not a Biological Assessment (BA). However, the data and information provided can be used during the creation of a BA and consultations with US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in order to comply with federal directives of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U. S. C. 153 et seq.). The SSP2 site was surveyed during summer roosting/maternity season of 2024 using ultrasonic acoustic monitors to record calls from all bat species whose home ranges include the ORR. Special note was taken for presence of Federally listed Endangered and Threatened (T&E) bat species, as well as bat species which are Proposed for Federal listing, Candidate for federal listing, and state listed. Summer roosting season, from May 15 to August 15, is crucial to forest-dwelling T&E bat species for rearing young and foraging. Results of these surveys indicate the presence of three Federally listed bat species: Gray bat (Myotis grisescens--Endangered), Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis--Endangered), and Northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis--Endangered). Two additional bat species were present on the SSP2 Site: Tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus--Proposed for Federal listing) and Little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus—Candidate for Federal listing).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

U.S. Pacific Coast Workshop Report on Preconstruction Research Recommendations (U.S. Offshore Wind Synthesis of Environmental Effects Research (SEER) Project)

In May 2022, the U.S. Offshore Wind Synthesis of Environmental Effects Research (SEER) project team hosted a stakeholder workshop focused on preconstruction (baseline) research needs for potential floating offshore wind (OSW) energy development on the U.S. Pacific Coast, including California, Oregon, and Washington. Prior to the workshop, the SEER team developed a set of initial synthesized research recommendations that were identified based on a review of relevant, publicly available resources and with advisory group input. The workshop covered three marine life breakout groups on subsequent days to discuss research recommendations related to 1) marine mammals and sea turtles, 2) fish and invertebrates, and 3) birds and bats. As part of the workshop, over a hundred participants from the public and private sectors provided feedback on various aspects of the initial research recommendations, including associated data and knowledge gaps, benefits/limitations of available methods and technologies, and technological advancements or infrastructure needed to address the recommendation. Approximately 1,000 total comments were received on the workshop MURAL boards and were synthesized in this report. Based on workshop feedback, SEER developed a final database of over 500 specific research recommendations based on more than 40 resources. In Fall 2022, the full database and a tool with updated synthesized research recommendations were disseminated on Tethys (https://tethys.pnnl.gov) to assist with informing future funding opportunities and research programming. There is a continued need to improve awareness of the potential environmental effects, monitoring technologies, and management strategies for floating OSW energy development on the U.S. Pacific Coast. Coordination of these activities will require the sustained involvement of multiple stakeholders from across sectors. Beyond the baseline considerations discussed in this workshop, future state-of-the-science activities should be planned to consider research needs across wind energy life cycle phases for all relevant wildlife taxa and associated habitat and ecosystem processes.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Energy-Flow-Environment Linkage Map

Understanding how flexibility in environmental requirements can facilitate co-optimization of hydropower production outcomes and environmental outcomes is critical for future grid decision-making and operations as renewable energy resources increase. The environmental and power system outcomes connectivity linkage maps presented here provide a framework for conceptually and quantitatively linking power system outcomes to environmental outcomes through hydropower flow decisions. The Executive Summary Map serves as a starting for exploring the links between hydropower system performance outcomes and environmental outcomes. The centralized topic is “Flow from Hydropower System,” and connects the hydropower operations through “Flow through turbines” and “Non-turbine flows”, and to environmental outcomes through Reservoir elevation” and “Flow downstream of the hydropower system”. To the left of these central topics, “Hydro-mechanical operations” are linked through “Hydro-electrical operations” to “Hydropower performance outcomes” (“Reliability”, “Resilience”, “Revenue”, “Emissions”). On the right, environmental outcomes are grouped together by their physical location: “Upstream Outcomes” (“Upstream geomorphology”, “Upstream recreation”, “Upstream habitat”, “Upstream biota and biodiversity”, “Upstream water quality and greenhouse gas”), Outcomes relevant to both “Upstream/downstream or dam interface” (“Navigation”, “Dam safety and maintenance", “Human health”, “Water supply”, “Flood control”, ”Fish passage”), and “Downstream outcomes“ (e.g., “Downstream geomorphology”, “Downstream recreations”, “Downstream habitat”, “Downstream biota and biodiversity”, “Downstream water quality and greenhouse gas”). Each of these subtopics (e.g., “Hydro-mechanical operations”, “Hydro-electrical operations”, “Upstream geomorphology”, “Upstream recreation”) is further explored through their corresponding submaps. The “Read Me” file provides more detail information on map navigation. The “Models and tools database” file provides detailed information of models and tools presented in the maps.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

KBase Narrative - BIT 295 MRA Isolate 106- Final

Arthrobactor is a bacteria that commonly resides in soil, plants, and wastewater (Gobbetti 2014). It is commonly used in the agricultural industry for degrading pesticides which will detox the soil and allow wildlife not to be harmed by said pesticides. The sample that is being tested came from an acid drain from a mine. The test sample was able to live and thrive in a metal ridden environment which could lead it to having some genes that could aid in e-waste recycling. A species of arthrobacter known as Arthrobacter citreus can be used for polyamide waste (Baxi 2019). Polyamide is used in fishing nets and industrial applications and the waste generated by this impacts ocean environments and ecosystems (Rietzler et all... 2021). Based on the resilience of arthrobacter as a genus, the hopes for this sample to aid in e-waste recycling are high.

Chadha, Aditya↗
DOE OSTI2026

consortium_sutapa

This narrative is an Enterobacteriaceae consortium. It had been isolated from fish intestine. It comprised of Enterobacter ludwigii (70.32%), Kosakonia cowanii (19.42%), and Enterobacter mori (8.96%) and Enterobacter oligotrophicus (1.28%).

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

PyZebrascope: An Open-Source Platform for Brain-Wide Neural Activity Imaging in Zebrafish

Understanding how neurons interact across the brain to control animal behaviors is one of the central goals in neuroscience. Recent developments in fluorescent microscopy and genetically-encoded calcium indicators led to the establishment of whole-brain imaging methods in zebrafish, which record neural activity across a brain-wide volume with single-cell resolution. Pioneering studies of whole-brain imaging used custom light-sheet microscopes, and their operation relied on commercially developed and maintained software not available globally. Hence it has been challenging to disseminate and develop the technology in the research community. Here, we present PyZebrascope, an open-source Python platform designed for neural activity imaging in zebrafish using light-sheet microscopy. PyZebrascope has intuitive user interfaces and supports essential features for whole-brain imaging, such as two orthogonal excitation beams and eye damage prevention. Its camera module can handle image data throughput of up to 800 MB/s from camera acquisition to file writing while maintaining stable CPU and memory usage. Its modular architecture allows the inclusion of advanced algorithms for microscope control and image processing. As a proof of concept, we implemented a novel automatic algorithm for maximizing the image resolution in the brain by precisely aligning the excitation beams to the image focal plane. PyZebrascope enables whole-brain neural activity imaging in fish behaving in a virtual reality environment. Thus, PyZebrascope will help disseminate and develop light-sheet microscopy techniques in the neuroscience community and advance our understanding of whole-brain neural dynamics during animal behaviors.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Whole-Genome Resequencing to Evaluate Life History Variation in Anadromous Migration of Oncorhynchus mykiss

Anadromous fish experience physiological modifications necessary to migrate between vastly different freshwater and marine environments, but some species such as Oncorhynchus mykiss demonstrate variation in life history strategies with some individuals remaining exclusively resident in freshwater, whereas others undergo anadromous migration. Because there is limited understanding of genes involved in this life history variation across populations of this species, we evaluated the genomic difference between known anadromous ( n = 39) and resident ( n = 78) Oncorhynchus mykiss collected from the Klickitat River, WA, USA, with whole-genome resequencing methods. Sequencing of these collections yielded 5.64 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms that were tested for significant differences between resident and anadromous groups along with previously identified candidate gene regions. Although a few regions of the genome were marginally significant, there was one region on chromosome Omy12 that provided the most consistent signal of association with anadromy near two annotated genes in the reference assembly: COP9 signalosome complex subunit 6 (CSN6) and NACHT, LRR, and PYD domain–containing protein 3 (NLRP3). Previously identified candidate genes for anadromy within the inversion region of chromosome Omy05 in coastal steelhead and rainbow trout were not informative for this population as shown in previous studies. Results indicate that the significant region on chromosome Omy12 may represent a minor effect gene for male anadromy and suggests that this life history variation in Oncorhynchus mykiss is more strongly driven by other mechanisms related to environmental rearing such as epigenetic modification, gene expression, and phenotypic plasticity. Further studies into regulatory mechanisms of this trait are needed to understand drivers of anadromy in populations of this protected species.

Collins, Erin E.↗