Posted on September 11, 2024
VICKSBURG, Miss. – Researchers from seven Army Corps of Engineer Districts have been selected for the 2024 session of the Engineer Research and Development Center University (ERDC-U).
Richard Piaskowski, a Fish Biologist with the USACE Portland District has been chosen as a participant for this detail program, now in its ninth year.
ERDC-U Program Lead Antisa Webb, Chief, Office of Research and Technology Transfer (ORTT), Technology, Knowledge and Outreach (TKO) Division, program co-sponsor, announced the eight 2024 selectees.
“ERDC-U facilitates collaborations between participants from USACE Divisions and Districts and mentors from relevant laboratories, engaging in six-month research projects aimed at developing technical solutions that benefit their workplaces, the Corps, and the nation,” Webb said.
Brad Eppard, who serves as Chief of the Fish Passage Section at the Portland District, endorses Piaskowski for his selection for ERDC-U.
“Rich provides leadership, guidance and input to the Fish Passage Section, project managers and District leadership and has been instrumental in development of the WVS Environmental Impact Statement and Biological Assessment. I enthusiastically endorse his nomination.”
Working with these subject matter experts from ERDC’s seven-state of the art laboratories, participants will focus on real-world solutions, as they also develop leadership skills for their home organization.
A Corps team member for 15 years, Piaskowski works in the Portland District, serving as a Fish Biologist for the Environmental Resources Branch, Fish Passage Section. As a Subject Matter Expert, Piaskowski guides the Portland District on projects affecting endangered species and natural resources, collaborating with engineering and other disciplines to manage fish passage, water quality, and aquatic habitats.
He leads the Fish Passage Section, developing work plans, budgets, and research priorities, while coordinating with various agencies, preparing agreements, and addressing legal and public inquiries.
“If accepted, the program provides me an opportunity to collaborate with ERDC scientists to develop and improve decision support tools, and establish collaborative relationships with ERDC scientists working on projects relating to environmental resiliency, risk analysis & risk management, and planning & analysis of project benefits,” said Piaskowski.
He joined fellow selectees to meet their mentors and planned projects during their orientation session February 27-29 on the Vicksburg, Mississippi, campus.
Piaskowski was mentored by Dr. David Smith, and Dr. Bertrand Lemasson both Research Ecologists from the Environmental Laboratory (EL). The EL, one of the four laboratories on the Vicksburg campus, was highlighted during the orientation tours.
Piaskowski’s study focuses on improving fish passage for Chinook Salmon and other migratory fish at high-head dams in the USACE Willamette Valley System (WVS) in Oregon to comply with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). A particular challenge is providing effective downstream passage through high-head dams.
The research examines a historical case study of the Green Peter Dam, where a decommissioned fish passage structure (1967-1988) demonstrated high fish passage rates. Specifically, 83% of juvenile Chinook released into the dam’s forebay were collected, and 97% survived downstream passage.
To replicate these high passage rates, the study has used historical data and a combination of statistical and mechanistic models. A regression model, based on environmental and structural conditions at various dams, was applied to Green Peter Dam data highlighting the importance of spatial factors.
Additionally, a spatially explicit bio-physical particle model, combining agent-based movement with hydraulic flow predictions, was used. This model indicated that high passage rates were achieved at lower flows compared to other surface outlets.
Next steps include calibrating and validating the models, applying them to additional dams, and drafting a scientific paper for publications. The project also involves reviewing and compiling data on Chinook salmon and winter steelhead movement at WVS dams and conducting a meta-analysis.
The goal is to better understand the factors of influencing downstream passage and potentially find cost-effective solutions for improving fish passage at high-head dams.
The program is co-sponsored by ERDC’s Directorate of Human Capital (DHC) through an application and selection process for the March through August session. Program funding is split between the selectees’ Division or District for choice of labor costs or travel with the other funded by ERDC.
Upon completion of ERDC-U, Piaskowski, along with the seven other selectees, will attend a graduation ceremony on September 10 at the Vicksburg, Mississippi, campus. During the ceremony, Piaskowski will present his extensive research efforts and results from his project titled “Informing Downstream Fish Passage Improvements at High-Head Dams.”
Applications will open in October for the 2025 ERDC-U session. For information on ERDC-U and applications, visit: https://wiki.erdc.dren.mil/ERDC_University
