Columbia River and groundwater well water sources are delivered
to the Aquatic Research Laboratory (ARL), where these resources are
used to conduct research on fish studies, tagging, prototype
aquatic tool development, and modeling of biological systems.
Capabilities include temperature and lighting controls to simulate
seasonal and diurnal cycles. The laboratory also contains both
indoor and outdoor facilities that are used for holding and
acclimating test fish and supports specialized research equipment
that can be installed and operated to meet specific research needs.
Research includes effects of radiation on the Columbia River
ecosystem; biological uptake, effects, and transport of
contaminants; fish physiology and energetics in relation to water
flow fields and shear/ turbulence; fish behavior in response to
physical structure and flow; radio- and acoustic tag development
and testing; egg and fry development in response to temperature and
dissolved nitrogen gas; flow quantification and modeling; new
generation hydroturbine design; and hyperbaric chamber testing to
simulate turbine passage.