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Gill Raker Gazette
Gill Raker Gazette
Newsletter of the Idaho Chapter of the American Fisheries Society

Volume 32, Issue 2

Newsletter of the Idaho Chapter of the American Fisheries Society
Volume 43, Issue 1

January 2024

Editor: Joe Kozfkay

President’s Message – The Only Thing New is the History You Don’t Know
I recently finished reading The Founding Brothers, abook about the Founding Fathers that focuses on specific topics and the larger role that topic played in the events of thetime. For example, one chapter was about the Hamilton-Burrduel, another was about Washington’s farewell address, andanother was about the lost and rekindled friendship between
Jefferson and Adams. What struck me was how much animosity there was between opposing sides of the issues of thetime. In modern America, it sometimes feels like no one canget along anymore, and the level of angst on one side of thepolitical spectrum being leveled upon the other side has neverbeen higher. Yet when I read that even Washington was accused (cursorily usually, but sometimes even overtly) of treason because of his stance on some issues, you realize thatmaybe the discord we all feel in society these days isn’t muchdifferent than at other times in the past. I also remember reading, in a book about Abe Lincoln, how one southern senator,
in the lead-up to the state successions that culminated in the
Hiking into the Bruneau Canyon to conduct mountain whitefish
Civil War, took a club onto the Senate floor and assaulted asnorkel surveys.
northern senator right in front of everyone else in the chamber.
I bring this up because we often forget that the trials, tribulations, and questions we are now facing might have been
faced before. The title of my letter is a quote by my favorite President, Harry Truman. He was a voracious reader and wellversed historian, spending hours and hours combing through biographies and history books to learn about the past. One of the
primary lessons he was digging for in these books was to find good leadership qualities to emulate and bad ones to avoid. I’ll
get into leadership in my final column, but another reason he was doing so much reading was to learn from the past so that hecould avoid common mistakes made by prior leaders.
As fisheries biologists, it is easier than ever to find a plethora of publications or book chapters on just about any scientific subject matter we can think of. But are we digging into this material? Are we making sense of our own findings in thecontext of prior work? Are we taking the time to archive prior reports and publications, and our own work, for future reference when we (or a colleague) might need it? And are we mentoring students and young professionals in a way that encourages them to find out what has already been learned while at the same time opening their mind to broad, new ways of thinking? Those are keys to successfully hurdling any adversity we face.
As many of us toil away this winter, attending meetings or making sense of the data we gathered in the last field season,
I encourage you to think about how biologists in the past might have tried to answer questions like our own. Go find theirwork, see what they learned, and incorporate your findings into the broader world of fisheries science and management. In
the process, heavily sprinkle three ingredients into your work: motivation, perseverance, and enthusiasm. The late great basketball coach Jimmy Valvano said that nothing good in life was ever accomplished without these ingredients. We have to be
motivated to work hard and succeed, we must persevere in whatever obstacles come our way, and we need enthusiastic passion for what we are trying to accomplish. Let’s foster this inside ourselves, and help to spread it to our staff, coworkers, andcolleagues.
I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming ICAFS meeting in Spokane (see inside for preliminary details), and may
2024 be your best year ever!
Kevin Meyer
ICAFS President

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Volume 43, Issue 1

ICAFS FINANCIAL SUMMARY, FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023
Communicated by Kevin Meyer and Jesse McCane

Each fiscal year (FY: May 1st to April 30th) ICAFS operates under two budgets. The FY Annual Budget covers expenses not associated with the annual meeting. Every year varies, but May 2022 to April 2023 expenses were as follows:
ICAFS FY 2022-2023 Annual Budget
Committee
Activity/Expenditure
Education Trout in the Classroom"
High School student scholarship"
Undergraduate student scholarship"
Graduate student scholarship"
SB Martin Scholarship"Best Student Presentation"
Best Student Poster"
TOP Grant
Native Fish Richard L. Wallace fish mount
Mentoring Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Aquaculture Coldwater Aquaculture Course Scholarship
Fundraising Fundraising Outlay
Venue Deposits for 2023 Meeting
In-Person EXCOM Meeting
Western Division EXCOM Travel
Chapter awards: plaques, certificates, etc.
Miscellaneous expenses
Website MaintenanceLatin America & Caribbean Conference Sponsorship
WDAFS/National AFS Meeting Sponsorship
TotalsPaid by ICAFS
$
614
$
500
$
1,500
$
1,500
$
$
$

$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$

Comment

Paid by Other$

2,000 Paid by endowment$$

500 Paid by Idaho Power Company
5,000 Paid by Idaho Fish and Game Dept.

500
500
734

500
2,134
10,990
318
1,000
1,800
165
384
250
500
23,889 $7,500

The other budget accounts for income and expenses generated fromholding an annual meeting (i.e., The Meeting Budget). Each year, EXCOM
strives to generate enough profit from the annual meeting to cover the upcoming FY Annual Budget. However, in spring 2023, our annual meeting
was a joint meeting with WDAFS, so we shared meeting profit. Based on the
net meeting income objective set by WDAFS to cover their annual budget
and the profit splitting formula for the meeting, ICAFS made more from thismeeting ($52,015) than we usually do (see adjacent table).
In summary, ICAFS is in a better cash position than ever before,
with $73,000 in discretionary funds, plus one endowed scholarship, and a“rainy day” mutual fund that WDAFS holds, as they do for other chapters;
see final table. Annual expenses in FY 2023-2024 are forecasted to be similar
though slightly higher than last year.
Our goal for the 2024 meeting has been to minimize registration costsin light of our current surplus. However, due to another joint meeting andforecasted profits and sharing distributions amongst the chapters, we are unable to reduce registration costs slightly for the 2024 meeting.
We are presenting this information for two reasons. First, EXCOM iscommitted to transparency. Second, EXCOM would like your input (via thelink below) on what to do with surplus cash balance. We appreciate your input and will share these results in a future newsletter!

Please take the survey!!

herePage 3Gill Raker Gazette

Volume 43, Issue 1

Announcing the 2024 WA-BC & Idaho Chapters Joint
Meeting!
April 29—May 2, 2024 at the Centennial Hotelin Spokane, WA

Theme
This meeting’s theme is Returning Home: Navigating the Challenges of Anadromous Fisheries.

Call for Abstracts!
We have a plethora of symposia for this year’s joint meeting. Get inspired by the many topics, covering not just anadromous
issues and submit an abstract or poster to be seen by both the Idaho
and WA-BC Chapters! The presentation choices are standard 20minute talks, 5-minute IGNITE! talks, and posters. The first deadline for abstract submission is Thursday, February 29, 2024. You
may submit abstracts directly here or visit the 2024 meeting website.

Early Registration & Lodging
We are planning to open early registration
on February 1st. Check back then on the meetingwebsite 2024 Meeting – AFS-Washington British
Columbia Chapter (fisheries.org) for details.
There are drastically reduced rates for students
and retired fisheries professionals, as well as foryoung professionals. Young professionals arethose who are no longer students but are not yet ina situation where their employer will pay registration costs. Examples include college graduatesworking part-time or seasonal positions. If you are
uncertain if you qualify as a young professional,
contact Lauren Andrews at presidentelect@idahoafs.org for further information. Lodging will be at The Centennial meeting venue andcan be booked through this link.

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Volume 43, Issue 12024 Joint Annual Meeting (continued)
Plenary Session and speakers
Spokane Tribe of Indians
We will kick off the conference hearing from a Tribal Councilwoman, followed by the debut of theshort film from the 2022 salmon release into the Spokane River which took place at the 152nd AFS
Annual Meeting.

Update on Snake River Dam Breaching from AFS
During the past two years, an ad hoc group of AFS members has been working at the parent
society level on policy positions and congressional briefings relative to anadromous fish recovery and restoration in the Columbia Basin, with much emphasis on Snake River dam breaching.
An update on this topic will describe: 1) the current status of Snake Basin anadromous fish, 2)
AFS’s position statement and letter to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural
Resources, as well as 3) an update on the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative, the Presidential Memorandum, and the recent USG Commitments that advance the work necessary to obtain congressional authorization for breaching the four Lower Snake Dams. With his close involvement, presenting on this topic will be Jay Hesse, the Director of Biological Services for the Nez Perce Tribe Department of Fisheries Resources Management.

Jonathan Armstrong is an associate professor in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, andConservation Sciences at Oregon State University. His lab focuses on landscape ecology, animal behavior, and physiology to understand how animals interact with heterogeneity in habitat
conditions. The lab strives to benefit conservation and is focused on improving climate change
adaptation planning for wide-ranging fishes. He and his lab members work with stakeholders
to co-produce science and communicate research to the general public.

Christopher Caudill is an associate professor of fisheries in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences at the University of Idaho. His research interests include animal movement andpopulation biology, fish migration and fish passage, life history variation, climate effects, conservation and management of freshwater resources, and endangered species.

Scott Hinch is a professor and Associate Dean of Students in the Department of Forest andConservation Sciences at the University of British Columbia. His areas of research include
salmon migration behavioral physiology and ecology; land-use effects on fish ecology and habitat; and adult salmon migration survival, behavior, energetics, physiology, habitat use, environmental cues, effects of fisheries and capture-release, passage in regulated rivers, disease andpathogens.

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Volume 43, Issue 12024 Joint Annual Meeting (continued)
Workshops on Monday April 29, 2024
(lunches not provided; sign up during registration)
Genetics 101 (Full day; 8 h)
Instructors: Rebekah Horn and Hayley Nuetzel, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC); and Audrey Harris, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC)
Genetic data are becoming more widely incorporated into fisheries management, with applications including the quantification of adaptive diversity and population resiliency to climate change, genetic identification of samples to species and origin inforensic cases, and genetic monitoring of hatchery stocks through pedigree-based analysis. Though managers and biologists
may not collect genetic data firsthand, a baseline understanding of the types of genetic data available, their utility, and how
results may apply to management plans can prove extremely useful. This workshop is designed for non-geneticists within thefield of fisheries and will cover: 1) introductory genetic basics and terms, 2) best practices for DNA sample collection, 3) thelaboratory workflow from sample to genetic data, and 4) the types of genetic analyses, as well as results fisheries managers andbiologists can expect to encounter. Participants in the workshop will experience a mix of lectures from experienced geneticists
and hands-on activities with workshop material that participants can take home for future reference.
Aquatic Connectivity, Flood Capacity, and Structural Integrity Associated with Road-Stream Crossings: Concepts and Tools for Management (Full day; 8 h)
Instructors: Kat Hoenke, Southeastern Aquatic Resource Partnership; Dan Dauwalter, Trout Unlimited; and Carlos
Camacho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game
Aquatic organism passage (AOP), capacity to pass flood flows, and infrastructure integrity are important features of roadstream crossings. This full day workshop will cover these basic features associated with road-stream crossings, how to assessthem using common protocols, and how the data can be integrated into frameworks and tools to prioritize crossings for removal, replacement, or improvement. The workshop will highlight a protocol used by the Southeastern Aquatic Resource
Partnership (SARP) and show how using it will help build a national database to help prioritize crossings that should be removed or modified to allow for aquatic organism passage. The workshop will include half-day classroom portion and halfday field training portion where organizers will train attendees on how to collect data using the SARP protocol and its associated tools, access the data from SARP’s database, and see how collected data are used in the National Aquatic Barrier Prioritization Tool (Aquaticbarriers.org).

All about PIT Tagging (Half day; 4 h)
Instructor: Nick Porter, BioMark
In this workshop we will discuss PIT tag theory and function, site selection, examples, and species-specific tagging. Armedwith knowledge you will better understand the capabilities of PIT technology and when to use it.

Indigenous aquatic resource management (Half day; 4 h)
Instructor: TBD
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Continuing Education committees of the Idaho Chapter American Fisheries Society(ICAFS) and Washington/British Columbia Chapter American Fisheries Society (WA/BCAFS) present a half day workshop
which will provide attendees with a fundamental introduction to indigenous perspectives and practice of aquatic resource
management. Attendees will gain a basic understanding of and appreciation for indigenous perspectives and concerns that will
inform productive co-management and collaboration with Tribal/First Nations partners on aquatic resource issues around thePacific Northwest. More information to come on the specifics of this workshop.

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Volume 43, Issue 12024 Joint Annual Meeting (continued)
Workshops on Monday April 29, 2024
(lunches not provided; sign up during registration)
The Lamprey Lens - Incorporating Lampreys into Restoration and Monitoring Projects (Half day; 4 h)
Instructors: Monica Blanchard, Christina Wang, Ann Grote, and Max Calloway US Fish and Wildlife Service
Pacific and Western River lampreys are native anadromous fish that live throughout the northwest; however, though their
populations have declined in concert with Pacific salmonids, they are rarely incorporated into stream monitoring projects andrestoration efforts. Lack of awareness has been identified as a key threat to the protection and restoration of Pacific Lamprey
and other native lamprey species across their historical range. This is especially true in the northern reaches of their range, in
Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. The goal of this workshop is to address this lack of awareness and train biologists
and practitioners to evaluate projects through a “lamprey lens”. This workshop will educate participants about native lamprey
species, basic biology and habitat use, ecological importance, and known distributions. Participants will learn how to incorporate lampreys into project planning and implementation, with a focus on restoration and passage projects. The workshop will
provide tools that participants can apply in their home watersheds, including techniques for monitoring and identification oflamprey species and life stage, as well as best management guidelines for incorporating lampreys into projects.

Nutrition in Aquaculture: What are we feeding our fish and why? (Half day; 4 h)
Instructors: Riley Brown, Idaho Power; Tyson Fehringer, Idaho Department of Fish and Game; and Melissa Wagner, Collegeof Southern Idaho
This workshop will encompass a wide perspective on fish nutrition. Talks from fisheries professionals around the PacificNorthwest will focus on the key ingredients in common feeds, species-specific needs, the importance of quality nutrition for
overall fish health, and the nuts and bolts of developing feed projections.

Communicating Science: a guide to scientific storytelling (Half day; 4 h)
Instructor: Katherine Strickler, Washington State University
Communication is an essential part of being a scientist. Fisheries biology is generally an applied science, and for it to be effectively used, we need to share scientific knowledge with other scientists, managers, the public, journalists, and policymakers.
Many of us have been trained to share our work with other scientists but have had little (or no) training in communicating
fisheries science with other audiences.
Regardless of the audience, the heart of all effective communication is the ability to tell a good story. In this half-day workshop, participants will learn and practice principles of good storytelling, including crafting narratives of their work, targetingmessages for different audiences, and using their excitement about their work to create a story that sticks. The majority of theworkshop will feature a format of interactive, hands-on activities. Participants will use their own or others’ research to create
messages to communicate with their intended audiences. The skills we practice in the workshop will help participants tell better science stories, whether in a journal article, a newsletter, a policy paper, or a conversation with a landowner concerned
about fisheries management.

Predicting Salmon Returns - A survey of existing models and an exploration of new methods forbuilding better predictions (Half day; 4 hours)
Instructors: TBD

Predicting salmon returns is a critical part of salmon management, however models used in the past such as the Ricker stock
recruit relationship, are not performing well in today’s rapidly changing environments. This workshop will walk participants
through the range of models used to predict salmon returns, and then explore new strategies for building better models.

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Volume 43, Issue 12024 Joint Annual Meeting (continued)
2024 Annual ICAFS Meeting Awards
The following is a list of Chapter awards given out annually at the Chapter business meeting. Deadlines for
submittal of most ICAFS award nominations is March 1, 2024 (see Wallace Award for exception).

Lifetime Achievement Award
This is the most prestigious award granted by the Chapter and is awarded to individuals who are either retired
or within five years of retirement that have made significant and sustained contributions to advance the mission of the Chapter. This work may include, but is not limited to, advancing fisheries and aquatic science, implementing important management, or promoting the development of fisheries professionals. The recipientsare selected from nominations submitted by Chapter members to Rob Van Kirk at rob@henrysfork.org.

Distinguished Service Award
This award is given to individuals who have made a significant contribution in furthering the mission of the
Idaho Chapter and is specific to work completed within the Chapter. The recipients are selected from nominations submitted by EXCOM or Chapter members to Rob Van Kirk at rob@henrysfork.org.

Outstanding Professional Award
This award is given to individuals who have made a significant contribution in furthering the mission of the
Chapter and is specific to work completed outside the Chapter. The recipients are selected from nominations
submitted by Chapter members to Rob Van Kirk at rob@henrysfork.org..

Richard L. Wallace Native Fish Conservationist of the Year Award
This award is sponsored by the Native Fish Committee. It was created in 2004 and is presented annually to anindividual, group, or organization for outstanding achievement in native fish conservation in Idaho. Recipients are selected from nominations submitted by Chapter members to committee co-chairs (contact info here).
The physical award is a beautiful hand-carved version of a fish species that is a meaningful representation of
the recipient's work. THE DEADLINE FOR THIS AWARD IS FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2024.

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Volume 43, Issue 12023 Joint Annual Meeting (continued)
2023 Annual ICAFS Meeting Awards (continued)
Outstanding Mentor Award
This award is sponsored by the Mentoring Committee. It was created by the Palouse Subunit in 2006 andthey selected and presented the award that year. Since 2007, the award has been administered by the Mentoring Committee. The award is presented annually to an individual who has shown substantial devotion to
mentoring of fisheries students or professionals in Idaho. Nominees should have made significant contributions in furthering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in their mentoring activities, and in supporting the missionof the Idaho Chapter to “promote the development of fisheries professionals”. The recipients are selectedfrom nominations submitted by Chapter members to Kat Gillies-Rector or Eric Billman (committee co-chairs;
contact info here). Nomination packages should include the name of the nominee and one or more lettershighlighting their achievements in mentoring.

ICAFS Early Career Professional Award
This award is intended to celebrate exceptional work in early career professionals. To be eligible, professionals must be within five years post-graduation and be working at any level in the fisheries profession including
technician, biologist, culturist, etc. Nominees should have made significant contributions in furthering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in their work or volunteer activities, and in supporting the mission of the Idaho
Chapter during the short time they have been working in the fisheries profession. Nominations should be sent
to Kat Gillies-Rector and Eric Billman (committee co-chairs; contact info here). Nomination packages should
include the name of the nominee, information about most recent degree completed including graduation date,current position of the nominee, and one or more letters of support highlighting achievements. Selfnominations are accepted.

Excellence in Aquaculture Award
This award is sponsored by the Aquaculture Committee. It was created in 2008 and is presented annually to
an individual or aquaculture facility for outstanding achievement in the field of aquaculture or aquaculturerelated research. The recipients are selected from nominations submitted by Chapter members to Eric
Pankau, Thomas Lindenmuth, or Riley Brown (committee co-chairs; contact info here).

The Aquatic Habitat Award
This award is sponsored by the Aquatic Habitat Committee. It was created in 2016 and is presented annuallyto an individual, group, or organization that has made significant contributions to the field of fish habitat restoration and enhancement in Idaho. The recipients are selected from nominations submitted by Chapter
members to Ken Bouwens or Eric Berntsen (committee co-chairs; contact info here).
Awards reminder: Because this is a joint WDAFS/ICAFS meeting, there also will be awards given by theWestern Division. Please click here for more details to submit nominations for Western Division awards.

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Volume 43, Issue 12024 ICAFS Executive Committee Candidates
Vice President
Tom Bassista—Tom is a Natural Resource Program Coordinator for the Technical Assistance Program with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) and a Certified
Public Manager for the State of Idaho. His position is within the newly formed Technical Services Bureau housed at Headquarters in Boise. In this capacity Tom provides
statewide support and expertise on fisheries and aquatic habitat issues centered aroundwater and land use, development, and extraction. Critical for this position is successful
collaboration with IDFG Fisheries Managers and biologists and effectively working withmany state and federal agencies to help achieve positive outcomes for fisheries resources.
After receiving his master’s degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Resources from West Virginia University (WVU) and working 4 years with the WV Division of Natural Resources as an Aquatic Ecologist, Tom moved to Idaho in 2001 and started working for
IDFG in Northern ID. Tom moved to Eastern ID in 2006 and took a slight turn in his
career and worked as a Stream Channel Protection Specialist for Idaho Department of
Water Resource. Tom returned to IDFG in 2010 and has remained since, splitting thattime working in regions and Headquarters. Tom first joined AFS in 1996. In graduate
school Tom was the President for the WVU Chapter of the Wildlife and Fisheries Society (1997-1998). Tom happily served as the ICAFS Membership Chair (2005-2007) andNominations Chair (2007). Tom is Idaho’s Governing Council Member for the Instream
Flow Council (IFC), serving in that capacity since 2015. He has served as Secretary for
the IFC and currently serves as IFC’s Regional Director, which provides him with theprivilege to sit on the IFC Executive Committee. Tom would be thrilled to bring his gregarious nature, diverse skill set, and experience back to the ICAFS and would be honored and humbled to be selected as theVice President.

Paul Kusnierz—Paul is a Fisheries Biologist with Avista. He is responsible for implementing multiple fishery and water quality programs associated with the operation of Cabinet Gorge Dam on the lower Clark
Fork River in Idaho. This work involves extensive interaction and collaboration with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Kalispel Tribe of Indians, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service and includes performing and supporting fisheries sampling and research in the Clark
Fork River-Lake Pend Oreille watershed. With the goal of making fish
a part of his employment, Paul earned a B.S. in Biology with a Minorin Fisheries from the University of Maine and then an M.S. in Biology
at Northern Michigan University. His graduate work involved studying
the movement and growth of Coaster Brook Trout in tributaries of
Lake Superior. Paul has attended American Fisheries Society meetingsand served on committees at the Chapter, Division, and Society levels;
most recently serving as the President of the Society’s Water Quality Section. Paul has benefitted from AFS through interaction with other fisheries professionals, reading and contributing to AFS journals, and volunteering at meetings. Paul has
seen first-hand the value that the Idaho Chapter provides to its members. As a member of the Excom, Paul would support
the high-quality learning and professional opportunities that the Chapter provides, encourage membership growth and retention through engagement of students and non-fisheries aquatic professionals, and work to ensure that the Chapter’s activities
are known and recognized at the Society level.

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Volume 43, Issue 12024 ICAFS Executive Committee Candidates
Secretary/Treasurer
Jake Hughes – Jake is a Fisheries Biologist with Idaho Power Company, based in
Boise. Born and raised in Alaska, Jake ventured south to earn a B.S. in Biology
Eastern Oregon University (2007), working seasonal fish jobs in Alaska, Oregon,
and Idaho along the way. Jake then went East, earning his M.S. in Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation biology at North Carolina State University (2012). It was in
NC when he was first introduced to AFS. Jake was an active member and copresident of the NCSU Student Subunit, helping the subunit earn the AFS Outstanding Student Subunit Award (back-to-back, go Wolfpack!). While he found fish
research in North Carolina fascinating and an unforgettable experience, Jake returned West for a brief stint with IDFG before joining Idaho Power Company’s
White Sturgeon Program as a Fisheries Biologist in 2013. Since 2014, Jake has beenan active member and governing board member (2021-2022) of the North American
Sturgeon and Paddlefish Society. Since his return to Idaho, Jake has also been an
ICAFS member, contributing as a volunteer during annual meetings, meeting planning committee participant (2017-2022), and co-chair of the Public Education Committee (2018-2022; although he’s quick to point out that no one is on the level of his
co-chair, Lauri Monnot, she’s an absolute rockstar). Jake says his involvement with
AFS has been invaluable to his career and feels blessed to have experienced suchgreat leadership and professionalism from ICAFS leaders and members. Looking tofurther his involvement, Jake is excited for an opportunity to serve the Idaho Chapter as ICAFS Secretary/Treasurer.

Zak Robinson — Zak is a Fisheries Geneticist with the Columbia River InterTribal Fish Commission (CRITFC), based in Hagerman, Idaho. In 2022, Zakearned his Ph.D. in Fish and Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana and started work for CRITFC. Since his undergraduate days as a fisheries technician for the U.S. Forest Service, Zak has primarily focused on researching small, isolated populations of inland salmonids. He is excited about
his recent transition to the world of big-river, anadromous salmon and isproud to call the Gem State home. In his current role, Zak contributes to thelong-term genetic monitoring of anadromous salmon in the Columbia River
Basin using parentage-based tagging and genetic stock identification. Additionally, he leads diverse research projects that not only cater to the informational needs of tribal partners but also address enduring questions in fisheriesscience and management. Zak has been an active member of the American
Fisheries Society for 11 years. Throughout this time, he has co-organizedsymposiums, volunteered at state and divisional meetings, and presented atnumerous conferences. Zak is highly motivated to serve and contribute to anorganization that has been integral to his educational and professional development. He is dedicated to advancing the mission of ICAFS and appreciates
the opportunity to serve on the Executive Committee as Secretary/Treasurer.

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Volume 43, Issue 12024 ICAFS Executive Committee Candidates
Nominations
Katie McBain—Katie is an M & E biologist for hatchery steelhead programs with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. She
was born and raised in Idaho and has spent the last 14 years dedicated to fisheries and conservation. Prior to landing a permanent
position, she held multiple positions as a fisheries technician
throughout Idaho. Katie earned Bachelor of Science degrees in
Fishery Resources and Wildlife Resources from the University of
Idaho (2015) and was an active member of the Palouse Student
sub-unit during her time there. She then moved to Blacksburg,
Virginia to pursue a M.S. degree in Fish Conservation from Virginia Tech. During her time at Virginia Tech, she served as the
President of the Virginia Tech Chapter (2019-2020). AFS has
played an integral part in her professional development and has
afforded her opportunities to network and collaborate with passionate people. Katie is looking forward to giving back to her“home” chapter and is excited for the opportunity to serve as the
ICAFS Nominations Chair.

Brett Kelly – Brett is a Regional Fisheries Biologist with Idaho Department ofFish and Game based out of Salmon, ID. His primary responsibilities include
investigating sportfish populations in rivers, streams, high mountain lakes, andcommunity ponds to improve fishing opportunities and inform native fish conservation. Previously, Brett was based out of Lewiston, ID from 2020 to 2022 where
he worked for the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission with IDFG tohelp implement and monitor habitat restoration projects aimed towards steelhead
recovery in the Potlatch River. Brett grew up in South Carolina and received his
B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology from Clemson University in 2017. During
his time in the southeast he worked a variety of seasonal jobs involving wildlife
habitat improvement, water quality monitoring, stream and wetland restoration,
stream fish ecology, and a large-scale assessment of riverine fish populations
throughout South Carolina. Brett then earned his M.S. degree in Fisheries Biology from Iowa State University in 2020 where he studied the distribution and habitat associations of Brook Trout and Brown Trout in the Iowa Driftless Area.
Brett has been a national AFS member since 2016 and has been associated withand held positions for multiple student sub-units (Clemson University and Iowa
State University) and state chapters (South Carolina, Iowa, and now ICAFS).
Brett has also presented undergraduate and graduate research at state and division level AFS meetings. Aside from work, Brett enjoys rowing rivers, fishing alpine lakes, and learning about big game andbird hunting with his wife and two dogs. Brett is excited for the opportunity to hold an ICAFS Executive Committee position for the first time and serve as the Nominations Chair.

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Volume 43, Issue 1

Student Spotlight
Bryce Marciniak, Palouse Subunit
M.S. Candidate (College of Natural Resources), University of Idaho
Thesis Title: Interactions Among Yellow Perch, Northern Pikeminnow, and Smallmouth Bass in Lake
Cascade, Idaho
Biography: Bryce obtained his bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University (Go Wildcats!!!);
and after working as a technician for a couple seasons, he is now a third-year master’s student within the
Quist Lab - Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Bryce’s research is focused on understanding fluctuations in abundance of Yellow Perch, especially juveniles, in Lake
Cascade, Idaho, a fishery well known
amongst anglers for producing trophy individuals and state records. Bryce is using a
combination of age and growth estimation, stomach content analysis, and temperature data to build bioenergetics models
that will improve understanding and inform management efforts. Bryce is currently spending his time wading through acouple million stomach samples; well, notreally, but close to it, and hopes to finish
his thesis and graduate in 2024. Bryce isheavily involved in the Palouse subunit as
the Graduate Student Representative andhas mentored several undergraduate students who have worked as technicians forhim in the lab and the field.

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Volume 43, Issue 1

Updates and Opportunities
ICAFS Establishes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
At its fall retreat, the ICAFS EXCOM considered a proposal to establish Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as
a new standing Chapter Committee. Per ICAFS bylaws, committees can be established as needed by the Chapter
President, and Kevin Meyer did so after discussion of the proposal. The mission of the new committee is"to increase the participation and equitable treatment of members of the Idaho Chapter of AFS by creating programs, educational opportunities, and annual meeting accommodations that further inclusion and representationof historically underrepresented and marginalized groups." The committee will provide support and resources toother chapter committees in achieving this mission. The DEI committee will hold its first meeting at the upcoming
Chapter meeting in Spokane and will schedule that meeting at a different time than the other committee meetings
so that chairs of other committees can attend the DEI Committee meeting. Rob Van Kirk and Kat Gillies-Rector
will serve as DEI Committee co-chairs and as Chapter representatives on the Western Division Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Please contact them if you would like to become involved with this new chapter committee.

Aquaculture Committee Update
The ICAFS Aquaculture Committee was able to utilize committee funds, paired with TOP
Grant dollars to sponsor two young professionals to attend the Northwest Fish Culture
Concepts Workshop in Boise in December. This unique opportunity allowed Tyrell
Holmes and Parker Miller to meet fisheries professionals from all around the Western
United States and British Columbia and watch quality presentations on a variety of subjects related to aquaculture. The committee received wonderful feedback from the individuals regarding how unique and beneficial this opportunity was! The committee is also looking forward to hosting a “Nutrition in Aquaculture” workshop at the upcoming annual
meeting.

Fundraising Committee Update
We thank you for your continued support at the banquet and conference. We will continue to use the GiveSmartplatform which Nick Porter will be taking on this year. Susie Frawley joined the fundraising team and will be taking on corporate sponsorship, and Tucker Brauer will be taking care of gear donations. We look forward to seeing
you at this year conference in Spokane!

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Gill Raker Gazette

Volume 43, Issue 1

Updates and Opportunities
Palouse Subunit Update
This fall the Palouse Subunit hosted several speakers for research talks, as well as fly tying, resume help, and trivia
nights. We also sent 14 students into the field with Idaho Department of Fish and Game for White Sturgeon sampling in the Snake River in November. Students were able to meet agency staff and learn firsthand about White
Sturgeon research and sampling techniques. In addition, the subunit met bi-weekly last semester and plan to continue that schedule into the spring. This spring we are hosting several speakers from state, federal, and tribal agencies for more research talks. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to hear the perspectives of a diverse group of professionals last fall and we are looking forward to continuing that trend into the spring. We are also currently preparing for our annual Wild Game Feed, which is scheduled for April 19th here in Moscow. The Wild Game Feed isour biggest fundraiser and funds student travel for field trips and events. We hope to use these funds to aid students
in attending the annual meeting in April as well.

Portneuf Subunit Update
The Portneuf Subunit has spent fall through early winter participating in outreach and fundraising events aroundour community in SE Idaho. In the fall we spent two days working with students from Pocatello High School at
the Cherry Springs Bioblitz. At this event we demonstrated electrofishing and kick net sampling and got highschool students excited about trying to ID insects and fish in their local waterways. We hosted our annual ice fishing derby this year at Chesterfield Reservoir in January, and it was a great success raising funds for student travel
grants and invited speakers. The trout that won the grand prize at the derby was a 21.7 inch beauty pulled throughthe ice. Looking forward to the upcoming spring we are hosting a seminar speaker to give a talk to Idaho State’s
Biology Department about applications of genetic methods for conservation of native fish species.

Native Fishes of Idaho Posters Available
The Native Fish Committee has produced two sets of printings for the new Native Fishes of Idaho Poster. One set ison heavier stock and is meant to be used in classrooms orfor other educational purposes. A second printing is on thinner paper but is still high quality; these can be distributed toeducators as well, but they are also meant to be available toany ICAFS member who wants access to the poster for any
reason, including display in their office or common area.
Let’s try to maximize use of the heavier stock posters foreducational purposes over the next several years, while also
making the thinner posters available as needed. If and when
we run out, we can re-print. Keep in mind that the thinnerposters cost less than $2 each, so please make use of them as
you see fit. They are primarily being held at IDFG regional
offices so please contact local IDFG biologists, or EXCOM members, for details on how to obtain copies in yourarea of the state. Great job Native Fish Committee, this new poster is beautiful and very educational!

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VolumeVolume31,
43,Issue
Issue 31

Gill Raker Gazette
Newsletter of the Idaho Chapter of the American Fisheries Society

GillRaker
RakerGazette
GazetteGill

Executive
Committee
Executive
Committee
Updatesand Opportunities

President
Kevin Meyer
Phone: 208-854-8916
kevin.meyer@idfg.idaho.gov

President-Elect
Lauren Andrews
Phone: 208-484-7984
president-elect@idahoafs.org

Vice President
Joe Kozfkay
Phone: 208-697-1117
joe.kozfkay@idfg.idaho.gov

Past President
Rob Van Kirk
Phone: 208-881-3407
rob@henrysfork.org

Treasurer
Jesse McCane
Phone: 208-939-6713
jesse.mccane@idfg.idaho.gov

Secretary
Eric Stark
Phone: 208-816-0314
eric.stark@idfg.idaho.gov

Nominations Chair
Rob Ryan
Phone: 208-215-8652
rob.ryan@idfg.idaho.gov

Portneuf Student Unit President
Adam Zambie
adamzambie@isu.edu

The EXCOM wants your ideas!
Please do not hesitate to contact any
EXCOM member about questions or ideas.

Palouse Student Unit President
Courtnie Ghere
courtnie.ghere@gmail.com

BYU Idaho Student Unit
President
Robert Gregoryrobegreg16@gmail.com

This is your Chapter!