Skip to Main Content U.S. Department of Energy
Energy and Environment Directorate

Brian Bellgraph

Brian Bellgraph

(509) 371-7185

Biography

Brian is a fisheries biologist specializing in the impacts of human energy development on fishes and has conducted extensive research in hydropower-dominated basins in the U.S. and abroad. He is inspired by innovation and spends much of his time at PNNL developing new research areas toward improving our Earth-energy systems. Of special interest to Brian is understanding the interactions between renewable energy (in particular, waterpower) and how new technologies can be used to reduce the human impacts of energy generation on rivers and other aquatic systems. Currently at PNNL, he leads the development of new research areas including development and application of technologies to reintroduce migratory fish to areas where they have been blocked due to hydropower dams, promoting the development of innovative fish passage technologies to reduce the cost and improve the safety and efficacy of fish migratory connectivity, and building teams to improve cybersecurity protection of hydropower facilities.

Research Interests

  • Ecology of large-river fishes
  • Resource use and competition
  • Native vs. non-native interactions
  • Fish migration behavior
  • Impacts of energy development on fish

Education and Credentials

  • M.S., Fish and Wildlife Management, Montana State University, 2006
  • B.S., Fisheries and Wildlife Management, Michigan State University, 2003

Affiliations and Professional Service

  • American Fisheries Society
  • Fisheries Society of the British Isle

PNNL Patents

PNNL Publications

2024

2022

  • Chalishazar V.H., R.A. Harnish, D. Bhatnagar, A. Somani, and B.J. Bellgraph. 2022. "Hydro-battery Hybrids - A Case for Holistic Assessment of Hybrid Energy Systems." In IEEE Electrical Energy Storage Application and Technologies Conference (EESAT 2022), November 8-9, 2022, Austin, TX, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-174725. doi:10.1109/EESAT55007.2022.9998036
  • Schneider A., S. Watson, B.D. Pflugrath, A. Colotelo, and B.J. Bellgraph. 2022. PNNL CRADA No. 488, Amendment 2 with Natel Energy, Inc.: The Center Sender - CRADA 488 (Final Report). PNNL-33017. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. PNNL CRADA No. 488, Amendment 2 with Natel Energy, Inc.: The Center Sender - CRADA 488 (Final Report)
  • Wigmosta M.S., Z. Duan, W.A. Perkins, M.C. Richmond, B.J. Bellgraph, X. Chen, and L. Leung. 2022. Model Advancements to Enable Impact Analysis of Climate Change on Streamflow Temperature. PNNL-34177. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Model Advancements to Enable Impact Analysis of Climate Change on Streamflow Temperature

2021

  • Garavelli L., S. Blackburn, A.T. Scholz, J. Connor, M.C. Paluch, J. Olson, and B.J. Bellgraph. 2021. "Characterizing the movements and habitat use of two fish species of concern in a regulated ecosystem." Hydrobiologia 848, no. 17:4059-4074. PNNL-SA-152971. doi:10.1007/s10750-021-04625-7
  • Lu J., H. Li, C. Tian, M.J. Myjak, J. Xiao, B.J. Bellgraph, and S. Cartmell, et al. 2021. "A Frequency-Programmable Miniaturized Radio Frequency Transmitter for Animal Tracking." Sensors 21, no. 19:Article No.6683. PNNL-SA-131089. doi:10.3390/s21196683
  • Reicher D.W., J. Seagrist, R. Dhakal, K.B. Larson, B.J. Bellgraph, J.W. Saulsbury, and J.D. Tagestad, et al. 2021. Improving the Discovery, Access, and Use of Water Data for Basin-Scale River Management: Phase 2 Workshop Report. PNNL-32164. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Improving the Discovery, Access, and Use of Water Data for Basin-Scale River Management: Phase 2 Workshop Report

2020

  • Bellgraph B.J., C. Baldwin, L. Garavelli, Z.F. Haque, W.A. Perkins, M.C. Richmond, and M. Howell, et al. 2020. "Estimates of Chinook Salmon Spawning Habitat in a Blocked Reach of the Columbia River Upstream of Grand Coulee Dam." Northwest Science 94, no. 2:99-110. PNNL-SA-141491. doi:10.3955/046.094.0201
  • Liss S.A., K.R. Znotinas, J.S. Hughes, B.J. Bellgraph, C.R. Vernon, R.A. Harnish, and E.S. Fischer, et al. 2020. Evaluation of Foster Dam Juvenile Fish Passage, 2018: Final Report. PNNL-29587. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Evaluation of Foster Dam Juvenile Fish Passage, 2018: Final Report

2019

  • Garavelli L., T.J. Linley, B.J. Bellgraph, B.M. Rhode, J.M. Janak, and A. Colotelo. 2019. "Evaluation of Passage and sorting of Adult Pacific Salmonids through a Novel Fish Passage Technology." Fisheries Research 212. PNNL-SA-136651. doi:10.1016/j.fishres.2018.12.010

2017

  • McIntyre J.I., C.E. Aalseth, T.R. Alexander, H.O. Back, B.J. Bellgraph, T.W. Bowyer, and V.D. Chipman, et al. 2017. "Measurements of Argon-39 at theU20az Underground Nuclear Explosion Site." Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 178-179. PNNL-26326. doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.07.013

2015

2014

  • Amezcua-Martinez F., and B.J. Bellgraph. 2014. Fisheries Management of Mexican and Central American Estuaries. Dordrecht:Springer Science+Business Media. PNNL-SA-100725.
  • Bellgraph B.J., K.M. Carter, M.A. Chamness, T.K. Abel, T.J. Linley, and V.I. Cullinan. 2014. "Predation Susceptibility of Juvenile Fall Chinook Salmon Exposed to Sudden Temperature Changes and Slightly Supersaturated Dissolved Gas." In Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon Life History Investigations, 1/1/2012 - 12/31/2012 Annual Report, edited by KF Tiffan, et al. 61-90. Pasco, Washington:Bonneville Power Administration. PNNL-SA-96230.
  • Hayes D.B., B.J. Bellgraph, B.M. Roth, D.D. Dauble, and R.P. Mueller. 2014. "Timing of Redd Construction by Fall Chinook Salmon in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River." River Research and Applications 30, no. 9:1110-1119. PNWD-SA-10098. doi:10.1002/rra.2719
  • Rodriguez-Preciado J.A., F. Amezcua-Martinez, B.J. Bellgraph, and J. Madrid-Vera. 2014. "Feeding habits and trophic level of the Panama grunt Pomadasys panamensis, an important bycatch species from the shrimp trawl fishery in the Gulf of California." Scientific World Journal 2014. PNNL-SA-88847. doi:10.1155/2014/864241

2012

  • Gingerich A.J., B.J. Bellgraph, R.S. Brown, N.T. Tavan, Z. Deng, and J. Brown. 2012. "Quantifying reception strength and omnidirectionality of underwater radio telemetry antennas: advances and applications for fisheries research." Fisheries Research 121-122. PNWD-SA-9571. doi:10.1016/j.fishres.2012.01.003

2010

  • Bellgraph B.J., G.A. McMichael, R.P. Mueller, and J.L. Monroe. 2010. "Behavioural response of juvenile Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha during a sudden temperature increase and implications for survival." Journal of Thermal Biology 35, no. 1:6-10. PNNL-SA-65005.

2008

  • Bellgraph B.J., C.S. Guy, W.M. Gardner, and S.A. Leathe. 2008. "Competition potential between saugers and walleyes in nonnative sympatry." Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 137, no. 3:790-800. PNNL-SA-60895. doi:10.1577/T07-102.1
  • Bellgraph B.J., R.S. Brown, J.R. Stephenson, A.E. Welch, K.A. Deters, and T.J. Carlson. 2008. "Healing Rate of Swim Bladders in Rainbow Trout." Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 137, no. 6:1791-1794. PNNL-SA-62735. doi:10.1577/T07-167.1

2006

  • Bellgraph B.J., B.E. Thompson, D.B. Hayes, and T.S. Riley. 2006. "Growth of age-0 steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in the Pine River watershed, Alcona County, Michigan." Journal of Freshwater Ecology 21, no. 4:687-692. PNNL-SA-53627.

Energy and Environment

Core Research Areas

Contacts