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Energy and Environment Directorate

Robert Mueller

Robert Mueller

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
PO Box 999
Richland, WA 99352
(509) 371-7229

Biography

Bob Mueller is a senior research scientist and his research focuses on fish passage evaluations in association with hydropower facilities and irrigation diversions across the Pacific Northwest. He has focused his research on working with juvenile and adult Pacific salmonids as well as Pacific lamprey. Past and recent projects include studies to evaluate and describe habitat variables associated with fall Chinook salmon and steelhead spawning areas within the Lower Snake River, Hanford Reach and the Lower Columbia River, conducting hydroacoustic/acoustic camera evaluations at mainstem hydroelectric facilities to evaluate fish passage systems and evaluate fish behavior near these structures, laboratory and field tests to determine the effects of turbulence, shear stress and pressure on juvenile salmonids, using acoustics in association with fish survival studies, use of optical cameras to quantify fish habitat and behavior observations, and water quality assessments.

Research Interests

  • Chinook salmon spawning habitat studies
  • Acoustic/video camera evaluations
  • Juvenile lamprey passage studies
  • Fish survival via the use of passive and active transmitters

Education and Credentials

  • B.S., Aquatic Biology, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN, 1987

Affiliations and Professional Service

  • American Fisheries Society

PNNL Publications

2024

  • Deters K.A., J.M. Janak, R.P. Mueller, B.T. Boehnke, and Z. Deng. 2024. "Handling and Tagging Techniques for Implanting Juvenile American Shad with a New Acoustic Micro-Transmitter." Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE) 2024, no. 208:Art. No. e65694. PNNL-SA-184228. doi:10.3791/65694
  • Deters K.A., R.P. Mueller, S. Larson, J.M. Janak, H. Li, J.J. Martinez, and R.A. Harnish, et al. 2024. "Development of optimal methods for collection, transportation, holding, handling and tagging of juvenile American shad." Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 34, no. 2:731 - 751. PNNL-SA-177983. doi:10.1007/s11160-024-09835-5

2022

  • LaBry N., K. LaBry, C.J. Larimer, W. Chouyyok, R.P. Mueller, and R.S. Addleman. 2022. PNNL CRADA No. 491, Amendment 1 with Prometheus Innovations, LLC. PNNL-32920. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. PNNL CRADA No. 491, Amendment 1 with Prometheus Innovations, LLC
  • Mater B.D., C.C. Coutant, K.D. Ham, W.A. Perkins, J.F. Christ, D.M. Anderson, and R.K. Singh, et al. 2022. Making a Deal with the Devilfish: Biometric-Informed Screening Technology CRADA - 514 (Final Report). PNNL-32845. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Making a Deal with the Devilfish: Biometric-Informed Screening Technology CRADA - 514 (Final Report)
  • Staines G.J., R.P. Mueller, A.C. Seitz, M.D. Evans, P. O'Byrne, and M. Wosnik. 2022. "Capabilities of an acoustic camera to inform fish collision risk from current energy converter turbines." Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 10, no. 4:Art. No. 483. PNNL-SA-166661. doi:10.3390/jmse10040483
  • Watson S., A. Schneider, L. Santen, K.A. Deters, R.P. Mueller, B.D. Pflugrath, and J.R. Stephenson, et al. 2022. "Safe passage of American Eels through a novel hydropower turbine." Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 151, no. 6:711-724. PNNL-SA-171960. doi:10.1002/tafs.10385

2021

  • Mueller R.P., R. Lampman, and T. Beals. 2021. "Using a Customized Portable Deepwater Portable Electrofisher to Assess Larval Lamprey Populations in Irrigation Canals." North American Journal of Fisheries Management 41, no. 4:1124-1130. PNNL-SA-148900. doi:10.1002/nafm.10626
  • Pflugrath B.D., R.P. Mueller, K.M. Engbrecht, and A. Colotelo. 2021. "American Eel Resilience to Simulated Fluid Shear Associated with Passage Through Hydroelectric Turbines." Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems 2020, no. 422:2021017. PNNL-SA-158486. doi:10.1051/kmae/2021017
  • Zang X., T. Yin, Z. Hou, R.P. Mueller, Z. Deng, and P. Jacobson. 2021. "Deep Learning for Automated Detection and Identification of Migrating American eel Anguilla rostrata from Imaging Sonar Data." Remote Sensing 13, no. 14:2671. PNNL-SA-149057. doi:10.3390/rs13142671

2020

  • Martinez J.J., Z. Deng, R.P. Mueller, and P. Titzler. 2020. "In situ characterization of the biological performance of a Francis turbine retrofitted with a modular guide vane." Applied Energy 276. PNNL-SA-144781. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115492
  • Pflugrath B.D., R.A. Harnish, B.M. Rhode, K.M. Engbrecht, B.V. Beirao, R.P. Mueller, and E.L. McCann, et al. 2020. "The Susceptibility of Juvenile American Shad to Rapid Decompression and Fluid Shear Exposure Associated with Simulated Hydroturbine Passage." Water 12, no. 2:Article number 586. PNNL-SA-151360. doi:10.3390/w12020586
  • Yin T., X. Zang, Z. Hou, P. Jacobson, R.P. Mueller, and Z. Deng. 2020. "Bridging the Gap between Laboratory and Field Experiments in American Eel Detection Using Transfer Learning and Convolutional Neural Network." In Proceedings of the 53rd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS-53) January 6-10, 2020, Maui, HI, 932-939. Honolulu, Hawaii:University of Hawaii. PNNL-SA-144397. doi:10.24251/HICSS.2020.116

2019

  • Harding S.F., M.C. Richmond, and R.P. Mueller. 2019. "Experimental observation of inertial particles through idealized hydroturbine distributor geometry." Water 11, no. 3:471. PNNL-SA-132240. doi:10.3390/w11030471
  • Harding S.F., R.P. Mueller, M.C. Richmond, P. Romero-Gomez, and A. Colotelo. 2019. "Fish response to turbulence generated using multiple random actuated synthetic jet arrays." Water 11, no. 8:1715. PNNL-SA-122952. doi:10.3390/w11081715
  • Martinez J.J., Z. Deng, C. Tian, R.P. Mueller, O. Phonekhampeng, D. Singhanouvong, and G. Thorncraft, et al. 2019. "In Situ Characterization of Turbine Hydraulic Environment to Support Development of Fish-Friendly Hydropower Guidelines in the Lower Mekong River Region." Ecological Engineering 133. PNNL-SA-126844. doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.04.028
  • Martinez J.J., Z. Deng, E. Klopries, R.P. Mueller, P. Titzler, D. Zhou, and B. Do Vale Beirao, et al. 2019. "Characterization of a Siphon Turbine to Accelerate Low-Head Hydropower Deployment." Journal of Cleaner Production 210. PNNL-SA-136060. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.10.345
  • Martinez J.J., Z. Deng, P. Titzler, J.P. Duncan, J. Lu, R.P. Mueller, and C. Tian, et al. 2019. "Hydraulic and Biological Characterization of a Large Kaplan Turbine." Renewable Energy 131. PNNL-SA-123309. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2018.07.034
  • Mueller R.P., S.A. Liss, and Z. Deng. 2019. "Implantation of a New Micro Acoustic Tag in Juvenile Pacific Lamprey and American Eel." Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE) 145. PNNL-SA-137246. doi:10.3791/59274

2018

  • Colotelo A., R.P. Mueller, R.A. Harnish, J.J. Martinez, T. Phommavong, K. Phommachan, and G.A. Thorncraft, et al. 2018. "Injury and Mortality of Two Mekong River Species Exposed to Turbulent Shear Forces." Marine and Freshwater Research 69, no. 12:1945-1953. PNNL-SA-132777. doi:10.1071/MF18126
  • Geist D.R., S.A. Liss, R.A. Harnish, K.A. Deters, R.S. Brown, Z. Deng, and J.J. Martinez, et al. 2018. "Juvenile Chinook Salmon survival when exposed to simulated dam passage after being implanted with a new micro-acoustic transmitter." North American Journal of Fisheries Management 38, no. 4:940-952. PNNL-SA-130560. doi:10.1002/nafm.10198

2017

  • Arntzen E.V., and R.P. Mueller. 2017. "Video-Based Electroshocking Platform to Identify Lamprey Ammocoete Habitat: Field Validation and New Discoveries in the Columbia River Basin." North American Journal of Fisheries Management 37, no. 3:676-681. PNNL-SA-122277. doi:10.1080/02755947.2017.1310152
  • Deng Z., J.P. Duncan, J.L. Arnold, T. Fu, J.J. Martinez, J. Lu, and P.S. Titzler, et al. 2017. "Evaluation of Boundary Dam Spillway Using an Autonomous Sensor Fish Device." Journal of Hydro-Environment Research 14. PNNL-SA-113125. doi:10.1016/j.jher.2016.10.004
  • Mueller R.P., J.M. Janak, S.A. Liss, R.S. Brown, Z. Deng, and R.A. Harnish. 2017. "Retention and effects of miniature transmitters in juvenile American eels." Fisheries Research 195. PNNL-SA-120628. doi:10.1016/j.fishres.2017.06.017

2016

  • Linley T.J., E.J. Krogstad, R.P. Mueller, G.A. Gill, and B.K. Lasorsa. 2016. "Mercury concentrations in Pacific lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) and sediments in the Columbia River Basin." Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 35, no. 10:2571-2576. PNNL-SA-116607. doi:10.1002/etc.3423

2015

  • Moser M.L., A.D. Jackson, M.C. Lucas, and R.P. Mueller. 2015. "Behavior and potential threats to survival of migrating lamprey ammocoetes and macrophthalmia." Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 25, no. 2:103-116. PNNL-SA-105528. doi:10.1007/s11160-014-9372-8

2014

  • 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
  • Ingraham J.M., Z. Deng, J.J. Martinez, B.A. Trumbo, R.P. Mueller, and M.A. Weiland. 2014. "Feasibility of Tracking Fish with Acoustic Transmitters in the Ice Harbor Dam Tailrace." Scientific Reports 4. PNWD-SA-10239. doi:10.1038/srep04090

2012

  • Colotelo A.H., B.D. Pflugrath, R.S. Brown, C.J. Brauner, R.P. Mueller, T.J. Carlson, and Z. Deng, et al. 2012. "The effect of rapid and sustained decompression on barotrauma in juvenile brook lamprey and Pacific lamprey: implications for passage at hydroelectric facilities." Fisheries Research 129-130. PNNL-SA-85601. doi:10.1016/j.fishres.2012.06.001
  • Deng Z., J.J. Martinez, A.H. Colotelo, T.K. Abel, A.P. LeBarge, R.S. Brown, and B.D. Pflugrath, et al. 2012. "Development of External and Neutrally Buoyant Acoustic Transmitters for Juvenile Salmon Turbine Passage Evaluation." Fisheries Research 113, no. 1:94-105. PNNL-SA-79155. doi:10.1016/j.fishres.2011.08.018
  • Johnson G.E., W.H. Pearson, S.L. Southard, and R.P. Mueller. 2012. "Upstream Movement of Juvenile Coho Salmon in Relation to Environmental Conditions in a Culvert Test Bed." Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 141, no. 6:1520-1531. PNWD-SA-8455. doi:10.1080/00028487.2012.699013
  • Mueller R.P., E.V. Arntzen, M.A. Nabelek, B.L. Miller, K.J. Klett, and R.A. Harnish. 2012. "Laboratory testing of a modified electroshocking system designed for deepwater juvenile lamprey sampling." Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 141, no. 3:841-845. PNWD-SA-9512. doi:10.1080/00028487.2012.675908

2011

  • Deng Z., T.J. Carlson, J. Xu, J.J. Martinez, M.A. Weiland, R.P. Mueller, and J.R. Myers, et al. 2011. "Design and operation specifications of an active monitoring system for detecting southern resident killer whales." In OCEANS 2011, September 19-22, 2011, Kona, Hawaii. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-81594.
  • Geist D.R., Z. Deng, R.P. Mueller, V.I. Cullinan, S.R. Brink, and J.A. Chandler. 2011. "The effect of fluctuating temperatures and ration levels on the growth of juvenile Snake River fall Chinook salmon." Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 140, no. 1:190-200. PNWD-SA-8841.

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.
  • Brown R.S., C.R. Duguay, R.P. Mueller, L. Moulton, P.J. Doucette, and J.D. Tagestad. 2010. "Use of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to Identify and Characterize Overwintering Areas of Fish in Ice-Covered Arctic RIvers: A Demonstration with Broad Whitefish and their Habitats in the Sagavanirktok River, Alaska." Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 139. PNNL-SA-74135.
  • Deng Z., R.P. Mueller, M.C. Richmond, and G.E. Johnson. 2010. "Injury and mortality of juvenile salmon entrained in a submerged jet entering still water." North American Journal of Fisheries Management 30, no. 3:623-628. PNNL-SA-63135.
  • Geist D.R., Z. Deng, R.P. Mueller, S.R. Brink, and J.A. Chandler. 2010. "Survival and growth of juvenile Snake River fall Chinook salmon exposed to constant and fluctuating temperatures." Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 139, no. 1:92-107. PNWD-SA-8458. doi:10.1577/T09-003.1

2009

  • Deng Z., R.P. Mueller, and M.C. Richmond. 2009. "Measuring water velocity using DIDSON and image cross-correlation techniques." In Waterpower XVI: New Roles for Hydro in a Changing World, July 27-30, 2009, Spokane, Washington, Paper No. 130. Washington Dc:US Army Corps of Engineers. PNNL-SA-64821.
  • Richmond M.C., Z. Deng, C.A. McKinstry, R.P. Mueller, T.J. Carlson, and D.D. Dauble. 2009. "Response Relationship Between Juvenile Salmon and an Autonomous Sensor in Turbulent Flows." Fisheries Research 97, no. 1-2:134-139. PNNL-SA-51955. doi:10.1016/j.fishres.2009.01.011

2008

  • Johnson G.E., G.R. Ploskey, J. Hedgepeth, F. Khan, R.P. Mueller, W.T. Nagy, and M.C. Richmond, et al. 2008. "Reducing the Impacts of Hydroelectric Dams on Juvenile Anadromous Fishes: Bioengineering Evaluations Using Acoustic Imaging in the Columbia River, USA." In Dams: Impacts, Stability and Design, edited by WP Hayes & MC Barnes. 1-48. Hauppauge, New York:Nova Science Publishers. PNNL-SA-61525.
  • Mueller R.P., S.S. Southard, C.W. May, W.H. Pearson, and V.I. Cullinan. 2008. "Juvenile Coho Salmon Leaping Ability and Behavior in an Experimental Culvert Test Bed." Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 137, no. 4:941-950. PNWD-SA-7768. doi:10.1577/T06-244.1

2006

  • Mueller R.P., R.A. Moursund, and M.D. Bleich. 2006. "Tagging Juvenile Pacific Lamprey with Passive Integrated Transponders: Methodology, Short-Term Mortality, and Influence on Swimming Performance." North American Journal of Fisheries Management 26, no. 2:361-366. PNNL-SA-54928. doi:10.1577/M05-017.1
  • Mueller R.P., R.A. Moursund, and M.D. Bleich. 2006. "Tagging Juvenile Pacific Lamprey with Passive Integrated Transponders: Methodology, Short-Term Mortality, and Influence on Swimming Performance." North American Journal of Fisheries Management 26. PNNL-SA-45887. doi:10.1577/M05-017.1
  • Mueller R.P., R.S. Brown, H.H. Hop, and L. Moulton. 2006. "Video and acoustic camera techniques for studying fish under ice: a review and comparison." Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 16, no. 2:213-226. PNNL-SA-48542. doi:10.1007/s11160-006-9011-0
  • Mueller R.P., R.S. Brown, H.H. Hop, and L. Moulton. 2006. "Video and acoustic camera techniques for studying fish under ice: a review and comparison." Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 16, no. 2:213-226. PNWD-SA-6821.
  • Ploskey G.R., G.E. Johnson, M.A. Weiland, F. Khan, R.P. Mueller, J.A. Serkowski, and C.L. Rakowski, et al. 2006. "Acoustic Camera Evaluation of Juvenile Salmonid Approach and Fate at Surface Flow Outlets of Two Hydropower Dams." In HydroVision 2006, 13 pages. Kansas City, Missouri:HCI Publications. PNNL-SA-48572.

2005

  • Deng Z., G.R. Guensch, C.A. McKinstry, R.P. Mueller, D.D. Dauble, and M.C. Richmond. 2005. "Evaluation of Fish-Injury Mechanisms During Exposure to Turbulent Shear Flow." Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 62, no. 7:1513-1522. PNNL-SA-42142.
  • Deng Z., M.C. Richmond, R.P. Mueller, J.P. Duncan, and T.J. Carlson. 2005. "Laboratory study of biological response of juvenile salmon subjected to turbulent shear flows." In Proceedings of Waterpower XIV, Advancing Technology for Sustainable Energy, Austin, Texas, July 18-22, 2005, 15 pp. Kansas City, Missouri:HCI Publications. PNNL-SA-44206.

2004

  • Neitzel D.A., D.D. Dauble, G.F. Cada, M.C. Richmond, G.R. Guensch, R.P. Mueller, and C.S. Abernethy, et al. 2004. "Survival Estimates for Juvenile Fish Subjected to a Laboratory-Generated Shear Environment." Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 133. PNNL-SA-35935.

2003

  • Johnson G.E., B.D. Ebberts, D.D. Dauble, A.E. Giorgi, P.G. Heisey, R.P. Mueller, and D.A. Neitzel. 2003. "Effects of Jet Entry at High Flow Outfalls on Juvenile Pacific Salmon." North American Journal of Fisheries Management 23, no. 2:441-449. PNNL-SA-35569.

2001

  • Mueller R.P., D.A. Neitzel, and B.G. Amidan. 2001. "Evaluation of Infrasound and Strobe Lights for Eliciting Avoidance Behavior in Juvenile Salmon and Char." In Behavorial Technologies for Fish Guidance, American Fisheries Society Symposium, 26, 79-90. Bethesda, Maryland:Amer Fisheries Soc. PNNL-SA-31653.

2000

  • Dauble D.D., and R.P. Mueller. 2000. "Difficulties in estimating survival for adult chinook salmon in the Columbia and Snake rivers." Fisheries 25, no. 8:24-34. PNNL-SA-31602.
  • Neitzel D.A., M.C. Richmond, D.D. Dauble, R.P. Mueller, R.A. Moursund, C.S. Abernethy, and G.R. Guensch. 2000. Laboratory Studies on the Effects of Shear on Fish. PNNL-13323. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Laboratory Studies on the Effects of Shear on Fish

1999

1998

Energy and Environment

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