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T13 Detectors Installed at Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery

23 June 2008

Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery is one of the biggest salmon producing hatcheries in the world, and is undergoing a remodel of colossal proportions. Through this year, the hatchery, owned by Tacoma Public Utilities, is being equipped with new buildings, a new separator, and rebuilt ponds and raceways. The hatchery is designed to sustain salmon runs of 17,000 spring Chinook, 8,300 fall Chinook, and 25,000 coho on the Cowlitz River in southwestern Washington, USA. The hatchery handles and sorts many thousands of adults each year, and the new separator will make this process much more efficient. The separator now includes two T13 Coded Wire Tag detectors, which are large enough for the very biggest fish, and sturdy enough to accommodate live adults. The detectors were installed in May, and were put into immediate service.  

T13 Detector arriving on site.Each T13 Detector weighs over 600 pounds. While they can be mounted on carts and be moved around, the plans called for permanent installation at this hatchery. The detectors were hoisted into position at the separator before the shed was roofed. After a few anxious minutes as the detectors dangled in the air, they were safely lowered onto the supports.  
  
Diversion gates being installed on the T13Once the T13 Detectors were in place, gates were installed to separate tagged from untagged fish on the sorting table.  
  
T13 and sorting tableA customized sorting table and a funnel on the front end of the T13 Detector makes it quick and easy to scan fish for Coded Wire Tags, even when thousands of adults will be sorted daily.  
  
  

Northwest Marine Technology, Inc.                   (360) 468 - 3375

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