Now Offering Forage Fish Surveys for Shoreline Projects

What are forage fish, and why are they important?

Forage fish are small, schooling fish that form an important link in the marine food chain and make up a large portion of the diet of several species of economic and environmental significance such as Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, orcas, and certain sea birds. The three most common types of forage fish species in Western Washington are Pacific herring, surf smelt, and Pacific sand lance. Forage fish spawn in the intertidal zone and can be affected by shore-disturbing activities.

How can we minimize impact on forage fish when disturbing the shoreline?

West Fork Environmental has several biologists trained by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to conduct forage fish spawning surveys. Our team is available to respond quickly to survey requests and can support shoreline permitting, restoration, and development projects in western Washington. Surveys are completed using current WDFW protocols, with clear documentation and timely reporting to support regulatory review.

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West Fork Begins Manufacture of Screw Traps

For years the only supplier of rotary screw traps has been EG Solutions out of Corvallis, Oregon.  But in early 2021 West Fork began making components of screw traps for their own use and started commercial production of additional components in late 2024. We are now fabricating complete trap packages, ready to install and start fishing.  We favor a trap configuration that lifts the cone and the live box as a unit free of the water rather than the original bipod lifting system that leaves the live box vulnerable during high water.  This approach was pioneered and perfected by the Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife.  Another advantage of this design is that the cone shaft is securely held fore and aft by machine quality bearing blocks.  We will work with you to custom build a system that makes sense for your individual trapping environment. We provide pontoon systems made from either heavy walled HDPE pipe, aluminum or steel. Our pontoons are sealed and compartmentalized with additional armor added to debris impact areas. Cones are covered with perforated stainless sheet and our live box drums are powered with either paddle wheels, direct 12-volt solar drives or belt driven mechanics. We think you will appreciate the quality and care that is put into all weld and fabrication details.

If you have a screw trap that has seen better days, we can bring it back to useful condition by rehabbing major components. If you experience a major incident and need to get your trap back fishing immediately, our mobile welding services may be what you need.

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West Fork Opens Satellite Office in Forks, WA

After spending the better part of two decades working on a variety of projects for a diverse group of clients on the Olympic Peninsula, West Fork has opened a satellite office in the heart of Forks, WA. Forks is the epicenter of forestry and fisheries studies on the peninsula, and it is our pleasure to participate in many of these ongoing projects that ensure healthy forests and fish populations in the future. Integrating ourselves into a community that has provided so much to us over the years was an easy decision to make, and we look forward to giving back to the community for years to come.

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Great Success with Green River Barge

West Fork partnered with King County to position a PIT detection barge on the Green River in Tukwila, WA. The target species was PIT tagged Chinook smolts moving downstream from their spawning grounds. The PIT barge was anchored to concrete piers beneath a major bridge over the river to allow for precise positioning of the vertical PIT antennas within the water column during varying flow events. Our breakaway system allows debris that gets racked against the FINs to pass under the pontoons and antennas without damaging any of the components. As with our previous barges, the onboard 600w solar array and large battery bank allowed for continual 24/7 detection.

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Columbia Class PIT Detection Barge Advances

Posted October 24, 2019

In 2019 under contract to NOAA Fisheries West Fork launched a Pit Detection Barge with larger antennas and improved debris clearance features. Debris clearance is now facilitated by PLC controlled winches that allow the hydrodynamically shaped antenna housings to rotate in the current to release accumulated debris. This feature was deemed critical to future deployments that will be in close proximity to major dams and/or fast water environments where boat access is restricted or difficult.    

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West Fork Takes Flight!

Posted May 28, 2019

In the Air, on Land and Sea – West Fork takes flight! West Fork announces its entry into unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). We continue to believe there’s nothing like boots on the ground, but recent developments in UAS remote data acquisition can uniquely amplify results derived by traditional methods. We want you to be a part of this revolution with us. While continuing to sustain and expand our ground and water-based services, we can now add aerial applications. Our new eyes in the sky enhance our ability to present data even more quickly, more accurately, and safer than ever.

West Fork is certified by the FAA to operate commercial unmanned aircraft systems. We offer a range of remote imaging solutions. Whether you’re assessing forest health, counting wildlife, analyzing slope stability or engineering a construction site, we have the tools to make your job easier and more certain.

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