Hydropower Program Lead
Hydropower Program Lead

Biography

Alison Colotelo is a senior research scientist and project manager. She leads PNNL’s Water Power System Science and Engineering team. Colotelo has over 10 years of professional experience that includes basic and applied research, as well as project management. Her work involves building and working with multi-disciplinary teams that tackle a diverse set of problems for the US Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Defense (DOD). In addition to her technical work, Alison enjoys sharing her passion for science with the community through visits to local schools and participation in other outreach activities.

Research Interest

  • Effects of hydropower development on fishes
  • Coordination of complex field efforts
  • Integration of multi-disciplinary teams

Education

  • M.Sc., Biology, Carleton University (2009)
  • B.Sc., Forensic Science, Laurentian University (2007)

Awards and Recognitions

  • 2015 – Fitzner Eberhardt Award for Outstanding Contributions to Science and Engineering Education
  • 2013 – Energy and Environment’s Project Manager of the Year Finalist

Publications

2020

2019

  • 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
  • Pflugrath B.D., R.A. Harnish, B.M. Rhode, B. Do Vale Beirao, K.M. Engbrecht, J.R. Stephenson, and A. Colotelo. 2019. "American Eel state of buoyancy and barotrauma susceptibility associated with hydroturbine passage." Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems. PNNL-SA-138255. doi:10.1051/kmae/2019012

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

2017

  • Colotelo A.H., A.E. Goldman, K.A. Wagner, R.S. Brown, Z. Deng, and M.C. Richmond. 2017. "A Comparison of Metrics to Evaluate the Effects of Hydro-facility Passage Stressors on Fish." Environmental Reviews 25, no. 1:1-11. PNNL-SA-115486. doi:10.1139/er-2016-0006

2016

  • Deng Z., A.H. Colotelo, R.S. Brown, and T.J. Carlson. 2016. "Environmental Issues Related to Conventional Hydropower." In Alternative Energy and Shale Gas Encyclopedia, edited by JH Lehr, J Keeley and TB Kingery. 404-409. Hoboken, New Jersey:John Wiley & Sons, Inc. PNNL-SA-82412. doi:10.1002/9781119066354.ch38
  • Deng Z., T.J. Carlson, G.R. Ploskey, R.S. Brown, G.E. Johnson, and A.H. Colotelo. 2016. "Experimental and numerical modeling tools for conventional hydropower systems." In Alternative Energy and Shale Gas Encyclopedia, edited by JH Lehr, J Keeley and TB Kingery. 448-464. Hoboken, New Jersey:John Wiley & Sons, Inc. PNNL-SA-90973. doi:10.1002/9781119066354.ch44
  • Geist D.R., A.H. Colotelo, T.J. Linley, K.A. Wagner, and A.L. Miracle. 2016. "Effects of a Novel Fish Transport System on the Health of Adult Fall Chinook Salmon." Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management 7, no. 2:347-358. PNNL-SA-113224. doi:10.3996/102015-JFWM-108
  • Skalski J.R., M.A. Weiland, K.D. Ham, G.R. Ploskey, G.A. Mcmichael, A.H. Colotelo, and T.J. Carlson, et al. 2016. "Status After 5 Years of Survival Compliance Testing in the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS)." North American Journal of Fisheries Management 36, no. 4:720-730. PNNL-SA-114788. doi:10.1080/02755947.2016.1165775
  • Walker R.W., N.K. Ashton, R.S. Brown, S.A. Liss, A.H. Colotelo, B. Do Vale Beirao, and R.L. Townsend, et al. 2016. "Effects of a Novel Acoustic Transmitter on Swimming Performance and Predator Avoidance of Juvenile Chinook Salmon: Determination of a Size Threshold." Fisheries Research 176. PNNL-SA-110565. doi:10.1016/j.fishres.2015.12.007

2015

2014

  • Brown R.S., A.H. Colotelo, B.D. Pflugrath, C.A. Boys, L.J. Baumgartner, Z. Deng, and L.G. Silva, et al. 2014. "Understanding barotrauma in fish passing hydro structures: a global strategy for sustainable development of water resources." Fisheries 39, no. 3:108-122. PNNL-SA-90945. doi:10.1080/03632415.2014.883570
  • Colotelo A.H., K. Smokorowski, T. Haxton, and S.J. Cooke. 2014. "Comparative Evaluation of Four Presumptive Tests for Blood to Detect Epithelial Injury on Fish." Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management 5, no. 1:26-34. PNNL-SA-104909. doi:10.3996/012012-JFWM-007
  • Colotelo A.H., R.A. Harnish, B.W. Jones, A.C. Hanson, D.M. Trott, M.J. Greiner, and G.A. McMichael, et al. 2014. Passage Distribution and Federal Columbia River Power System Survival for Steelhead Kelts Tagged Above and at Lower Granite Dam, Year 2. PNNL-23051 FINAL. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Passage Distribution and Federal Columbia River Power System Survival for Steelhead Kelts Tagged Above and at Lower Granite Dam, Year 2
  • Colotelo A.H., R.A. Harnish, B.W. Jones, A.C. Hanson, D.M. Trott, M.J. Greiner, and G.A. Mcmichael, et al. 2014. Passage Distribution and Federal Columbia River Power System Survival for Steelhead Kelts Tagged Above and at Lower Granite Dam, Year 2. PNNL-23051 Rev.1. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Passage Distribution and Federal Columbia River Power System Survival for Steelhead Kelts Tagged Above and at Lower Granite Dam, Year 2
  • Harnish R.A., A.H. Colotelo, X. Li, K.D. Ham, and Z. Deng. 2014. Factors Affecting Route Selection and Survival of Steelhead Kelts at Snake River Dams in 2012 and 2013. PNNL-23941. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Factors Affecting Route Selection and Survival of Steelhead Kelts at Snake River Dams in 2012 and 2013
  • Trumbo B.A., M.L. Ahmann, J.F. Renholods, R.S. Brown, A.H. Colotelo, and Z. Deng. 2014. "Improving hydroturbine pressures to enhance salmon passage survival and recovery." Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 24, no. 3:955-965. PNNL-SA-94447. doi:10.1007/s11160-013-9340-8

2013

  • Colotelo A.H., G.D. Raby, C.T. Hasler, T. Haxton, K. Smokorowski, G. Blouin-Demers, and S.J. Cooke. 2013. "Northern pike bycatch in an inland commercial hoop net fishery: effects of water temperature and net tending frequency on injury, physiology, and survival." Fisheries Research 137. PNNL-SA-90688. doi:10.1016/j.fishres.2012.08.019
  • Rayamajhi B., G.R. Ploskey, C.M. Woodley, M.A. Weiland, D.M. Faber, J.A. Kim, and A.H. Colotelo, et al. 2013. Route-Specific Passage and Survival of Steelhead Kelts at The Dalles and Bonneville Dams, 2012 - Final Report. PNNL-22461 Rev. 1. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Route-Specific Passage and Survival of Steelhead Kelts at The Dalles and Bonneville Dams, 2012 - Final Report
  • Walker R.W., L.M. Markillie, A.H. Colotelo, D.R. Geist, M.E. Gay, C.M. Woodley, and M.B. Eppard, et al. 2013. "Ultraviolet radiation as disinfection for fish surgical tools." Animal Biotelemetry 1. PNNL-SA-86919. doi:10.1186/2050-3385-1-4
  • Walker R.W., L.M. Markillie, A.H. Colotelo, M.E. Gay, C.M. Woodley, and R.S. Brown. 2013. The Efficacy of Ultraviolet Radiation for Sterilizing Tools Used for Surgically Implanting Transmitters into Fish. PNNL-21126. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The Efficacy of Ultraviolet Radiation for Sterilizing Tools Used for Surgically Implanting Transmitters into Fish

2012

  • Brown R.S., B.D. Pflugrath, A.H. Colotelo, C.J. Brauner, T.J. Carlson, Z. Deng, and A. Seaburg. 2012. "Pathways of Barotrauma in Juvenile Salmonids Exposed to Simulated Hydroturbine Passage: Boyle's Law vs. Henry's Law." Fisheries Research 121-122, no. 1:43-50. PNNL-SA-83903. doi:10.1016/j.fishres.2012.01.006
  • Carlson T.J., R.S. Brown, J.R. Stephenson, B.D. Pflugrath, A.H. Colotelo, A.J. Gingerich, and P.L. Benjamin, et al. 2012. "The Influence of Tag Presence on the Mortality of Juvenile Chinook Salmon Exposed to Simulated Hydroturbine Passage: Implications for Survival Estimates and Management of Hydroelectric Facilities." North American Journal of Fisheries Management 32, no. 2:249-261. PNNL-SA-76806. doi:10.1080/02755947.2012.661384
  • 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
  • Janak J.M., R.S. Brown, A.H. Colotelo, B.D. Pflugrath, J.R. Stephenson, Z. Deng, and T.J. Carlson, et al. 2012. "The Effects of Neutrally Buoyant, Externally Attached Transmitters on Swimming Performance and Predator Avoidance of Juvenile Chinook Salmon." Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 141, no. 5:1424-1432. PNNL-SA-82928. doi:10.1080/00028487.2012.688915

2011

  • Colotelo A.H., and S.J. Cooke. 2011. "Evaluation of Common Angling-Induced Sources of Epithelial Damage for Popular Freshwater Sport Fish using Fluorescein." Fisheries Research 109, no. 2-3:217-224. PNNL-SA-76637.
  • Deng Z., R.S. Brown, T.J. Carlson, J.J. Martinez, A.H. Colotelo, B.D. Pflugrath, and T.K. Abel, et al. 2011. "Development of external and neutrally buoyant acoustic transmitters for turbine passage evaluation." In EPRI-DOE Conference on Environmentally-Enhanced Hydro Turbines, May 19-20, 2011, Washington DC, 155-164. Palo Alto, California:EPRI. PNNL-SA-79460. doi:10.2172/1057387
  • Harnish R.A., A.H. Colotelo, and R.S. Brown. 2011. "A review of polymer-based water conditioners for reduction of handling-related injury." Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 21, no. 1:43-49. PNNL-SA-76621. doi:10.1007/s11160-010-9187-1
  • Hasler C.T., A.H. Colotelo, T. Rapp, E. Jamieson, K. Bellehumeur, R. Arlinghaus, and S.J. Cooke. 2011. "Opinions of fisheries researchers, managers, and anglers towards recreational fishing issues: an exploratory analysis for North America." American Fisheries Society Symposium 75. PNNL-SA-76190.
  • Oldenburg E.W., A.H. Colotelo, R.S. Brown, and M.B. Eppard. 2011. "Holding of juvenile salmonids for surgical implantation of electronic tags: a review and recommendations." Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 21. PNNL-SA-72532. doi:10.1007/s11160-010-9186-2
  • Raby G.D., A.H. Colotelo, G. Blouin-Demers, and S.J. Cooke. 2011. "Freshwater Commercial Bycatch: an Understated Conservation Problem." BioScience 61, no. 4:271-280. PNNL-SA-74602. doi:10.1525/bio.2011.61.4.7

Selected Publications

2011

  • Colotelo, A.H. and S.J. Cooke. 2011. Evaluation of common angling-induced sources of epithelial damage for popular freshwater sport fish using fluorescein. Fisheries Research 107:217-224.

  • Raby, G.D., A.H. Colotelo, G. Blouin-Demers, and S.J. Cooke. 2011. Freshwater commercial bycatch: an understated conservation problem with the opportunity to learn from the marine realm. Bioscience 61:271-280.

2009

  • Colotelo, A.H., S.J. Cooke, and K.E. Smokorowski. 2009. Application of forensic techniques to enhance fish conservation and management: Injury detection using presumptive tests for blood. Endangered Species Research 9:169-178.

  • Fobert, E., P. Meining, A. H. Colotelo, C. O'Connor, and S.J. Cooke. 2009. Cut the line or remove the hook? An evaluation of sublethal and lethal endpoints for deeply hooked freshwater recreational fish. Fisheries Research 99: 38-46.