Columbia FRO technician Colby Wrasse and volunteer Chris Clemens headed east to assist Carterville FRO biologists Nate Caswell and Rick Echols with winter fish sampling on the Mississippi River. 

Over a four-day period in late February, the team used a variety of sampling gears including: gill nets, mini-fyke nets, hoop nets, trawling and electrofishing. 

This work was a continuation of an ongoing project which will examine the effects of dike alterations on the fish community. 

This collaborative effort underscores the necessity of offices working together to accomplish their goals. 

Furthermore, the week of sampling could not have been accomplished without the volunteer help of Chris Clemens. 

Columbia FRO has a history of dedicated volunteers, and some of these volunteers have parlayed the experience they gained into full time jobs in the natural resources field.