Fisheries Biologist II
B.S. Marine Biology; M.S. Animal Biology
Phone: (916) 250-1570

 

West Sacramento, California

Jamie has over a decade of experience monitoring and analyzing fish populations in the California Central Valley and Delta. Her expertise includes leading field staff in data collection using snorkel surveys, spawning surveys, mark-recapture studies, and water quality monitoring. Jamie’s technical skills encompass fish and invertebrate identification, radio telemetry tracking, electrofishing for special-status salmonids, and isotopic microchemistry analysis. She excels in data visualization and analysis, as well as generating clear, detailed reports. Jamie’s recent research focuses on salmonid habitat restoration effectiveness, flow management impacts, and using microchemistry to explore White Sturgeon life history, resulting in several peer-reviewed publications.

Selected publications

 

Sweeney, J.K. and K. Sellheim. 2025. Chinook Salmon fall 2024 aerial photograph spawning survey. Lower American River, California. Technical Memorandum. Prepared for the Sacramento Water Forum.

 

Sweeney, J.K., K. Sellheim, and J.E. Merz. 2024. Lower American River monitoring: 2024 steelhead spawning and stranding surveys annual report. Central Valley Project, American River California. Mid-Pacific Region. Prepared for U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

 

Sweeney, J.K., Willmes, M., Sellheim, K., Lewis, L.S., Hobbs, J.A., Fangue, N.A. and Merz, J.E., 2020. Ontogenetic patterns in the calcification and element incorporation in fin rays of age-0 White Sturgeon. Environmental Biology of Fishes 103(11): 1401-1418.

 

Blankenship, S. M., A. Scherer, C. Dean, K. Sellheim, J.K. Sweeney, and J. Merz. 2024. Applying parentage methods to detect gravel augmentation effects on juvenile Chinook Salmon recruitment rates. River Research and Applications 40(5):791-808 https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.4264.

 

Sellheim, K., A. Scherer, R. Brown, J. Anderson, J.K. Sweeney, and J. Merz. 2025. Restored seasonally inundated habitat supports juvenile salmonid rearing and growth in two California Central Valley streams. North American Journal of Fisheries Management p.vqae003 https://doi.org/10.1093/najfmt/vqae003.

 

Sellheim K, J.K. Sweeney, and J.E. Merz. 2022. Increasing objectivity associated with anadromous fish redd identification using a discriminant function analysis. Frontiers in Environmental Science 10:1–15 10.3389/fenvs.2022.1085941.

 

Sellheim K., M. Willmes. L.S. Lewis, J.K. Sweeney, J.E. Merz, and J.A. Hobbs. 2022. Diversity in habitat use by White Sturgeon revealed using fin ray geochemistry. Frontiers in Marine Science 9:1–18 10.3389/fmars.2022.859038.

 

Sellheim, K. L., R. A. Brown, J. T. Anderson, M. Vaghti, J. C. Wiesenfeld, P. A. Colombano, J. K. Sweeney, and J. E. Merz. 2019. Merced River ranch and Henderson Park restoration projects on the Merced River, California. Final report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

 

Sweeney, J., K. Sellheim, and J. Merz. 2017. Lower American River Monitoring: 2017 Steelhead spawning and stranding surveys annual report. Central Valley Project, American River California. Mid – Pacific Region. Report to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

 

Anderson, J., J. Sweeney, T. Hinkelman, K. Horvath and J. Merz. 2016. Juvenile salmonid outmigration monitoring at Caswell Memorial State Park in the Stanislaus River, California. Annual Report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Comprehensive Assessment and Monitoring Program.

 

Sellheim, K., M. Beakes, J. Merz, and J. Sweeney. 2016. Mokelumne River salmonid spawning and rearing habitat potential: analysis of coarse sediment and floodplain extent. Report to the East Bay Municipal Utility District.

 

Sellheim, K., J. Merz, D. Stroud, and J. Sweeney. 2016. Lower American River monitoring: 2016 steelhead spawning and stranding surveys Annual Report. Central Valley Project, American River California. Mid – Pacific Region. Report to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

 

Sellheim, K., J. Merz, P. Haverkamp, and J. Sweeney. 2015. Lower American River Monitoring: 2015 steelhead spawning and stranding surveys annual report. Central Valley Project, American River California. Mid – Pacific Region. Report to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

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