Scientists Deployed DNA Samplers to Track Invasive Fish

Autonomous devices detect invasive aquatic species in the Colorado River to protect native populations from new threats.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Environmental

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a cylindrical sampling device underwater, representing autonomous environmental monitoring technology. — Researchers are using environmental DNA autosamplers in the Colorado River basin to detect invasive fish species like smallmouth bass before they establish local populations. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Researchers have deployed environmental DNA autosamplers to monitor for predatory invasive fish in the Colorado River basin. The technology provides an early detection mechanism for species like smallmouth bass and walleye as changing water conditions threaten native fish.

Why it matters

The technology enables detection of invasive species when their populations are too small for conventional methods to identify. This shift is critical as drought-driven temperature changes allow warm-water invasive fish to establish in areas previously too cold for them.

Each unit costs $29,595 and uses a specialized biochip capable of identifying 46 problematic aquatic species. Systems currently operate with 3 to 5 units deployed at a time, moving beyond traditional capture-based monitoring.

The players

US Geological Survey

A scientific agency within the U.S. government that conducts research on ecosystem health and manages the READI-Net system for eDNA monitoring.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife

The state agency responsible for managing aquatic and terrestrial wildlife resources, currently planning future monitoring expansion in Colorado.

US Forest Service

A federal agency that developed the genetic screening technology used to analyze water samples for invasive biological signatures.

The details

The autosamplers collect water on a set schedule to capture microscopic genetic material such as skin cells and scales. These samples undergo genetic screening using lab technology developed by the US Forest Service, which identifies specific invasive species. This automated process is currently used downstream of the Glen Canyon Dam and at Dinosaur National Monument to track threats like rusty crayfish.

Early 2000s: Severe drought began lowering water levels in Lake Powell.
2022: Warm-water invasive fish were captured in unprecedented numbers.
2026: Autosampler deployment is planned for the Grand Junction canal system.

The Tech Race

This effort follows the trajectory of the US Geological Survey's READI-Net system, which aims to standardize eDNA detection across major western river basins. It represents a shift from reactive population surveys toward an automated, high-throughput genetic monitoring infrastructure.

This technology supports broader efforts to maintain local water quality and protect native fish species from invasive colonization. It acts as an early warning system that helps state agencies prevent established infestations that could disrupt recreational and municipal water use.

The takeaway

Autonomous genetic monitoring is replacing manual surveillance as the primary defense against invasive species in the American West. Monitor the 2026 deployment in Grand Junction to see how the READI-Net system scales from research trials to operational, regional water management.