Seneca lamprey control

[Bigfoot]

According to a DEC press release, chemical treatment will begin on Catherine Creek on June 9th. Should the weather not cooperate they will try the following week.

[BrookTrout]

Get em all!!!

[ERABBIT]

Great !!!!

[Xxx]

Yea, after watching River Monsters, I really never knew the havoc they play on the whole Eco- system, I say kill them all!!

[panfisher]

That's good. Anyone hear of current DEC plans for Cayuga.....Haven't been there for about 4 years but have been hearing, reading and u-tubing of the crazy numbers there....Other than rants, any real news on that scene.....?        BTW, I have heard the species is a native to the nearby region......

Edited June 5, 2014 by panfisher

[flyrod2]

Couple issues with Cayuga. Due to the flood May16th/17th they feel lamprey got over the fishway to the lake and some adults got up into the inlet. They will delay treating until August so that any eggs laid  will hatch so they can kill everything(doesn't kill the eggs). They did handle over 5000 in the fishway this spring. The wounding rate on rainbows in the fishway were high, about 33% of the targeted length rainbows. 

[ERABBIT]

 

Hello,

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation has issued the following press release:

DEC to Begin Sea Lamprey Control on Seneca Lake Tributaries on June 9 Treatments Will Enhance Lake Trout and Salmon Populations and Sizes

A program to combat parasitic sea lamprey will begin the week of June 9th on Seneca Lake tributaries in Chemung, Schuyler and Yates counties, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regional Director Paul D'Amato announced today.

Efforts to control sea lampreys can reduce mortality rates for game fish that sea lamprey target, especially lake trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, and landlocked salmon, which are among the more popular fish for Seneca Lake anglers. Reducing the number of sea lampreys will also lead to fewer unsightly scars and wounds on sportfish.

Typically, immature sea lampreys live in streams for three to four years before they become parasitic, descending into the lake to prey on other fish, like trout and salmon. Under the sea lamprey control program, a lampricide called TFM (3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol) will be applied to the streams in a continuous manner over a period of approximately 12 hours to kill the immature, larval form of sea lamprey. TFM is a selective pesticide developed in the 1950s that has been used extensively to control sea lamprey in the Great Lakes. This lampricide has been applied to Seneca Lake tributaries since 1982. Dosage levels of TFM that are lethal to larval sea lampreys can be harmlessly processed by most other aquatic organisms.

Following an environmental impact statement (EIS) and public hearing prior to the start of the sea lamprey control program, DEC concluded that the program offers an effective and immediate measure for protecting the native lake trout populations in Seneca Lake. DEC further concluded that the project will not have any significant impacts to the environment or non target organisms exposed to the lampricide; however, some minor fish and aquatic invertebrate mortality may occur.

The stream treatments do not pose any human health threats, but a precautionary measure, the State Health Department has advised people not to consume stream water from the treated tributaries and avoid fishing, swimming, livestock watering or irrigation in the treatment zone during and immediately following applications. Precautionary signs will be posted along the treated streams.

On June 9th, weather permitting, DEC will begin to treat waters inhabited by juvenile sea lampreys in Catharine Creek and tributaries from the Chemung/Schuyler County line to Montour Falls. If weather conditions are not suitable, treatment may be postponed till later in the week or the following week.

[Bigfoot]

Rumor has it that the lamprey treatments on Catherine Creek did not happen this week due to high water. They may not happen until the swimming area at Clute Park closes at Summers end.

[lakebound88]

That's okay. It will still control them. We are already seeing the new lamprey in the lake. 3-4" class. I do believe this is the size in which they enter the lake..

They will get them. Great work and my hats is off to our local DEC.

Now of only we can put an end to flood control digging out the creek every fall during the fall run..

Nick

Sent from my XT907 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[ERABBIT]

Is it a fact that it didn't get done ??? I heard ( not a solid source ) it was done..... and thanks for the info ..... 

[apb]

Lampracide is postponed till August. From a very good source.

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