Lampery

[Lucky13]

DEC Announces Sea Lamprey Control Treatments on Seneca Lake to Enhance Lake Trout and Salmon Populations

A program to combat the parasitic sea lamprey is scheduled to begin the week of June 4 on Seneca Lake tributaries in Chemung, Schuyler and Yates Counties, Paul D'Amato, Regional Director of the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today. By effectively controlling sea lampreys, DEC can reduce mortality rates for fish targeted by sea lamprey, especially lake trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, and landlocked salmon. In addition, fewer sea lampreys mean fewer unsightly scars and wounds on sportfish. Typically, immature sea lamprey 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. Through the sea lamprey control program, DEC will apply a lampricide, called TFM (3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol) to the streams in a continuous, metered manner over a period of approximately 12 hours to kill the immature, larval form of the sea lamprey. TFM is a selective pesticide used extensively for sea lamprey control in the Great Lakes for decades and in Seneca Lake tributaries since 1982. The 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 and public hearing that were conducted prior to initiation of the sea lamprey control program, DEC concluded that the sea lamprey control 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. Some minor fish and aquatic invertebrate mortality is expected and may be visible. The stream treatments do not pose any significant hazard to human health. However, as a precautionary measure, the NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH) has advised no stream water consumption, fishing, swimming, livestock watering or irrigation in the treatment zone during and immediately following applications. Appropriate signs will be posted along the treated streams. Since 1982, Catharine Creek and Keuka Outlet have been treated ten and six times, respectively, without any significant environmental or human health problems or impacts. DEC will treat waters inhabited by juvenile sea lampreys in Catharine Creek and tributaries from the Chemung/Schuyler County line to Montour Falls and Keuka Outlet from Cascade Mills downstream. Lampricide applications are scheduled to start June 5 in Catharine Creek and June 7 in Keuka Outlet, however, weather conditions may warrant postponement to later in the week or the following week.

[Sk8man]

Thanks Lucky - Good news

[shaneo19]

Good news and very good article.  I do wonder why streams in Seneca and Ontario county aren't being treated.  Perhaps because they are different DEC regions or there are no significant spawning streams elsewhere. 

[Lucky13]

Paul D'Amato is Director for Region 8, which is where both Seneca and Ontario Counties are located, as are the three counties listed for treatment.   Web Pearsall is the Region 8 Fisheries Manager, and he'll be in the field with the crews doing the work.   A lot of the tributaries to all the Finger Lakes are short, dropping off the high hills and then a short run to the lake, limited habitat.

 

From the DEC webpage for the lake:

 

An important factor in recent resurgence of the Seneca salmonid fishery is DEC's ongoing control of the parasitic sea lamprey. The control program involves applications of the highly selective chemical lampricide, TFM, to known sea lamprey nursery areas in Catherine Creek and Keuka Lake Outlet at the three year intervals. The continued quality of Seneca's excellent trout and salmon fishing depends heavily on DEC's ability to apply this management tool at critical times in the future.  

[Xxx]

They did something to the Black River a few years ago, there was a boat that was putting little yellow ball looking things about the size of a pea, in the water and the next day there was little lamprey laying all over on top the water most were 3-4.5 inches long, I was floored as to how many of these little bastards were floating, I mean thousands!! 

[Bigfoot]

Those fun loving DEC boys were able to successfully feed the Catherine Creek lampreys their "vitamins" the last couple of days despite the rainy weather. Work continues tomorrow on Keuka outlet......

[Sk8man]