Replacement trout were delivered by Tellico to Hereford Manor Lake and Raccoon Lake in Beaver County and North Park Lake, Upper Deer Lake and Middle Deer Lake on October 17 and stocked without incident. While a definitive cause of the trout mortalities from the earlier stockings at those waters is unknown, the Commission said it believes the incident to be an anomaly isolated to the delivery in question. Tellico has made more than 200 deliveries of trout while under contract to the Commission since 2003, including previous stockings at the affected lakes. As a precautionary measure, the Commission has advised Tellico staff to spend additional time at all future stockings allowing the trout to adjust to the receiving waters while still on the delivery tank before initiating the stocking – a process known as tempering. The PFBC also has suggested that at each stocking site a small portion of the trout be released and monitored before depositing the remaining load.

Tellico will resume its normal delivery schedule for the fall with adult trout stockings at Kettle Creek Lake, Clinton County; Stevenson Reservoir, Cameron County and Little Pine Lake, Lycoming County on October 20. Trout stockings at Lake Luxembourg, Bucks County; Leaser Lake, Lehigh County and Moon Lake, Luzerne County postponed earlier this week will be rescheduled for early November.