DEC to Continue Lake Champlain Sea Lamprey Control Program

Treatments Will Enhance Lake Trout and Salmon Populations and Sizes

Sea lamprey control treatments will be conducted in three tributaries and one delta of Lake Champlain beginning this September as part of a long-term effort to protect the lake's fishery from this parasitic fish, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regional Director Elizabeth M. Lowe announced today. Sea lampreys have seriously damaged Lake Champlain's lake trout and salmon fisheries.

The treatments begin the day after Labor Day and are expected to be completed by early October. They will be conducted by staff from DEC, the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and will target the sea lamprey's larval stage.

"Sea lamprey control is critical to protecting trout and salmon fisheries in Lake Champlain, which are an important part of the overall ecosystem of the lake and the local economy," said Director Lowe. "By limiting damage caused by sea lamprey we can re-establish populations of trout and salmon, which were originally native to Lake Champlain."

In the Lake Champlain system, most immature sea lamprey live in streams for four years before they become parasitic and descend into Lake Champlain to prey on other fish like trout and salmon. Under the sea lamprey control program, trifluoromethylnitrophenol (TFM) is applied in precise concentrations to the streams in a continuous, metered manner over a period of approximately 12 hours in order to kill the immature, larval form of the sea lamprey living in streams.

In certain cases larval sea lamprey also inhabit the lake bottom near the mouths of rivers. On these delta areas, where TFM is not effective, another compound called Bayluscide is applied by boats equipped with agricultural spreaders. This granular compound sinks to the lake bottom where it dissolves to treat the larval sea lamprey living there.

Temporary water use advisories will be in effect in specific areas following each treatment to minimize exposure to the treatment compounds. The Department of Health recommends that the treated river and lake water not be used for drinking, swimming, fishing, irrigation, or livestock watering for the short period the lamprey control chemicals are present.

In addition, people should be aware that fish within the Bayluscide-treated area may contain low-level concentrations of this compound for 14 days following treatment. Drinking water and water for agricultural and household uses will be supplied to affected people within the advisory areas upon request. Contact the DEC at 800-638-5432 to request water.

Studies show that sea lamprey control results in decreased wounding and scarring rates to other fish and can increase populations of lake trout and landlocked salmon. Angler surveys showed that more and substantially bigger trout and salmon were caught during the previous treatment program.

Sea lamprey control also generates a very favorable economic benefit/cost ratio as angling opportunities increase. During the eight-year experimental program conducted from 1990 to 1997, sea lamprey control generated benefits of approximately $29.4 million with costs of about $8.4 million. These benefits were the result of the increased number of boaters and anglers spending longer periods of time in the Lake Champlain area.

To determine if you may be affected by the advisories, please consult the table below:

WATER USE ADVISORY AREAS
Stream or Delta	Length of Advisory Area in Miles
	Application Point to Stream Mouth	Lake Area North of Stream Mouth	Lake Area South of Stream Mouth
Ausable River delta	-	2.0	2.0
Beaver Brook	2.5	0.5	0.5
Boquet River	2.6	2.0	2.0
Poultney River1	10.5	20.0*	-

1 Pending issuance of necessary permits; * 20 miles north of South Bay outlet

The treatments and water use advisories will have no effect on most residents in the Champlain basin, and no municipal water supply systems will be affected. An extensive series of mailings has already been initiated by DEC to contact landowners and renters who may be affected by the treatments. Local TV and radio stations will broadcast the dates when advisories begin and expire. The treatment schedule is subject to change by weather conditions, stream flows or technical problems that may arise during the treatments.

DEC has set up a toll free number 800-638-5432 for the public to obtain information on the lamprey treatments. Callers can receive information on the treatment schedule for the specific waters, progress reports, updates on treatments and water use advisories.

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