SEA LAMPREY CONTROL TREATMENT ON SOUTH FORK OF
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced
that DEC will undertake sea lamprey control treatment in late May in the South Fork of the
Although the
80,000 sea lamprey were left in the South Fork of the River. DEC determined that low flows at the time of the treatment prevented an effective concentration of the sea lamprey control chemical from entering the South Fork. Staff from DEC, the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will treat the approximate 2 mile length of the South Fork again this spring, before larval lamprey transform into their parasitic stage. The trout, salmon, and other fish populations native to
Temporary water use advisories will be in effect in specific areas following each treatment, to minimize human exposure to the treatment compounds. The State 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.
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. DEC staff identify all riparian landowners along the waters for which treatments are planned. A letter is sent to residents, usually in late spring, informing them of the planned treatment and asking if they or their livestock use water from a surface supply that will be affected by the treatment. Days before the treatment begins, another letter is sent to inform the resident that the treatment will be forthcoming.
DEC staff also contact residents who have indicated that they use the river or lake in an advisory area as a water supply and the resident is advised of the treatment. In addition, DEC provides a supply of water upon request to impacted residents and their livestock.
Local television 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. Residents will be kept apprised of any such changes.
In the Lake Champlain system, most immature sea lamprey live in streams for four years before descending into Lake Champlain to prey on other fish like trout and salmon. Under the sea lamprey control program, a pesticide, TFM (trifluoromethyl-nitrophenol), 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.
DEC has set up a toll free number (1-800-638-5432) for the public to obtain information on the lamprey treatments.