Lamprey treatment to begin Labor Day

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August 28, 2008

Anonymous The Press Republican Thu Aug 28, 2008, 12:00 AM EDT

PLATTSBURGH -- The Saranac River delta and Great Chazy River will be included in this year's round of sea-lamprey treatments on Lake Champlain.

The Department of Environmental Conservation, along with the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will begin treating five separate areas beginning on Labor Day, Sept. 1.

"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 Betsy Lowe, director of the DEC regional office in Ray Brook.

Officials will begin their treatment process on the Saranac River delta, where they will use a granular lampricide called Bayluside that sinks to the lake bottom where it dissolves to treat the immature lamprey larvae living in the sediment.

The treatment area will stretch 2 miles north and 3 miles south of the Saranac River mouth. Temporary water advisories will be in effect for a short time following the application, and residents should not use water for drinking, swimming, fishing, irrigation or livestock watering.

Specific days for the treatments are subject to change by weather conditions, stream flows or technical problems that may arise. Local TV and radio stations will broadcast the dates when advisories begin and expire.

Anyone in need of bottled water within the treatment area during the application process can call DEC at 1 (800) 638-5432 to request water.

The Great Chazy River will be treated at a time to be determined in early October. The treatment area will include 20.6 miles of the river as well as 2 miles north and 3.5 miles south of the river mouth.

Mount Hope Brook, Mill Brook in southern Lake Champlain and the Mill Brook delta will also be treated this fall. The Winooski and Missisquoi rivers in Vermont are also slated for 2008 treatments.

Studies show that sea-lamprey control decreases wounding and scarring rates to fish and can increase the population of lake trout and landlocked salmon in the lake. The control also generates a favorable economic benefit with improved angling opportunities.

Immature sea lampreys live in streams for four years before they become parasitic and enter the lake to prey on trout, salmon and other species. In the rivers, officials will use liquid TFM lampricide to treat the larvae, which live in the sediment.