News from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

For more information contact: Maureen Wren, 518-402-8000

DEC Announces “State Of Lake Ontario” Meetings

ALBANY, NY (03/06/2008)(readMedia)-- The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced three upcoming public meetings to discuss Lake Ontario fisheries. The tenth annual “State of Lake Ontario” public meetings will be held in Monroe, Niagara, and Oswego counties.

Lake Ontario’s embayments and tributaries support thriving populations of fish to satisfy anglers, including a variety of trout and salmon, bass, walleye, yellow perch and panfish. New York’s Lake Ontario waters comprise over 2.7 million acres, and a 1996 statewide angler survey estimated that over 2.8 million angler days are expended on Lake Ontario and the three major tributaries. The estimated value of these fisheries to the New York economy exceeded $95 million.

DEC is committed to sound management of Lake Ontario fisheries, to maintain high-quality angling opportunities and associated economic benefits. The State of Lake Ontario meetings provide an excellent opportunity for individuals interested in the lake to interact with the scientists who study Lake Ontario fisheries. The meeting dates are as follows:

• Thursday, March 6, 2008: 7 - 10 p.m. at the Oswego County BOCES, 179 County Route 64, Mexico, Oswego County.
• Tuesday, March 11, 2008: 7 - 10 p.m. at the Ingel Auditorium, in Building 4 (Student Union) on the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) campus, Rochester, Monroe County. The meeting is co-hosted by RIT and the Monroe County Fishery Advisory Board.
• Thursday, March 13, 2008: 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Building, 4487 Lake Avenue, Lockport, Niagara County.

DEC and United States Geological Survey biologists will make presentations on: proposed changes to regulations; the status of forage fish stocks; changes to 2008 salmon stocking; provide updates on the Lake Ontario fishing boat and tributary surveys; status of the Salmon River salmon and steelhead fisheries; status of sea lamprey control; and Lake Ontario water level regulation.

There will be time provided at the end of the scheduled program for the audience to interact with the presenters. For more information about Lake Ontario fisheries research, go to www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7969.html on the DEC website.

-30-