News from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

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

DEC Delays The Fishing Season Opening Of A Small Portion Of The Salmon River Due To Drought Conditions

Measure Employed to Reduce Mortality of Fish Prior to Entering DEC Hatchery

ALBANY, NY (09/14/2007; 1549)(readMedia)-- In response to dry conditions and low water levels, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today will be issuing regulations delaying the fly fishing catch-and-release season opening for one month along ¼ of a mile on the Salmon River in Altmar, Oswego County. The start date for the 2007 lower Salmon River fly fishing catch-and-release area will be changed from Sept.15 to Oct.15 for this small portion of the river.

The ¼ -mile-long lower fly fishing area runs from the County Route 52 bridge in Altmar upstream to just below the mouth of Beaverdam Brook and is the staging area for trout and salmon waiting to enter DEC’s Salmon River Hatchery. As a result, there is a high density of fish in the area. DEC is concerned that catch-and-release mortality would be significant under the current river conditions and that the conditions are not conducive to ethical fly fishing at this time. The current low flow, combined with relatively warm weather and high density will be stressful to fish health and has already resulted in noticeable mortality in the lower 15 miles of the Salmon River that will remain open to angling.

The recent drought has left the Salmon River Reservoir at 14 feet below dam crest as of September 10 and base flows to the river have been adjusted from the normal 335 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 100 cfs. There is no significant precipitation in the long-term forecast.

DEC will be initiating emergency regulations to delay the season opening in order to provide necessary protection to the fish in the lower fly area to ensure that enough fish will enter the hatchery to meet salmon egg requirements for hatchery production. The Chinook salmon egg take is scheduled to begin on October 9, and delaying the opening of the lower fly fishing area until October 15 should ensure that sufficient numbers of fish enter the hatchery for full salmon production in 2008. By the middle of October, water temperatures are anticipated to drop, and expected Fall rains will likely result in increased base flows for the Salmon River, which would enhance sport fishing opportunities in the portion of the river affected by the delayed opening.

Anglers are reminded that the upper Salmon River special regulations fly-fishing area, which is located above the hatchery, remains open to anglers. DEC’s fishing regulations guide, www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7917.html , provides information about this and other special regulations. The section of the guide pertaining to the upper and lower Salmon River fly fishing catch-and-release season can be found at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/31420.html .

DEC’s Salmon River Fish Hatchery supplies almost all the trout and salmon for New York’s world-renown Great Lakes fisheries. Each year, the hatchery stocks 3.5 million trout and salmon, and nine million walleye fry. Serving an eleven-county area, hatchery personnel travel many miles delivering fish to their designated stocking sites. For more information about DEC’s Salmon River Hatchery, go to hwww.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/21663.html on the DEC website