News from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

For more information contact: Yancey Roy, 518-402-8000

New, Better Fishing Access, Tributary Repairs Mark Local Lake Ontario Settlement Projects

ALBANY, NY (01/25/2008; 1039)(readMedia)-- Major upgrades for fishing access sites, boat launches and Irondequoit Creek are some of the $1.5 million Greater Rochester highlights of a far-reaching plan to restore the fisheries of Lake Ontario and its tributaries, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today.

The revitalization plan is being funded with money from the 2006 settlement (for $12 million) of the state’s natural resources damages lawsuit against Occidental Chemical Corp. dealing with pollution that devastated sportfishing in Lake Ontario and the Niagara and St. Lawrence rivers. DEC, as trustee of New York’s natural resources, developed the restoration plan with public input. In all, the plan will fund 42 projects along Lake Ontario from Niagara to St. Lawrence counties that will enhance fish habitat and research, promote angler outreach and improve public fishing access

“These projects will reconnect New Yorkers to fishing spots – old and new – and boost their catch, while improving the health of the Lake Ontario fishery,’’ said Grannis, who three decades ago came to Niagara Falls as a New York State assemblyman to help investigate the Love Canal toxic waste disaster. “It’s good news for the fish. It’s good news for anglers. And it’s good news for the communities in the Lake Ontario region.”

The $12 million resolution is one of the largest in the nation for a natural resources damages claim based on recreational fishing losses. The settlement represents the final claim in a lawsuit the state filed against Occidental’s predecessor, Hooker Chemical, in 1983. It addressed damages to the fishery caused by the discharge of dangerous chemicals from the company’s main plant in Niagara Falls and from other sites and facilities either owned or operated by Occidental.

DEC began soliciting ideas for the spending plan in early 2007, holding a series of public meetings across the Lake Ontario region. Approximately 150 proposals were considered and 77 were advanced to a panel that scored the ideas. Of those, 42 were selected: 25 to improve access, 14 to enhance habitat and resources and three to promote fishing in the region.

Greater Rochester

In the Rochester region, the projects are:

-- Stream bank improvements to Irondequoit Creek (Monroe County). The creek, which supports a significant population of trout and salmon, has been severely damaged by storms over the years. The result: increased silt deposits, loss of fish habitat and impaired angler access. Among other things, the project would concentrate on renovating five sites within Powder Mills Park. ($250,500)

-- Reconfiguration of the Waterport Dam tail races on the Oak Orchard River (Orleans County). This is Lake Ontario’s third-most fished tributary. During high water, fish can become stranded in an overflow channel, exposing them to unethical fishing, high temperatures and low oxygen levels. The project will decrease mortality rates. ($50,000)

-- Additional ice-fishing access on Sodus and Blind Sodus bays (Wayne County). Currently, these ice-fishing hot spots have very limited capacity for parking. ($50,000)

-- Sodus Bay boat launch. A second ramp will alleviate congestion at this popular spot. ($500,000)

-- Port Bay fishing access site. During inclement weather, the access road becomes restricted. This project will focus on making the road accessible year-round to reach this very popular inlet. ($500,000)

-- Maxwell Creek fishing access site. A 40-car lot will be paved and repaired. ($50,000)

-- Slater Creek fishing access site. An 80-car site will be re-paved and repaired. ($75,000)

-- Sandy Creek fishing access site. A 50-car and trailer site will be repaired. ($25,000)

-- Port Bay fishing access site. The project will repair a five-car lot. ($2,000)

Beyond Rochester

In addition, the restoration plan includes funding for other notable system-wide projects designed to improve research and boost the fishery. Highlights include:

-- Stream bank improvements to an 18-mile stretch of the Salmon River (Oswego County), one of the most extensively fished waterways in the state. Over time, there has been a general build up material in certain channels, creating pools and eroding banks. The project aims to alleviate problems and take angler traffic away from the more susceptible points. ($500,000)

-- Upgrades to the state-run Salmon River Fish Hatchery in Oswego County. A comprehensive study will evaluate water supply and hatchery practices and develop a plan to improve trout and salmon production at the facility. ($2.2 million)

-- A new automated fish marking trailer that will be used to mark Chinook Salmon, Steelhead, Lake Trout, and possibly other species. The technology, widely used in the Pacific Northwest, will allow DEC to mark and track upwards of 2.5 million fish annually – significantly improving DEC’s ability to monitor and study species in Lake Ontario and its tributaries. ($1.5 million)

-- Fisheries Promotion Assistance. This grant will be used to develop a new “I Love NY Great Lakes Fishing” brochure to be distributed at sportfishing tournaments, fairs and other public events. While some counties typically promote local fishing sites, currently there is no promotion for the Great Lakes Region as a whole. Approximately 40 percent of the anglers who fish Lake Ontario and the Niagara and St. Lawrence rivers are from out of state. ($100,000)

-- Sea Lamprey control barriers. This grant will be matched by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to construct “low-head barriers” that block Sea Lamprey migration and spawning in Lake Ontario tributaries. Sea Lampreys, a parasite that attach to a host fish, have contributed to the decline of sportfish, especially lake trout. ($60,000)

-- A telemetry study for the Lower Niagara River. This waterway is believed to be a key area for lake trout spawning. Tagging and tracking fish would help identify and protect critical spots along the river. ($50,000)

-- Hatchery improvements at the Cape Vincent Fisheries Station (Jefferson County), intended to help launch stocking programs for Walleye, Northern Pike and Muskellunge. In recent years, local officials and local coalitions have begun repairs at the former federal fish hatchery. DEC, which now owns the facility, believes these stocking programs could provide measurable improvements to Lake Ontario sportfisheries ($1.4 million).

-- Northern Pike Spawning Marsh Rehabilitation. Historic pike spawning grounds have been wrecked by the proliferation of Typha (cattails), especially over the last 15 years. DEC surveys have documented a decline in Northern Pike over that period. Part of the project involves using a special excavator to cut channels in Typha mats and outlet ditches in the Eastern Lake Ontario/St. Lawrence River area. ($200,000)

-- Walleye spawning habitat fund. DEC staff will use this grant to assess tributaries (including the Oswego River, Little Sandy Creek, Black River and Oswegatchie River) to determine the presence of Walleye and spawning habitat to help improve fish production. ($200,000)

-- Niagara Falls Aquarium. This project will repair 10,000-gallon tank dedicated to Lake Ontario fishing, acquire more fish for display, develop interactive graphics and maps, produce sportfishing seminars and clinics. ($300,000)

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