The DEC is set to resume sea lamprey control efforts in Seneca Lake next week to protect fish populations.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is set to resume sea lamprey control efforts in Seneca Lake next week, targeting parasitic predators that threaten popular fish species. The treatment, scheduled for October 16 and 17, will focus on applying a selective pesticide to critical waterways in Schuyler and Yates counties.
The DEC will deploy Bayluscide, a lampricide designed to kill larval sea lampreys, on Catharine Creek Canal and a section of the Dresden Delta. The application aims to reduce lamprey populations that have escaped earlier treatments this year, improving the survival of fish species such as Atlantic salmon, lake trout, and rainbow trout.
The sea lamprey is a parasitic fish that preys on these species, leading to higher mortality rates among the lake’s prized fish. DEC officials emphasized the importance of this control program, noting that without intervention, sea lamprey infestations could significantly impact the health and size of these fish populations.
“By effectively controlling sea lampreys, we’re able to protect the ecosystem and maintain the balance of native fish species,” a DEC spokesperson said.
As a precaution, the State Department of Health is advising against using water from the treatment zones for certain activities during and after the application. Residents are asked to avoid bathing, swimming, and fishing in the affected areas for two days following the treatment. Drinking, cooking, and washing dishes with lake water from these zones is discouraged for four days, while fish from the treated areas may contain traces of Bayluscide for up to 14 days.
The DEC has conducted outreach to local landowners and residents to ensure they are informed about the upcoming lampricide application. The precise schedule of the lampricide application is subject to weather conditions, and residents with concerns or questions are encouraged to contact the DEC for more information.
