Lamprey control quagmire

By DENNIS APRILL, Outdoors Columnist

Trying to control the anti-lamprey control fanatics may prove more difficult than getting the parasite itself under control.

The Vermont Public Research Interest Group (VPRIG), a private special interest lobbying organization, and Vermont Audubon have been in Federal Court in an effort to stop the use of lampricide in Lewis Creek this year; even though the lampricide used — TFM — has been widely tested in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain and proven highly effective and safe, these groups oppose its use on environmental grounds.

To make matters worse, U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologist John Gersmehl, who was assigned to lamprey control for Lake Champlain, retired, and now it appears there isn’t funding to replace him. Some Vermonters in favor of lamprey control are blaming Senator Patrick Leahy for not pushing for funding for a replacement.

With the Poultney River not on a lamprey treatment schedule for five years, it seems, as of now, between court tie-ups and other maneuvers, the current permanent lamprey control program — approved by New York, Vermont and the US Fish and Wildlife Service — could be put on hold indefinitely if all this legal maneuvering by a small group succeeds.

On Friday, there was a meeting in Vermont to discuss alternate lamprey control methods. These include barriers, pheromones (scent enticers), traps, and nest disruption, but in just about every instance on record, none are as effective as using lampricide. It is possible if VPRIG and Vermont Audubon lose in District Court, they could appeal and the court stay remain, so Lewis Creek can’t be treated until the suit is resolved.

I have been getting some e-mails from New Yorkers concerned about the future of the lake and the need for effective lamprey control, and not all of these people are anglers. One man from Westport wrote recently, "Is the heyday of salmon fishing (in Lake Champlain) done, or are there any real hopes that the fishery will bounce back?" The only way the latter will come about is with a strong lamprey control program enacted as soon as possible.

That reader’s concerns continued, when he wrote, "Are the poor (fishing) results going to kill the tournaments and drawing of tourists to our area?" I will let you, the readers, answer that one.