DEC sets ‘State of Lake Ontario’ meetings

By Daily Record Staff
Posted: 6:27 pm Tue, February 23, 2010

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on Tuesday announced that three public meetings will be held to discuss Lake Ontario fisheries.

State of Lake Ontario public meetings are held annually, and next month will be held in Niagara, Monroe and Oswego counties.

New York’s waters of Lake Ontario total more than 2.7 million acres, and a 2007 statewide angler survey estimated more than 2.6 million angler days were expended on the lake and major tributaries. The estimated value of the fisheries exceeded $112 million to local New York economies.

Biologists from DEC and the U.S. Geological Survey will make presentations at the meetings, including updates on trout and salmon fisheries, forage fish populations, lake trout restoration efforts, warm water fish populations and sea lamprey control. Speakers also will give an update on the status of Lake Ontario.

Sportfishing Restoration Program projects funded by a natural resources damage settlement.

The Rochester meeting will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. March 10 at the Imaging Sciences Auditorium in the Chester F. Carlson Building at the Rochester Institute of Technology campus and is being co-hosted by RIT and the Monroe County Fishery Advisory Board.

Contact Web Pearsall at (585) 226-5339 for more information.