Bureau of Fisheries Annual Report of Highlights and Accomplishments
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New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources Bureau of Fisheries Annual Report Highlights and Accomplishments 2002/2003 December 2003 George E. Pataki, Governor Erin M. Crotty, Commissioner Introduction The New York State Department of The distribution of effort by Bureau of Fisheries Environmental Conservation, Division of Fish, Wildlife staff is provided as an overview of the number of staff and Marine Resources, Bureau of Fisheries delivers a days that were expended to delivery a quality very diverse program and annually conducts a wide statewide fisheries program; however the focus of this array of activities to accomplish its mission: report is to describe the results of the Bureau of Conserve and enhance New York State’s Fisheries 41,000-plus days of effort during fiscal year 2002/2003. abundant and diverse populations of freshwater fishes while providing the This report for state fiscal year 2002/2003 (April public with quality recreational angling 1, 2002 through March 31, 2003) is an effort to opportunities. highlight many of the findings and accomplishments of activities and efforts carried out by Bureau of During the state fiscal year 2002/2003, the Bureau Fisheries staff. This report is not inclusive of all of Fisheries logged a total of 41,528 staff days of Bureau staff activities conducted during 2002/2003. effort which was valued at more than $7.6 million. Most of this effort was provided by permanent It is a compilation of information that describes personnel (26,784 staff days), but 14,733 staff days activities which were conducted that resulted in were provided by temporary personnel. significant findings during 2002/2003 or activities from previous years for which results became For 2002/2003, Bureau of Fisheries activities were available during 2002/2003. Information contained in organized under 20 objectives (see Table 1 on next this report was provided by the Regional Fisheries page) which generally describe the intended outcomes Units, Fish Hatcheries, Great Lakes Fisheries Units, from our efforts (e.g. restored, self-sustaining fish and Central Office staff. populations; healthy hatchery fish; hatchery production to meet demands; additional public fishing access; The information is arranged by fishery type (e.g. improved aquatic habitats). The objective which accounted for the greatest amount of total staff effort coldwater stream, warmwater lake) or focus area (36%) was: (e.g. creel and angler surveys, public access) and further by Unit within the Bureau (e.g. Region 1 Meet 100% of hatchery production requirements for all species and life stages by Fisheries Unit, Adirondack Hatchery, Lake Erie annually Fisheries Unit) responsible for the accomplishments or findings. The second highest amount of total staff effort (27%) was expended on the following objective: Produce 22 million angler days of fishing effort on Great Lakes and inland waters of New York State by the year 2002 i Table 1. - Distribution of Bureau of Fisheries staff effort among twenty Bureau of Fisheries programmatic objectives for the state fiscal year 2002/2003. Bureau of Fisheries Objective Total Staff Percent of Total Staff Days Staff Days Costs Prevent degradation of existing quality aquatic habitat and reduce impaired aquatic 1,334 3.2% $299,175 habitats by 10% by the year 2001 Restore 5 additional self-sustaining populations of New York State-listed threatened 294 0.7% $57,067 or endangered fishes by 2006 Maintain self-sustaining populations of 165 species of freshwater and anadromous 3,015 7.3% $548,507 fishes in New York waters Provide 50 additional fisheries supported entirely by self-sustaining populations of 141 0.3% $28,053 wild fishes in publicly accessible New York waters by 2001 Increase the benefits to cost ratio of producing an angler day of recreational fishing by 822 2.0% $221,245 10% by the year 2000 Increase angling participation in New York State by 10% by the year 2002 (participation 260 0.6% $51,442 defined by two or more trips per year) A majority of anglers who solicit information from the Bureau of Fisheries will indicate 1,675 4.0% $337,410 satisfactory assistance was provided Produce 22 million angler days of fishing effort on Great Lakes and inland waters of 11,268 27.1% $2,069,402 New York State by the year 2002 Based on the 1996 statewide survey, the proportion of anglers indicating that DEC's 386 0.9% $61,575 overall fisheries management programs do not produce good or excellent fishing will decrease by 10% by the year 2002 The average health and physical condition of all fishes cultured at each DEC hatchery 1,022 2.5% $188,894 will meet or exceed measurable quality standards established by the Bureau of Fisheries annually Meet 100% of hatchery production requirements for all species and life stages 15,166 36.5% $2,536,972 annually Acquire 10 miles of Public Fishing Rights (PFR) easements annually and maintain the 617 1.5% $117,392 PFR network for optimal angler use and enjoyment Acquire new waterway access parcels as opportunities and funding permit. Complete 491 1.2% $126,364 development of 3 Boating Access Sites annually while maintaining the waterway access network for optimal angler use and enjoyment Safety and performance training. All Bureau of Fisheries field and hatchery staff will 289 0.7% $55,864 participate in an aquatic safety training workshop every 3 years Training. All Bureau of Fisheries staff will have reasonable opportunity to participate in 434 1.0% $88,047 training to enhance their job performance and promotional preparation All Bureau staff will have reasonable opportunity to participate in professional and 194 0.5% $49,145 technical conferences/workshops that facilitate and update staff expertise and professional standing Computer training. All Bureau of Fisheries staff will have ready access to a modern 41 0.1% $9,345 computer and will be trained in use of GroupWise (WordPerfect Office) and other computer software pertinent to their job performance Increase participation in angling by urban and suburban residents by 25% by 2005 557 1.3% $109,249 Meet requirements for program reports on schedule and meet internal and external 905 2.2% $215,361 customer needs in a timely manner Provide effective administrative support and personnel transactions 1,165 2.8% $204,347 All other Division objectives 1,452 3.5% $257,917 Bureau of Fisheries Totals 41,528 $7,632,773 ii Table of Contents Page Warmwater Lakes and Ponds 1 Coldwater Lakes and Ponds 15 Warmwater Rivers and Streams 19 Coldwater Streams 27 Two-Story Lakes and Ponds 35 Great Lakes 43 Creel and Angler Surveys 59 Habitat Management, Protection and Restoration 65 Extension, Education and Outreach 71 Public Access and Use 83 Fish Culture 89 Fish Species Production by Hatchery 95 Hatchery Fish Production by Species 99 Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species 101 Urban and Suburban Fisheries 103 Administration 107 Bureau of Fisheries Staffing 111 Appendix— list of common abbreviations and Acronyms 115 iii Bureau of Fisheries 2002/2003 Annual Report – Warmwater Lakes and Ponds Warmwater Lakes and Ponds Region 1 Blydenburgh Lake Electrofishing The Regional Fisheries Unit completed two nights of electrofishing in Blydenburgh Lake on May 20 and 21. The electrofishing survey showed a shift in the largemouth bass population from most individuals in the 9 to 12 inch range when the lake was last surveyed in 1998 to most individuals in the 12 to 15 inch range. The overall catch rate (bass/hour) of largemouth bass declined from 63 in 1998 to 37 in 2002, while the catch Figure 3 Largemouth bass catch per hour from five ponds in rate of bass over 12 inches increased from 3 in 1998 to Nassau County, before and after the implementation of a 31 in 2002. Bluegill, pumpkinseed and yellow perch catch and release only regulation. populations all shifted slightly toward smaller fish. Bluegill and yellow perch catch rates remained the 5 ponds. Largemouth bass RSD15 decreased in essentially unchanged while pumpkinseed catch rates Massapequa Lake from 5 in 1999 to 2 in 2002; increased. This electrofishing survey will provide some however, the high PSD indicates that more bass of the background information needed to assess the should move into the preferred size class during the effects of a regulation change which will allow fishing next two years. One concern about Massapequa Lake for bass from March 16 up until the regular Long is that there were no bass caught smaller than 270 mm Island Bass Season reopens on the first Saturday in during the 2002 survey while 13 were caught during June. This regulation went into effect in October 1, the 1999 survey. The cause for this lack of smaller 2002. sized bass is unclear. All five ponds also had an Nassau County largemouth bass No-kill regulation electrofishing evaluation Between May 6 and June 10, 2002, Massapequa Reservoir, Upper Twin Pond , Massapequa Lake, Lower Twin Pond and South Pond were electrofished to evaluate the Nassau County no-kill regulation that began in October, 1998. Massapequa Reservoir, Massapequa Lake, Lower Twin Pond and South Pond had been electrofished during the spring of 1999 to establish baseline data. Upper Twin Pond has been electrofished every even year since 1992. In four of the five ponds, the largemouth bass PSD almost Figure 4 Proportional Stock Density (PSD) of largemouth bass doubled from either the 1999 or 2000 electrofishing collected from five ponds in Nassau County, before and after surveys (Figure 1). The Massapequa Reservoir the implementation of a catch and release only regulation. largemouth bass PSD increased from 37 in 1999 to 70 in 2002. The Massapequa Lake largemouth bass PSD increase in the electrofishing catch per hour of 12 inch increased from 37 in 1999 to 71 in 2002.