New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources Bureau of Fisheries Annual Report Highlights and Accomplishments 2003/2004 December 2004 George E. Pataki, Governor Introduction The New York State Department of Environmental Protection of Human Health, Safety and Conservation, Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Welfare - Minimize Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources, Bureau of Fisheries delivers a diverse Resource-related Negative Impacts on Natural program and annually conducts a wide array of Resources; and Human Health, Safety and Land activities to accomplish its mission: Use. (< 1% of Staff Effort) Conserve and enhance New York State’s Organizational Effectiveness - Foster and abundant and diverse populations of freshwater Maintain an Organization That Effectively fishes while providing the public with quality Achieves Our Mission. (15 % of Staff Effort). recreational angling opportunities. For 2003/2004, Bureau of Fisheries activities were During the New York State Fiscal Year 2003/2004 organized under 13 objectives which generally (April 1, 2003 - March 31, 2004), the Bureau of describe the intended outcomes from our efforts (e.g. Fisheries logged a total of 38,658 staff days of effort satisfied anglers; restored, self-sustaining fish which was valued at more than $6.9 million. Most of populations; healthy hatchery fish; additional public this effort was provided by permanent personnel fishing access; improved aquatic habitats; confidence (31,327 staff days), but 7,331 staff days were provided in the Bureau of Fisheries staff abilities) (see Table 1). by temporary personnel. The objective which accounted for the greatest amount of staff effort was The Bureau of Fisheries staff efforts are categorized under five Division of Fish, Wildlife and By 2007, 75% of surveyed anglers will indicate Marine Resources program goals: that they are satisfied (and 30% will indicate they are highly satisfied) with the numbers and sizes of Ecosystem Protection - Protect, Enhance and fish they catch from New York’s inland and Great Restore New York’s Fish, Wildlife and Marine Lakes waters. Resources and the Ecosystems That Support Them (11% of Staff Effort) with more than 65% of total staff effort followed by Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources Extension - Maintain self-sustaining populations of 165 Help Provide New York Residents and Visitors species of freshwater and anadromous fishes in with the Knowledge to Appreciate Fish, Wildlife, New York waters and Marine Resources and Their Habitats (8 % of Staff Effort) with approximately 5.5% of total staff effort (see Table 1, following page). Recreation, Use and Allocation - Provide a Wide Array of Opportunities to Enjoy Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources (65% of Staff Effort) i Table 1. - Distribution of Bureau of Fisheries staff effort among twenty Bureau of Fisheries programmatic objectives for the state fiscal year 2003/2004. Bureau of Fisheries Objective Total Staff Percent of Total Staff Days Staff Days Costs By 2007, based on a sample of concerned “user groups”and the opinions of 1,126 2.9% $251,179 Bureau staff, the percentage of responses indicated a high degree of satisfaction with the Bureau of Fisheries efforts to restore fish populations and protect aquatic habitats will exceed 60% Restore five additional self-sustaining populations of New York State listed- 387 1.0% $73,330 threatened or endangered fishes by 2007. Maintain self-sustaining populations of 165 species of freshwater and anadromous 2,107 5.5% $350,373 fishes in New York waters Provide 30 additional fisheries supported entirely by self-sustaining populations of 57 0.1% $12,087 wild fishes in publicly accessible New York waters by 2007. By 2007, 90% of Bureau of Fisheries staff is satisfied that the Bureau of Fisheries 544 1.4% $159,421 is conducting the most effective and efficient program it can. By 2007, an effective and inclusive angler education techniques/programs will be 371 1.0% $67,392 established that will provide a conduit for New Yorker’s of all ages to gain the necessary knowledge to become an effective and ethical angler. By 2007, based on a sample of anglers and constituents, and opinions of all 1,029 2.7% $196,370 Bureau staff, the percentage of responses expressing a high degree of satisfaction with the quality of information provided by the Bureau of Fisheries will exceed 75%. By 2007, 75% of surveyed anglers will indicate that they are satisfied (and 30% 25,127 65.0% $4,237,492 will indicate they are highly satisfied) with the numbers and sizes of fish they catch from New York’s inland and Great Lakes waters. The average health and physical condition of all fishes cultured at each DEC 884 2.3% $152,835 hatchery will meet or exceed measurable quality standards established by the Bureau annually. Acquire ten miles of Public Fishing Rights (PFR) easements annually and 651 1.7% $120,241 maintain PFR network for optimal angler use and enjoyment. Acquire new waterway access parcels as opportunities and funding permit. 368 1.0% $83,943 Complete development of three Boating Access Sites annually, while maintaining the waterway access network for optimal angler use and enjoyment. By 2007, 90% of Bureau of Fisheries staff is satisfied that they have sufficient 99 0.3% $19,112 knowledge, skills and training to effectively accomplish their work duties and the objectives of the Bureau. By 2010 based on a sample of anglers and opinions of all Bureau staff the 134 0.3% $35,067 percentage of responses expressing a high degree of confidence in the professionalism and ability of Bureau of Fisheries staff to manage the State’s fisheries will exceed 80%. All other Division objectives 5,774 14.9% $1,121,299 Bureau of Fisheries Totals 38,658 100.0% $6,880,141 Note: The distribution of effort by Bureau of Fisheries staff is provided as an overview of the number of staff days that were expended to delivery a quality statewide fisheries program; however the focus of this report is to describe the results of the Bureau of Fisheries 38,000-plus days of effort during fiscal year 2003/2004. ii Common Abbreviations, Acronyms and Units of Measurement Used CPUE catch per unit of effort - such as the number of fish caught per hour or fish caught per net YOY young of year fish - typically, a fish that is captured by sampling in the same year it was hatched PSD proportional stock density - describes the portion of a fish population or sample that exceeds a size threshold. For example, the PSD for largemouth bass is the proportion of 12 inch and larger bass in the sample of largemouth bass that were stock size (8 inches and larger). RSD 15 relative stock density greater than 15 inches - describes the proportion of fish larger than 15 inches in a population or sample of all fish exceeding a size threshold. For example, the RSD 15 for largemouth bass is the proportion of 15 inch and larger bass in a the sample of all largemouth bass that were stock size ( 8 inches and larger) RM river mile - denotes the distance upstream from the river mouth mm millimeter - a metric system unit of length, 100 mm = 3.94 inches kg kilogram - a metric system unit of weight, 1 kg = 2.2 pounds km kilometer - a metric system unit of length, 1 km = 0.62 miles or 3,281 feet ha hectare - a metric system unit of area, 1 hectare = 2.47 acres m meter - a metric system unit of length, 1 meter = 3.28 feet ppm part per million - describes the density of a substance in another solid, liquid or gas (typically water, air) ppb parts per billion - describes the density of a substance in another solid, liquid or gas (typically water, air) iii Table of Contents Page Warmwater Lakes and Ponds 1 Coldwater Lakes and Ponds 12 Warmwater Rivers and Streams 17 Coldwater Streams 20 Two-Story Lakes and Ponds 26 Great Lakes 32 Creel and Angler Surveys 45 Habitat Management, Protection and Restoration 51 Extension, Education and Outreach 57 Public Access and Use 68 Fish Culture 74 Hatchery Fish Production by Species 7 8 Fish Species Production by Hatchery 79 Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species 82 Urban and Suburban Fisheries 84 Administration 85 Bureau of Fisheries Staffing 89 iv Bureau of Fisheries 2003/2004 Annual Report – Warmwater Lakes and Ponds Warmwater Lakes and Ponds Region 1 included: white perch, yellow perch, black crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, golden shiner, Hempstead Lake Restocking and banded killifish. Hempstead Lake dried up completely for the first time in history during the extended drought in the summer Lake Ronkonkoma Walleye Sampling of 2002. By the spring of 2003, the lake level had Region 1 Fisheries staff conducted a pilot study during recovered to historic levels. In April and May of 2003, the week of March 15th to determine the effectiveness fish were transferred from Deep Pond in Suffolk of trap nets as a gear for sampling walleye in the County, Prospect Park Lake in Brooklyn and St. Johns spring in Lake Ronkonkoma. One trap net was set at pond in Nassau County to re-establish a fish the mouth of the lake’s only tributary stream for three population in Hempstead Lake. Fish transferred nights. A total of seven walleye were caught. The included several thousand killifish, 400 bluegill, 100 average length was 19.8 in. The largest walleye was pumpkinseed, 20 black crappie, 20 golden shiners and 23.7 in. and weighed 5.1 lb. Relative weights for this 10 yellow perch. Largemouth bass will be stocked in sample of walleye ranged from 90 to 100 indicating 2004. that the fish are well fed.