Highlights local land trust purchase, fisheries advancements statewide

ALBANY, NY (04/01/2008; 1305)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today marked the opening day of the 2008 trout season by returning to the scene of an environmental mishap to highlight the recovery of the Hoosic River and a newly protected shoreline for potential fishing and paddling access.

The resurgence of the river is one of the many recent advances DEC has made to improve fisheries and fishing across the state. (Details below)

Seven years after a spill of copper sulfate killed thousands of fish in the Hoosic River, Commissioner Grannis announced the completion of an environmental benefits project that was part of the state’s settlement with Oak-Mitsui Inc. The company paid a $190,000 fine and funded the Rensselaer Land Trust’s (RLT) purchase of two parcels totaling about 33 acres along the river downstream from the company’s Hoosick Falls plant, including nearly a mile of shoreline.

Working with the RLT, DEC is pursuing plans to build a parking area, a canoe/kayak launch and improve access points along the newly protected shoreline. In addition, the transaction includes terms that keep the two parcels in agricultural production. The Hoosic downstream of Hoosick Falls is a warm-water fishery for smallmouth bass, rock bass, bluegill and pumpkinseed, along with occasional brown and rainbow trout. Upstream of Hoosick Falls, the river is predominately a brown and rainbow trout fishery that has produced trophy-sized trout annually.

“Seven years ago, you wouldn’t dream of casting a line in this stretch of the river,” said Commissioner Grannis. “Yet today, it serves as a great spot to mark the annual opening day of trout season. The river has recovered. Local agriculture land has been protected. And the local economy can expect a boost as a result. It is a positive outcome for what began as an environmental setback.”

“The Rensselaer Land Trust is pleased to be a part of this remediation effort on the Hoosic River,” said John Middlebrooks, the land trust’s executive director. “It is an excellent example of a small, local land trust working in partnership with the State of New York and the local community for the benefit of the people of Rensselaer County."

DEC worked with the state Attorney General’s office on the settlement. The outcome of the case underscores several of Commissioner Grannis’s priorities for DEC, including connecting New Yorkers to nature, fostering healthy and green communities and safeguarding the state’s natural assets.

Oak Mitsui Background

The chemical spill on the Hoosic occurred in June 2001 – during spawning season. Oak-Mitsui, which produces copper foil for circuit boards, released several thousand gallons of copper sulfate from its plant in Hoosick Falls, killing thousands of fish along a 10-mile stretch of river. DEC and the Attorney General’s office pursued a natural resources damages claim against the company; state and federal laws allow such claims when there is a release of hazardous pollutants that injures natural resources.

In 2004, a Rensselaer County court approved a settlement between the state and the company that called for a $190,000 penalty and an “Environmental Benefits Project,” which resulted in the purchase and preservation of the two tracts along the river announced today.

Fisheries Statewide

The Hoosic River settlement is just the latest in DEC’s ongoing efforts to improve the health of New York’s waters and its fisheries.

These include a $12 million settlement in a natural resources damages claim related to pollution that harmed Lake Ontario and its tributaries. This settlement funded 42 projects across the Lake Ontario region: 25 to expand access, 14 to improve habitat and research and three to promote fishing. The research projects include major upgrades to the Salmon River and Cape Vincent fish hatcheries and the acquisition of fish tagging equipment, along with several marsh and stream rehabilitation undertakings.

With more than 7,500 lakes and ponds, 50,000 miles of rivers and streams and hundreds of miles of coastlines, New York State has some of the best fishing in the country. Some of the highlights:

Stocking/Hatcheries

This DEC plans to stock 2.3 million catchable-size brook, brown and rainbow trout in almost 300 lakes and ponds and roughly 3,100 miles of streams across the state. DEC will again include two-year-old brown trout in the spring stocking program averaging 12-13 inches in length, with some as large as 15 inches.

The DEC operates 12 fish hatcheries which produce approximately 900,000 pounds of fish each year. About $6 million has been committed toward renovations at the facilities over the next several years.

Over the past 18 months, substantial improvements have been made to our Rome and South Otselic fish culture facilities. Future projects include replacement of rearing units and the office/early rearing building at Randolph Hatchery and developing additional groundwater capability at Salmon River Hatchery through rehabilitation of existing wells and new well installation.

Battling Nuisance Invasive Species and Fish Diseases

• Understanding that boaters can unknowingly spread invasive species and diseases, DEC will begin a program to install Nuisance Invasive Species Disposal Stations at boat launches throughout the state. Kiosks will also be installed at many of our boat launch sites to improve communication between DEC and boaters and anglers. Plans are to install 45 disposal stations and kiosks this year.

• Didymo or “Rock Snot” is an invasive algae which can wreck trout habitat by smothering the bottom-dwelling organisms on which fish feed. In the last 12 months, didymo has been found in both the East and the West Branch of the Delaware River, as well as the Battenkill. DEC has been working to raise awareness of this invasive species and provide prevention tips.

• Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia, or VHS, is a deadly fish pathogen that can affect a wide variety of fish species. Beginning in 2006 and following VHS-caused fish mortalities in Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River and some inland waters, DEC took strong measures to combat the spread of this disease, including restricting the movement of bait fish between bodies of water. Work will continue in 2008, including collecting and analyzing fish from over 50 additional waters in 2008.

Outreach and Promotion

• New York, along with 30 other states, will collaborate with the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation in a direct mail marketing campaign targeting anglers whose fishing licenses have expired.

• Similar to DEC’s hunting regulations guide, the upcoming Fishing Regulations Guide will be produced in a full color, magazine-quality format. Just slightly larger than previous fishing regulations guides, the new format will allow the inclusion of additional information important to anglers (fishing hotspots, management initiatives, invasive species/disinfection procedures, etc.).

• This will be the first full year for our new Fishing Promotion Biologists in Regions 3, 5, 7 and 9. A priority will be the planning of an expanded “I FISH NY” program which is designed to increase fishing participation in New York, with a focus on increasing opportunities close to the cities and suburbs.

• DEC will sponsor two free sport fishing days statewide over the last weekend in June (June 28-29). In addition, each of the nine DEC regions sponsor up to four other sport fishing events (such as family fishing clinics) where participants can fish for free -- no license required. In addition to fishing, participants may learn about fish identification, fishing equipment and techniques, fisheries management, angling ethics and aquatic ecology. Most free fishing events occur from April through October.

• In cooperation with Cornell University, the DEC has conducted a comprehensive fishing survey; 57,000 surveys were sent to licensed anglers in 2007. Analysis of the data will be completed in 2008. This information will be used to help guide DEC’s fisheries management decisions and strategies. l