Spiel

Lamprey busters coming to Sauble River May 17, 2008 doug edgar / owensoundsuntimes.com Canada's sea lamprey busters plan to treat a section of the Sauble River during the first week of June. They are also monitoring lamprey runs on the Beaver River, which enters Georgian Bay at Thornbury, and on the Bighead, which enters the bay at Meaford. Also, a metal plate will be added to the top of Denny's Dam as added insurance that the parasitic jawless fish - although they're often called eels, technically they're not - don't get into the vast Saugeen system, which has extensive areas suitable for lamprey spawning. The drive to reproduce is so strong that lampreys will attach themselves to a dam or other obstacle and work their way over the top if the drop is small enough, said Paul Sullivan, section head, control, with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Sea Lamprey Control Centre in Sault Ste. Marie. "It's remarkable the tenacity they have," he said. The drop at Denny's Dam is great enough to stop them, but the plate, which will form a horizontal lip over the crest of the dam, will make the structure better. "It's just an added safety measure," Sullivan said. The Saugeen was treated with lampricide once, in 1970, when Denny's Dam was put to use as a barrier, Sullivan said. It was the most expensive treatment to that point and would cost $700,000 to do today. The local work is part of efforts on both sides of the border to control sea lampreys, an invasive species that is believed to have entered the upper Great Lakes through the Welland Canal in the early 20th century. They helped decimate lake trout and other large predatory fish. The Sauble River will be treated from the Jewel Bridge Road downstream, Sullivan said. That area, a short distance east of Bruce Road 13, which is the main north-south route along the Huron shore, is as far upstream as larval sea lampreys have been found. The Sauble has been periodically treated with lampricide since 1970, Sullivan said. The chemical, which kills the larval stage of the lamprey but doesn't affect other aquatic organisms under normal conditions when used in the correct concentration, will be pumped into the river for 12 to 14 hours. A trap at the fish ladder in the Beaver River is also regularly checked during the lamprey spawning run, which lasts from early April through the end of June. The Bighead River was treated last year and it will be checked this year to see how effective those efforts have been, said Sullivan. The Bighead has no barrier to stop sea lampreys from reaching spawning areas, he said. The river is treated with lampricide every four years, since that's the minimum time it takes the larvae in the river to reach the point they change into adults and head for the lake. Larval lampreys are filter feeders that live in the bottom of the stream before they enter their parasitic stage, while adult sea lampreys have a ring of sharp teeth that they use to scrape a hole in a fish. They then suck out the fish's blood and bodily juices. Sullivan said there is evidence that adult lampreys find their way to spawning sites - gravel areas with clean, well oxygenated water, roughly what is suitable for rainbow trout - because they are attracted by pheromones produced by the larvae. To complicate the matter, there is also evidence that sea lampreys are attracted to pheromones produced by the larvae of native lampreys that live in some local river systems, including the Saugeen. That means that even if sea lampreys aren't present in a watershed, adults could be drawn to spawn. The native lampreys include the non-parasitic northern brook lamprey, which is under consideration for partial protection under the federal Species at Risk Act. Once sea lampreys reach a suitable spawning area, they make crescent shaped nests by moving gravel around with their mouths. They die after spawning. Officials are also evaluating a program in which sterilized male lampreys are released in the St. Marys River. The idea is that they spawn with females and produce non-viable eggs. The DFO control centre will help the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service release 25,000 such lampreys this year.

City discharging raw sewage into Georgian Bay; MOE keeping closer eye on outflow from sewage treatment plant after finding deficiencies in waste water system: report May 17, 2008 DENIS LANGLOIS / owensoundsuntimes.com Millions of litres of raw sewage can flow into Owen Sound bay when heavy rain or spring thaws push the city's waste water system beyond capacity. The information is part of a Ministry of the Environment report, which points to numerous "deficiencies" with Owen Sound's sewage treatment plant and collection systems. The ministry report also noted occasions when the plant's effluent, which the city pumps into Georgian Bay, contained high concentrations of E. coli, suspended solid particles and ammonia. In response, the ministry updated the treatment plant's certificate of approval May 5 to impose stricter requirements. The city must now provide the MOE with more frequent and timely samples of the plant's discharge and a plan on how it will measure the effluent's impact on the bay, said local MOE supervisor Shawn Carey. "We're keeping a close eye on them through new monitoring reporting and stricter effluent levels," he said in an interview Thursday. Owen Sound is the last city on Georgian Bay to treat its waste water only at the primary level and one of the last in Ontario with just a primary sewage treatment plant. City council recently approved a 10-year timeline to upgrade the plant to secondary. The estimated $43 million cost would make the project the most costly in the city's history and beyond Owen Sound's financial reach without federal and provincial help. Liat Podolsky, a research scientist with Ecojustice Canada, said both the federal and provincial governments must pony up more money to help cash-strapped municipalities upgrade their sewage treatment plants to the secondary level. "And to upgrade all aging wastewater infrastructure in the Great Lakes region, which is badly in need of repair," she said Friday. Ecojustice, a Canadian non-profit of lawyers and scientists devoted to protecting the environment, also believes the government should help fund measures which control stormwater at the source and reduce the volume and frequency of combined overflows and bypasses, she said. Those measures could include green roofs, permeable pavements and rain gardens - a planted depression designed to absorb rainwater runoff. Raw sewage contains a cocktail of disease-causing bacteria and viruses and hundreds of toxic chemicals, she said. "Untreated sewage in water results in contamination, which poses serious health threats and makes the water unsafe for swimming and fishing," she said. The city's 36-year-old sewage treatment plant performs a basic process of screening, settlement, scum removal and some reduction in phosphorus and bacteria levels. High levels of chlorine are then added to the waste to kill some bacteria before the effluent is discharged into the bay, said public works manager Mike Crone. Environment Canada has said chlorine will no longer be allowed in effluent after December 2009. Secondary treatment, a requirement for new plants since 1982, uses chemical and biological methods to break down and remove biodegradable organic material and suspended solids and remove phosphorus. The MOE inspected the city's treatment facility earlier this year. In a report it presented to the city in March, it noted the monthly sampling of E. coli concentration in the plant's effluent exceeded provincial guidelines of 200 parts per 100 millilitres five times last year. The January sampling contained 25,600 parts per 100 ml. Crone said most sewage treatment plants do not disinfect in winter because the water is too cold for bacteria to replicate. Chlorine is also not as effective in the cold. The MOE also noted high concentrations of suspended solid particles, one reading almost triple the provincial limit. At times, concentrations of ammonia, suspended solids and organic materials would have likely failed toxicity tests, the report said. Coun. Bill Twaddle, the city's environmental and waste advisory committee chairman, said the report reinforces the city's need to upgrade the sewage treatment plant. The ministry report also noted concerns with the city's sewage collection system and raw sewage overflows. "When you get a heavy rain, the volume flowing into the waste water treatment plant is often greater than the plant can accept. What that means is it then has to bypass," Twaddle said. In those instances the water is not treated at all before it enters the bay. "These combined sewer overflows may contain an untreated mixture of floatables, pathogenic micro-organisms, suspended solids, oxygen demanding organic compounds, nutrients, oil and grease, toxic contaminants and other pollutants," the report said. Coun. Jim McManaman, operations advisory committee vice-chair, said an upgrade to secondary treatment is necessary, but the city must go through a lengthy approval process before work can begin. "It's not a question of if, it's a question of when," he said in an interview Friday. Twaddle said the city has spent "millions of dollars" to reduce such occurrences but that sewage and storm water still flow through the same pipe in some parts of the city. The city now separates the two systems any time underground services are replaced. Crone said since the city began monitoring bypasses and overflows in 1998, infrastructure upgrades have caused a continuous drop in incidents. Ten bypasses were recorded in 2007 but "I hope sometime in the not-so-distant future they will be a thing of the past," he said. Upgrading to a secondary treatment facility will in itself not eliminate the bypass problems, Crone said. That will still require separating the storm water and waste water systems.

....Congrats, I too was there yesterday (Friday) and can honestly say I was disgusted with the number of anglers intentionaly snagging. I mean most weren't even try to hook them legally, disgusting! I did manage a couple on badboyz and a couple on a 1/2oz crippled herring. Mike was that you on the dock with the MNR guy around 2:15?

Angler bags 92 lb Bighead Carp while bowfishing Sat, May. 17, 2008 Belleville News-Democrat Provided to the BND / Darin Opel, of Worden, has bowfished for 25 years, but this giant Asian carp is his biggest catch by far. Opel bagged the fish Sunday in a backwater on the Mississippi River near Alton. While bowfishing for gar from the shore in backwater above the Melvin Price Lock and Dam No. 26 on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River near Alton, Darin Opel shot a 92.8 lb bighead carp with a compound bow and arrow. After fighting the behemoth for 10 minutes, Opel jumped into the muddy water, bearhugged the beast and inched him to the shore. "It was real heavy, like lifting a refrigerator," said Opel, who ripped his jeans on the arrow sticking from the back of the carp's head during the ruckus. "Once he got out of the water, he started fighting hard. He beat me up pretty good. He definitely got a few licks in." Opel won the fight -- and the admiration of anglers everywhere who fantasize about landing a monster fish such as his trophy. Weighed on a certified scale at Worden Food Market in Worden, the huge Asian carp had a 30-inch girth and measured 62" long. It obliterated the previous Illinois bowfishing record for bighead carp of 35.5 lbs set by John Borgers on June 8, 2006. According to Duane Chapman, a fish biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey who specializes in carp studies, Opel's catch is the largest on record by a recreational fisherman in the Western Hemisphere. Chapman said there are only two bigger bighead carp on record in the world. A 93-pounder was captured in a reservoir in northern Texas a few years ago, but it was not caught by an angler and not weighed on a certified scale. Chapman said a commercial fisherman in Pakistan landed a bighead carp that weighed more than 100 pounds several years ago. The fish now hangs in a museum in that country, where carp are revered. "Both of those were kind of oddballs," Chapman said. "Other than that, I don't know of any fish that are bigger than his that have been captured anywhere." Tissue and bone samples are being sent to Chapman to be tested for age and origin. Chapman said he won't hazard a guess on the age of the record fish. "Any time you get something that's a contender for a world record, it's wild," said Opel, who has been bowfishing for 25 years. "A buddy told me I was just in the perfect place at the perfect time. Everything just came together.

Trent-Severn opens for 88th season of boating May 16, 2008 Ernest Kuglin / Trenton Trentonian Locks along the 386-kilometre Trent Severn Waterway opened for navigation Friday morning. It’s the 88th opening of the waterway that stretches from the mouth of the Trent River in Trenton to Georgian Bay. The May long weekend is the traditional opening of the system. With recent flooding and extremely high water levels of reservoir lakes in Haliburton and Kawartha regions, Trent Severn officials were initially concerned the traditional opening date would be delayed. “But mother nature has been extremely kind to us in the past several weeks,’’ said Mike Jamieson, assistant director of canal operations. Trent Severn officials will be keeping a close eye on weather conditions of the long weekend and the coming weeks. Jamieson said reservoir lakes are filled to capacity and do not have much storage capacity. Flow rates have been reduced along the entire system and the Trent River section of the waterway. “We’re fine tuning the system and we are urging mariners to use caution because water levels are still high,’’ said Jamieson. Due to high water levels and fast lows generated by a deep snow pack and heavy spring rains, maintenance crews have been unable to locate the position and placement of floating navigational aids across the entire system. Jamieson said Parks Canada maintenance crews will be working throughout the weekend and the next several weeks to get channel markers and other navigational aids back in place. Jamieson said areas above and below water control dams should be avoided due to strong currents. Navigational buoys, he said, may be out of position or partially submerged. “We asking mariners to report any hazards in the navigation channel or aids that are out of charted position to Parks Canada or to the Canadian Coast Guard Traffic Centre in Sarnia,’’ said Jamieson. Otherwise the waterway is in good shape for the new boating season. “It’s taken a lot of work since the major flooding along the system to get the waterway in shape for the opening weekend,’’ said Jamieson. “We’re always very excited about the opening weekend. It’s a tradition in Central Ontario and there are a lot of businesses along the waterway that depend on the Trent Severn.’’ The Murray Canal, meanwhile, will remain closed until the end of June due to continuing reconstruction work on the Carrying Place swing bridge, on Loyalist Parkway, Hwy. 33. The canal, also operated by Parks Canada, connects Lake Ontario with the Bay of Quinte, The 2008 boating season marks the 175th anniversary of the waterway. The first lock was constructed near the town of Bobcaygeon in 1833. Special events will be held June 6-8. For more information on the celebrations go to www.tswborninbobcaygeon.org

....I'm very interested in attending one or two of the "Toonie Tournaments" but it won't be this one. Best O luck to all who do attend.

"Blue Walleyes, Have U caught any?" ....Yep, many.

....Hmmmmm, might be the same pond I threw the occasional cast into as well.

....Well now, good folk dining with good folk. Perfect.

....Good stuff! I'll be out there tomorrow and hope to do as well.

....Thanks for the help guys, I think I got it. A pocket full of coins to get me in and a lake full of fish, should be, could be good. I'll be after whities and then hopefully find some perch TEP.

....I'm heading up to Simcoe in the wee hours of the morning and was wondering if access is available into the park and launch area or is it gated? If I recall you need loonies to pay for the lauch, is that correct?

SWISS GOVERNMENT TO BAN ‘CATCH AND RELEASE’ FISHING

Boaters urged to put safety first May 15, 2008 / northernlife.ca As lakes and rivers become free of ice, many Ontarians are itching to venture out on boat, canoe or kayak trips. Whether planning a day of fishing or a week of back-country canoeing, the Ontario Conservation Officers Association (OCOA) is reminding the public to put safety first. North American Safe boating Awareness Week takes place from May 17 to 23 and the OCOA supports the efforts of the Canadian Safe Boating Council in promoting safe boating practices on Ontario waters. Conservation officers spend a lot of time on the water, conducting checks on thousands of anglers every summer. They also enforce Small Vessel Regulations under the Canada Shipping Act, and play an important role in the safety of boaters. “While our officers don’t focus primarily on boating safety enforcement, we do encounter many serious safety violations,” said OCOA president and conservation officer Dan VanExan, in a news release. “Many of these unsafe situations could be prevented by boaters taking the time to properly equip and safely operate their vessels.” OCOA tips for safe boating: Wear a life-jacket: - Life-jackets save lives, but they must be worn to work. - It is the law to have enough life-jackets or personal flotation devices on-board for each passenger. - Make sure personal flotation devices are in good condition and fit properly. Don’t drink and boat: - It is illegal and dangerous to drink alcohol on a vessel unless a boat is equipped with sleeping, cooking, and washroom facilities and the boat is anchored. - Never operate a vessel after consuming alcohol. Be prepared: - Be familiar with the operation of a boat and know its limitations for passengers and gear. - Check to ensure mandatory safety equipment is on-board and is in good condition. - Keep an eye on the weather. Know when it may not be safe to go out on the water and be aware of changing conditions. “By following this important advice, boaters will be able to safely enjoy their time on the water this summer,” said VanExan in the release. “Our officers look forward to an accident-free summer.” For more information about boating safety, visit the Canadian Safe Boating Council website at www.csbc.ca. For more information about natural resources regulations and enforcement, contact a local conservation officer or visit the OCOA website at www.ocoa.ca

Lamprey killing program underway - Local fishermen cope with slimy predators May 14, 2008 SHANNON QUESNEL / elliotlakestandard.ca Sea lampreys are a pain for commercial fishermen and a literal thorn in the side of fish. The only weapon against the tube-shaped bloodsuckers is the Sea Lamprey Management Program (SLMP), which started its lampricide initiative last month. The program’s goal is to kill as many Great Lakes sea lampreys as possible. The payoff is the preservation of not only native fish, such as lake trout, but also the billion-dollar commercial and sport fishing industries operating in the Great Lakes. One fisherman who is benefiting from the program is Blind River’s David Carlson. The Carlson family has been making a living on Lake Huron since the early 1900s. The business is now called Carlson Brothers. Carlson says while Lake Huron’s lamprey population has been controlled for several years the lake still has high numbers of the predator compared to other Great Lakes. Tough pests SLMP division manager Robert Young says there are about 150,000 lamprey spawners living in Lake Huron. Young works out of the SLMP’s Sault Ste. Marie office. To keep the number at 150,000 or lower, lampricide has been applied every year to select rivers and streams. For Lake Huron in 2008, lampricide will be applied to Sauble River, Serpent River, Mississagi River, Lauzon Creek and Aux Sables River (Spanish River). The lampricides are applied to rivers and streams by one of two roving team of workers, from eight to 16 people in size. Young says the lampricide is dripped or pumped into the water through a spreader hose that stretches across the stream. These mobile labs will also monitor the lampricide’s concentration. A single river’s treatment will take a day or two at most. “We are trying to have a concentration to kill lampreys for nine to 12 hours,” Young explains. The lampricide chemical is lethal to lampreys, but harmless to other fish when applied properly. Some fish might be affected if they are weak from spawning activities or by disease or pollution. Baitfish or another species confined artificially can also be harmed because of stress caused by crowding or handling. There are drinking water concerns. Municipalities, individuals and farms that use the streams where the lampricide is applied will be notified to suspend stream use for a period of time. Young says this lampricide has been tested by Health Canada and by the Environmental Protection Agency in the U.S. Without the lampricide and techniques such as releasing sterile male lampreys and barriers, lampreys can cause great harm to Great Lakes fish stocks. “What we are really doing is preventing damage,” says Young. “Our program is preventing millions of larvae that (would) get out into Lake Huron.” Young says the Mississagi River alone produces five to six million lamprey larvae a year. Ancient predator Great Lakes sea lampreys are an invasive species. Before being introduced to the world’s largest collection of fresh water lakes, the lives of sea lampreys were similar to salmon. Lampreys are born in rivers and streams and when they are larger they migrate to the Atlantic Ocean to feed. The prey of ocean-bound sea lampreys are tunas, sharks and other very large fish. Lampreys are nothing more than a pest to these big predators, but to lake trout the 90-centimetre (36-inch) parasites are killing machines. “If they feed on a five-pound lake trout the lamprey is able to extract enough blood from that fish to actually kill it,” says Young. Pickerel and other fish do feed on lampreys, but only when the parasites are small and living in a stream. Young has not seen evidence this predation is cutting down sea lamprey numbers. Young says sea lampreys have four life stages, with the third being the most dangerous to Great Lakes fish. “The spawning lampreys are the terminal of the life cycle.” They produce eggs that hatch into larvae, which grow in streams for four to six years and they turn into juvenile lampreys. The animal is most dangerous at this stage. It will leave the river and swim out into Lake Huron. When a juvenile lamprey finds a target it applies its sucker-like mouth to the fish’s side. Most fish cannot shake the lamprey off or twist around to bite the predator. Using teeth and tongue the lamprey scrapes away scales and skin to get to the meat. It then drinks blood and other fluids when the host fish bleeds. A single feeding will either kill the host or leave it weak. Most fish will not survive multiple feedings. When the lamprey is full it detaches and looks for new prey. Young says a single lamprey can kill four to eight kilograms (nine to 18 pounds) of fish during its juvenile stage. After reaching maximum size a lamprey returns to the streams and rivers to lay eggs. Enlisting Carlson has seen the damage a lamprey does to a fish. Its bite can leave a hole the size of a quarter. These days though lamprey are not as bad as they were. “Their percentage changes. Some days you hardly see any markings (bites) and some days you see quite a bit.” Lampreys that are pulled off caught fish are not thrown back into the water, he says. “We keep ‘em. And that is where the sea lamprey Sault (office) will clue you in. They’ve had programs with us for years where we do some tagging and marking and the lamprey will go into solution. “At other times they ask us to bring in lampreys live and then we just put them into holding tanks. They will do different scientific experiments with them or use them for displays at conventions.” As for what a wounded fish is worth to him it depends on the damage and what the fish is used for. “It depends on where it goes. You get selective. If you were selling to somebody who was smoking it, well, then it is not as critical. “It (also) depends how lampreys have been attached. If they just latched themselves on and there is just surface discolouring that’s a lot different than a great big lamprey that stays on (and puts) a big hole through the side.”

Development freeze cuts into Mudcat donations; Six Nations land claims impacting town's favourite festival May 14, 2008 KAREN BEST / dunnvillechronicle.com Carolyn Chymko made the rounds to several businesses on Tuesday morning in an attempt to solicit donations for the 34th Mudcat Festival. Her pursuit has taken on a degree of urgency because so far only about $10,000 is on the books. Most cheques are for less than $1,000 and it will take between $35,000 and $40,000 to run the famous event from June 4 to June 8. Presented by Kerr Boom Pyrotechnics, Saturday's famous fireworks show will cost $10,000. "Without sponsorship, there's no festival," said Chymko. "Everything is booked. Hopefully we don't run in the red." This year's donation drought is directly related to a development freeze due to unresolved land claims, she noted. When she contacted some development and contracting corporations which made generous donations in previous years, owners expressed their regrets. "It's not their fault. Their hands are tied," said Chymko. They told her to thank Haldimand County and the natives. Wal-Mart property owner Calloway REIT provided a donation last year and planned to do the same this year but could not, she told The Chronicle. There's no TSC store and little or no income for many in the construction business. "So it's a huge loss for the festival," said Chymko. Determined to pay the bills, she will hold whatever fundraisers she can to compensate for the loss. "I'm counting on our community for their support," she continued. "I'm anticipating over the five-day festival that 50,000 people will be coming to our town and county. We have to pull this off." While finding this situation a little bit scary, she hoped for the best. "Dunnville always sticks together," Chymko said. People can show their support at the June 1 festival kickoff party at Johnny Rotten's. For the $5 cover charge, they can party to the tunes of Steel Country and The Bareback Riders between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Both bands will play at the Bavarian Gardens on June 7, the festival's Saturday. Another key annual fundraiser, the Mudcat Celebrity Golf Tournament, will be held on June 14 with tee off at 9 a.m. at Freedom Oaks Golf Club. Proceeds will go toward fireworks. As event coordinator and president of the Dunnville Chamber of Commerce she wanted to make the county aware that not just Caledonia is suffering. Her letter to council was discussed at the May 12 council meeting. In it, she reported a significant drop in financial support. Both a local construction company and commercial builder gave $1,000 last year but could provide nothing for the 2008 festival. Smaller businesses have cut back their donations or were unable to contribute, she reported. "Our community is now suffering directly and Dunnville has not received any offsetting funding as have other areas in Haldimand," she said. Chymko asked council to convey the chamber's concerns to appropriate provincial and federal agencies that might be able to provide financial support to the county and specifically to Dunnville. It's quite apparent there's been a negative fall-out of land claims issues impacting Dunnville," said Coun. Lorne Boyko. In Caledonia, business donations reduced significantly because of impacts related to land claim issues, he noted. "It's taken two years but it's hit Dunnville as well," he added. On Monday night, he wrote a motion that was seconded by Coun. Don Ricker and supported unanimously by their colleagues. As a result, the Chamber's letter will be sent to Premier Dalton McGuinty, Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister Michael Bryant, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Minister Chuck Strahl, Ontario chief negotiator Murray Coolican, federal negotiator Monique Dorin, and the Ministers of Municipal Affairs and Recreation and Tourism. Anyone wishing to make a donation to the festival can drop by the Chamber office on Chestnut Street from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday or by mail at P.O Box 124, Dunnville ON, N1A 2X1.

Releasing pearls May 14, 2008 Dan Schell / bancroftthisweek.com North Hastings Fish Hatchery release their first batch of jewels May 10 marked a large day in the history of the development of the North Hastings Jewel Trout project with the first batch of fish being released into the waters of L’Amable Lake. A total of 845 of these specially developed trout were part of the first group of this strain of fish to be released through the North Hastings Community Fish Hatchery. The project started in 2006 with small amount of eggs that were collected from Ashby Lake, then incubated and treated at the Haliburton Fish Hatchery until they could be released into the local waters. From there, the trout have grown up under extensive supervision and development at the Haliburton Highlands Fish Hatchery to get to the strength necessary for release. This project will soon be moving to the North Hastings area, with the development of the North Hastings Community Fish Hatchery located on Hysert Road in the Township of Dungannon. According to Dennis LeFeuvre, President of the North Hastings Community Fish Hatchery, the hatchery is nearing completion. “We are looking to have everything done by this summer,” said LeFeuvre, “We are just waiting to start pouring the concrete and getting the pump systems in right now.” According to LeFeuvre, due to this year’s harsh winter, the construction of the hatchery proved to be difficult, but he is looking forward to movement of the North Hastings Jewel Trout stock to the area. Though this was a big day for all of those involved with this project, it was also a day of celebration for the community. For the many in attendance, this marked a new day for the waters of the North Hastings area. Due to climate change and other environmental concerns that are restricting the amount of fish in the area’s lakes, projects like the Hatchery contribute to the strength of the community’s economy that relies in large part to attracting anglers from across the nation. “This is not only good for the fisherman,” said LeFeuvre, “But it is also good for the local economy with more people being attracted to the lakes again.” Mayor of Hastings Highlands and Warden of Hastings County Ron Emond said it was an important day for the North Hastings community. “We have all have been waiting for this release,” said Emond, “It is important for the future generations in the area.” Jim Anderton, a resident of L’Amable Lake, was thrilled to see the lake being replenished with fish. Since his arrival at the lake in 1974, Anderton has seen a drop in the traffic around the area, in particular anglers, and sees this project as being a benefit to the area. “Once you start stocking the lakes again, we will see more people on the lakes,” said Anderton. Dave Flowers from the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has already seen the benefit of hatchery projects in the Haliburton community. Flowers has worked closely with the North Hastings hatchery project in the raising of these fish in Haliburton. Flowers said that the North Hastings Fish Hatchery project is a perfect example of the community getting behind a beneficial project. “When it’s the right thing to do, it’s the right thing to do,” said Flowers. This was part of the motivation for Jack Jackson, a member of the Haliburton Highlands Outdoor Association’s Lake Trout Project. Jackson sees projects like this as something a community can get behind, and important to the health of the local waters in the area. “I have grandchildren who like to fish,” said Jackson, “There could be huge disaster out there if we don’t do something.” The benefit of future generations of anglers was been a focal point for the day, as the children in attendance were encouraged to take part in the ceremonies by dumping the fish into the water with the help of those involved in the project. And this is just the beginning of the large replenishing project according to organizers of the hatchery. Currently, there are more fish in Haliburton getting ready move into their new homes in lakes in the North Hastings community. Flowers said that MNR Biologist Erin MacDonald carefully selects the lakes, in order to insure that the waters are ready for the increase in fish population. “We made the first big step today,” said an excited LeFeuvre who only had one word to describe this first release. “Great.”

....Right click on the image, then select "properties".

....Things is looking "swell" TJ. It's come a long way from "bush lot".

Anglers, hunters mark 25 years Monday May 12, 2008 Dave Dale / nugget.ca Paul Perron has a hard time bragging about one of the most successful projects undertaken by the Nosbonsing Anglers and Hunters. As a founding member and longtime president, Perron was called upon Saturday to list the club's top achievements as part of its 25th anniversary celebration. Rehabilitation of the Lake Nosbonsing walleye spawning beds and bass transplants into area lakes easily make the Top 3. 'We've got a good core group and we've done well," he said while eating cake in the clubhouse, purchased a few years ago. The bathrooms were updated to handicap accessibility standards and there's more than four acres to expand. They're even looking at a kitchen to feed members when they gather for meetings. The club has about 90 members, although it grows to as many as 150 depending on the issues at hand. But it's the deer feeding stations that drew in and expanded a small Algonquin Park population that got out of hand. "Everybody is mad now," Perron said, referring to complaints about there being too many deer in East Ferris while many other residents continue to offer feed in their backyards. Many residents are now trying to protect their cedar hedges and gardens from the munching animals. Perron said there were no deer in the township in the 1960s and hard winters made it difficult for herds to make a comeback on their own. Two annual pike tournaments - the 12th annual June 8 offers $18,000 in prizes and the 23rd annual Family and Friends event Aug. 17 - raise thousands of dollars toward activities and projects. And the club has earned praise for its partnerships with police, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. Just a month ago, it donated about $2,000 to the ministry to buy a modern deer decoy to be used throughout the district to enforce safe hunting regulations and act on trespassing complaints. The club, however, doesn't shy away from lobbying for change. Perron said the new regulations for field management Unit 11 are going to make "unknowing poachers out of everybody . . . It's too much to absorb." Before, everything was closed at the same time so when you saw someone on the lake you could tell if they were doing something wrong, he said. The ministry says it was trying to "streamline and harmonize" regulations, but the enlarged zone now includes parts of old Division 15, south of North Bay, and old Division 18. Lake Nipissing, Lake Temagami, Lake Temiskaming and the Ottawa River have their own regulations. There is now a slot size for walleye and sauger with no fish permitted between 16.9 and 23.6 inches, with opening day for many fish sanctuaries pushed back to June 15. Any brook trout longer than 12.2 inches have to be thrown back. Northern pike anglers, particularly south of North Bay in old Division 15, are urged to review the new regulations. The limit is now six for the sportsmen licence, "with not more than two greater than 24 inches, of which not more than one is greater than 33.9 inches." Perron said he wishes the moose herds in Unit 48 can be "micro-managed" as well because the unit's east and west ends are vastly different.

Residents clean up after dam collapse in Norfolk Monday May 12, 2008 Ashley House / brantfordexpositor.ca Residents and visitors of Normandale used to get joy out of walking along Potters Creek and up to Hatchery Pond, whether just observing nature or dropping a line into the water and coming out with a catch. But the walk Sunday morning was sombre. "This is a crime," said Gordon Loucks, who lives in Turkey Point. "It's such a shame." Last Monday, a 60-foot section of berm, just west of the Ministry of Natural Resources dam at the Normandale hatchery, collapsed after water in the reservoir flowed over it. The failure of the dam unleashed 15 feet of water that rushed from the 20-acre pond. With it came debris including trees, docks, culverts and lots of fish. The pond now looks barren, with tree stumps and a trickle of water running through it. The creek, which winds its way throughout Normandale, is littered with uprooted trees, broken docks and large culverts. A week after the berm collapse, residents are still trying to clean up the debris left by the flood waters. Grant Russell and wife, Lena Medin-Russell, are putting together before and after photos of their picturesque heritage-designated home and property damaged by the dam collapse. "The MNR told us they will accept full responsibility for the clean up," Russell said. "To what degree, I don't know yet." Russell guesses the MNR will at least restore the creek and manage the erosion that has taken place. "But it will never be restored to what it was," Medin-Russell said. "We spent 15 years building that backyard to what it was and we don't have another 15 years to do it again." The creek was a place of relaxation for Medin-Russell. The family built stairs down to the creek, with bridges crossing in various spots. "When I would get home from trips I would go out to the creek with my coffee, drop my feet in the water and just soak it all in," Medin-Russell said. The family had also hammered in esthetically pleasing wooden logs to stop erosion and secure the growth of many large trees that lined the banks. Now the trees have fallen as large chunks of embankment have broken away. The bridges are gone. "This is a great loss to the community," Medin-Russell said, adding she's had visitors from all over the country stopping by to see the yard. The property has also been a part of heritage and garden tours that have attracted hundreds of visitors. "People ooh and ahh, they just loved it," she said. "But it will never be the same." The Russells say they will give the MNR an opportunity to come up with a plan of action. "This wasn't an act of God," Medin-Russell said. "It was a dam that failed and somebody has to take responsibility for that. It's about maintaining the facilities we have."

UMD researchers find first known E. coli in fish Tuesday, May 06, 2008 Duluth News Tribune Researchers at the University of Minnesota Duluth have found E. coli in bottom-feeding bullheads, the first known case of the organism surviving in fish. In a soon-to-be-published scientific paper, researchers under Randall Hicks, head of the school’s biology department, found E. coli survived in but probably wasn’t produced by the fish. “We believe benthic fish are a pathway, but not a source of E. coli,’’ Hicks said Monday. The fish probably were picking up E. coli in the sediment of the Duluth harbor. Until recently, scientists believed E. coli came only from mammals. But now that’s not as clear, and some E. coli can even reproduce on its own in sand and soil. Other recent UMD research found the single largest source of E. coli in samples taken near the Blatnik Bridge in the harbor, but the source is not what you might think. The answer is waterfowl. But there’s another surprise. Just a few hundreds yards downstream from a ring-billed gull nesting island, and near the outlet of the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District sewage treatment plant, the largest source of E. coli is geese. “You have to be careful not to jump to conclusions with this stuff,’’ Hicks said. Scientists still are unable to trace the source of a considerable amount of E. coli samples for which they can find no DNA matches. E. coli is used as an indicator species to determine whether disease-causing organisms harmful to people may be present in the water and to warn people to stay out of the water at some beaches. Some E. coli strains also can cause sickness.

Virus linked to carp deaths May 9, 2008 JAMES NEELEY / thepeterboroughexaminer.com A fish virus new to Ontario has been identified as one cause of the carp die-off that littered area lakes with 12,000 to 24,000 fish last summer. John Cooper, of the Lake Erie fisheries management unit for the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), said extensive testing by the University of Guelph and the federal fish health labs confirmed finding a new fish virus to Ontario - the koi herpesvirus. The MNR previously identified a bacteria, columnaris, as the cause of the fish kill, but now say the new virus also killed fish. The koi herpesvirus, first found in North America in 1999, was discovered in two fish collected from Scugog and Pigeon lakes last year, Cooper said. It only affects carp, goldfish and koi, he said, and is not a danger to humans "because it can't live in a body as warm as a human." Carp infected with koi herpesvirus are safe to eat and handle, he said. Last year's die-off also will not threaten carp counts for this season, Cooper said. "Carp are a prolific fish that can quickly bounce back from a die-off," he said. There is no evidence the 2007 carp die-off was caused by a contaminant spill, Cooper said. Trying to determine what caused last summer's carp kill took extensive testing, he said, noting one of the difficulties was, unlike humans, autopsies don't work on fish. "Once they are dead the natural process may mask the cause," Cooper said. "We have to get the fish alive and transport to the lab as quickly as possible." The MNR released a new formalized protocol yesterday to better handle fish kills in the future. To speed the research to determine causes of die-offs, Cooper said the MNR will collect fish themselves instead of taking samples from the public. Cause of a koi herpesvirus disease outbreak: - The koi herpesvirus virus causes disease and death when water temperatures are between 18 to 28 C. Disease outbreaks are rare when water temperatures are lower than 13 C. - Fish are most susceptible when stressed as a result of fluctuating high water temperatures, crowding and spawning. - The virus is highly contagious and has been linked to large mortalities of carp and koi. - The virus is most likely passed from fish to fish in close contact, entering the body through the gills or possibly through the intestine. - The virus lives in fish, in water for short periods of time (possibly for at least four hours, probably less than a day), in feces, and possibly in the mud bottoms of lakes and rivers. - Fish infected with koi herpesvirus may survive a disease outbreak and become carriers of the virus, passing the virus to other fish.

SWISS GOVERNMENT TO BAN ‘CATCH AND RELEASE’ FISHING eftta.com Catch and Release fishing will be banned in Switzerland from next year, it was revealed this week. And anglers in the country will have to demonstrate their expertise by taking a course on humane methods of catching fish, under new legislation outlined by the Bundesrat - the Swiss Federal Parliament. The new legislation states that fish caught should be killed immediately following their capture, with a sharp blow to the head from a blunt instrument. Under the new regulations, the use of livebait and barbed hooks is also prohibited except in certain situations. The laws come into effect in 2009 but while the Swiss government does not mention Catch and Release specifically, it does say that "it is not permitted to go fishing with the 'intention' to release the fish." EFTTA lobbyist Jan Kappel has been in contact with Martin Peter, Vice President of the Swiss Angling Federation, to see whether a joint approach to the Swiss government could persuade them to amend the legislation - which forms part of a much wider animal welfare programme. The law on the protection of animals was passed by the Swiss parliament in 2005 and officials have spent three years refining the details, taking into account the comments of interested parties. Said Jan: "Catch and Release is one of the most difficult issues we have to deal with, and one of the most important in my opinion. “The new Swiss law doesn't make use of the term 'Catch and Release', which is the same as in Germany – but I don't see how governments can enforce legislation which makes 'intent' illegal. “And demanding that people kill the fish they catch gives no thought to the conservation benefits from releasing them." Angling Codes of Conduct with regards to proper handling and releases can be found for practically any fish species caught by anglers in Switzerland and the rest of the world. The new Swiss law makes it obligatory for anglers to take lessons before being granted a fishing license. So there is absolutely no need for an outright ban on the release of fish in Switzerland.” It’s believed that the legislation could affect as many as 275,000 anglers in Switzerland, who generate around 30 million Euros in annual tackle sales. EFTTA acting president, Pierangelo Zanetta, said: "EFTTA does not believe that forcing anglers to kill their catches is either good for nature or for recreational sport fishing - which makes a significant financial contribution to the EU economy. “Making the killing of fish obligatory will simply reduce fish population and, at the same time, run the risk of having a negative impact on sport fishing. "Anglers and the sport of angling invest time and money to improve water quality and create larger and healthier fish populations. We believe is it far better for the fish if the fisherman decides, according to the situation, whether to keep and eat the fish or to release it."

Dixon's legendary big bass bites bullet May 9, 2008 Angela Lau / UNION-TRIBUNE JOHN GASTALDO / Union-Tribune / A ranger checks the frozen remains. The fish with a worldwide reputation as one of the heaviest ever hooked was found floating Friday morning on the Lake by an angler who turned it over to a city ranger. Jed Dickerson of Oceanside and Mac Weakley of Carlsbad, who caught the bass two years ago, were called to the ranger's office to identify the renowned fish. The Florida strain largemouth bass found floating across from the boat dock had the same distinctive black birthmark below its jawline as the one the men released in 2006. “That's it, that's THE fish,” Weakley said Friday afternoon. “The fish has lived out its life cycle.” The bass is now in a freezer at the Dixon Lake ranger's office, waiting for California Fish and Game officials to come by Monday and take tissue samples to determine its age. The fish, christened Dottie by the City of Escondido, is estimated to be 15- to 17-years-old. The bass had apparently been dead for at least one day when it was found. Dottie measured 29½ inches long and weighed about 19 pounds, said Dickerson. That was a far cry from the hefty 25 pounds 1 ounce it weighed in 2006 when Weakley caught it – well above the 1932 world record of 22 pounds, 4 ounces. But then it was fat with eggs; this time it apparently died shortly after spawning. Instead of submitting it for the record in 2006, Weakley released the bass because he had foul-hooked it on its side. Hooking a fish somewhere other than in the mouth is not allowed if done intentionally. The fish – and an accompanying photo – was an Internet sensation, attracting attention from around the world and luring many anglers to Dixon Lake in futile efforts to catch it again. A contract crew hired by National Geographic was on the lake this week filming a story about the fish and the people trying to capture it. In the world of bass fishing, holding the size title could bring lucrative endorsements. Since letting Dottie go, Weakley and Dickerson had spent lots of time trying to find the fish and hook it by the rules. As of Friday, Dickerson said he had been fishing on Dixon Lake for 70 straight days.