It’s a messy thing indeed, but once again, California Fish & Game are poisoning Lake Davis in an attempt to kill the pike that were illegally introduced years ago.
Officials say the pike threaten to escape into the Delta, wreaking havoc on the endangered salmon, steelhead, and other fish.
From the Christian Science Monitor:
The Department of Fish and Game will apply the fish poison in an effort to stamp out the northern pike. Conservationists fear that the invasive predator could spread to the Sacramento River Delta and feast on the delicate populations of native salmon, steelhead, and delta smelt.
A long, open process ? including sign-off from the state Department of Health Services ? has won over many local leaders and residents, some of whom protested when Fish and Game unsuccessfully treated the waters once before in 1997.
The uproar in 1997 was huge; local residents weren’t made a part of the process, and Fish & Game was cast as the villain in the poisoning, which apparently didn’t kill all the pike.
This time around — after Fish & Game unsuccessfully tried explosions to curtail pike populations – the public was involved in the final decision, and it seems the locals are divided.
Some are concerned about the effects of the poison on the environment, people and water supply (Lake Davis supplies drinking water) while others just want it all to be over.
Frankly, this has been an ongoing thorn in Fish & Game’s side, and I hope this is the final chapter in the Davis Lake pike story, yet I’ve got a sinking feeling it’s not.
What’s the word from the Undergrounders? Is this time the charm? Or are Northern Pike here to stay?
[tags]fishing, lake davis, portola, pike, northern pike, poisoning[/tags]
I didn’t know lakes could be poisoned – how easily does the poison dissipate after it’s been applied?
And one more question for Undergrounders: has anyone heard of someone being caught illegally introducing unwanted fish? It makes me curious to find out who those people are…
Will(Quote)
I believe the poison in question is Rotenone, which reportedly breaks down fairly quickly, though lingering toxicity has been a mainstay concern of those opposed to the project.
As for whether lakes could be poisoned, it’s not a sure thing. Lake Davis was poisoned in 1997, and yet the pike remain. Some say they were reintroduced by the same morons who planted them in the first place, while others suggest pike survived in the tribs (which they’re poisoning this time), and still others say a few pike survived by hanging out at underwater springs.
Who knows?
As for the introduction of fish, I’m sure there’s no end to the people who’d love to get their hands on the bozos who did this, but I’d gather that’s unlikely to happen…
In
Tom Chandler(Quote)
I flyfish davis weekly, have been for decades. Fantastic hatches, bloodmidges, callibaetis and especially damsels, tons of snails also. Tom’s reply is spot on for the most part….but many lakes have been successfully treated with rotenone in Ak and Frenchmans a few miles from Davis was successfully treated 2 years before davis. The piece of shit(hasn’t been caught) that put them in Davis also put them into Frenchmans. There is no lingering toxicicity from rotenone. I am on the lake more than any other person and I have had no ill effects the chemical quickly dissipates and breaks down into harmless chemicals. CADFG did a rush job late in the year (too cold)due to fears over further legal obstacles. They got the green light from the courts and went for it. The community completely over reacted but CADFG did a poor job of selling the plan. A variety of factors contributed to the failure and why the pike survived. Also other illegally planted fish survived, catfish, sunfish etc. The illegally introduced small mouths and trout were killed as well as other fish species. If there are any questions I can answer I will do so. I will check back here and reply to questions if any. I hope it works this time a great lake has been destroyed by the pike and I hope they haven’t already escaped into the Delta. CA Salmon/steelhead have enough problems
Paul(Quote)