Integrated Management of Sea Lampreys in the
Great Lakes
1996 Annual Report to the Great Lakes Fishery
Commission
LAMPRICIDE CONTROL
Tributaries harboring larval sea lampreys periodically are treated with
lampricides to eliminate or reduce the populations of larvae before recruitment
to the lake as parasitic adults.
Department and Service treatment units administer and monitor doses
of the lampricide TFM (sometimes augmented with the wettable powder formulation
of Bayluscide) to scheduled tributaries. Specialized equipment and techniques
are employed to provide concentrations of TFM that eliminate 95 percent
of the lamprey larvae and minimize the risk to nontarget species. In recent
years the combination of improved analytical and predictive techniques
has allowed treatment crews to reduce lampricide concentrations on most
treatments.
The Lampricide Control Task Force was established in December 1995 with
charges to improve the efficiency of lampricide control, to maximize sea
lamprey killed in stream and lentic treatments while minimizing lampricide
use, costs, and impacts on stream/lake ecosystems, and to define lampricide
control options for near and long-term stream selection and target setting.
The report of progress on the charges in 1996 is presented on page 71.
Lake Superior
Tributary Information
- 1,566 (733 United States, 833 Canada) tributaries to Lake Superior.
- 136 (89 United States, 47 Canada) tributaries have historical records
of production of sea lamprey larvae.
- 79 (45 United States, 34 Canada) tributaries have been treated with
lampricide at least once during 1987-96.
- Of these, 53 (30 United States, 23 Canada) tributaries are treated
on a regular (3-5 year) cycle.
Table 3 provides details on the applications of lampricides to 15 tributaries
of Lake Superior in 1996 (Fig. 7). The following statements highlight the
treatment program.
United States
- Minimum lethal concentrations of lampricide were maintained throughout
all treatments.
- The Silver and Falls rivers were treated to prevent development of
lentic populations of larvae in Lake Superior.
- As a requirement of the permit from the State of Michigan, the municipal
water systems of L'Anse, Ontonagon, and Marquette, Michigan were monitored
during treatment of the Falls, Ontonagon, and Carp rivers for trace contamination
by TFM.
Canada
- Treatments were completed on four of the five scheduled streams. High
stream discharge caused postponement of treatment of the Pic River until
1997.
- Minimum lethal concentrations of lampricide were maintained in each
treatment except Cash Creek where lethal concentrations were not maintained
for sufficient time near the mouth of the stream. However, dead larvae
were observed throughout the area.
- The Gravel River was treated in advance of its normal rotation in an
effort to reduce recruitment of larvae to Mountain Bay.
Table 3. Details on
the appliction of lampricides to tributaries of Lake Superior, 1996. (Number
in parentheses corresponds to location of stream in figure 7.)
Fig. 7. Location of tributaries treated
with lampricide in 1996.
Lake Michigan
Tributary Information
- 511 tributaries to Lake Michigan.
- 121 tributaries have historical records of production of sea lamprey
larvae.
- 64 tributaries have been treated with lampricide at least once during
1987-96.
- Of these, 33 tributaries are treated on a regular (3-5 year) cycle.
Table 4 provides details of the application of lampricides to 11 tributaries
of Lake Michigan in 1996 (Fig. 7). The following statements highlight the
treatment program.
- All treatments of streams were successful in maintaining lethal concentrations
throughout areas infested by larvae .
- Sand Creek, a tributary to the Grand River, was treated after large
larvae were discovered in the stream. The treatment prevented an estimated
2,500 parasitic lampreys from entering Lake Michigan.
- The amounts of TFM used during treatments of the Ford and Muskegon
rivers were reduced by applications of Bayluscide wettable powder in reaches
not normally treated with the additive lampricide.
- The use of TFM was reduced during treatments of the Boardman and Platte
rivers by applying lampricide at night when stream pH was low.
Table 4. Details on
the application of lampricides to tributaries of Lake Michigan, 1996. (Number
in parentheses corresponds to location of stream in Fig. 7.)
Lake Huron
Tributary Information
- 1,761 (427 United States, 1,334 Canada) tributaries to Lake Huron.
- 116 (62 United States, 54 Canada) tributaries have historical records
of production of sea lamprey larvae.
- 68 (32 United States, 36 Canada) tributaries have been treated with
lampricide at least once during 1987-96.
- Of these, 47 (23 United States, 24 Canada) tributaries are treated
on a regular (3-5 year) cycle.
Table 5 provides details of the application of lampricides to 18 tributaries
of Lake Huron (10 U.S., 8 Canada) in 1996 (Fig. 7). The following statements
highlight the treatment program.
- All lampricide treatments were successful in maintaining lethal concentrations
of TFM throughout the areas infested by larvae.
- A dye study completed on the north channel of the St. Marys River is
described in the report of the St. Marys River Control Task Force.
Table 5. Details on
the application of lampricides to tributaries of Lake Huron, 1996. (Number
in parentheses corresponds to location of tributary in Fig. 7.)
Lake Erie
Tributary Information
- 842 (317 United States, 525 Canada) tributaries to Lake Erie.
- 19 (8 United States, 11 Canada) tributaries have historical records
of production of sea lamprey larvae.
- 13 (4 United States, 9 Canada) tributaries have been treated with lampricide
at least once during 1987-96.
- Of these, 7 (4 United States, 3 Canada) tributaries are treated on
a regular (3-5 year) cycle.
Table 6 provides details on the application of lampricide to Big Creek
(Fig. 7). The following statement highlights the treatment program on Lake
Erie.
Canada
- Treatment of Big Creek, the only Canadian tributary of Lake Erie treated
since 1992, required 2,713 kg of lampricide. The amount of TFM applied
was high due to stream size (discharge and distance treated) and high pH
and alkalinity of the water.
Table 6. Details on
the application of lampricide to one tributary of Lake Erie in 1996. (Number
in parentheses corresponds to location of stream in Fig. 7.)
Lake Ontario
Tributary Information
- 659 (254 United States, 405 Canada) tributaries to Lake Ontario.
- 57 (28 United States, 29 Canada) tributaries have records of production
of sea lamprey larvae.
- 42 (20 United States, 22 Canada) tributaries have been treated with
lampricide at least once during 1987-96.
- Of these, 34 (17 United States, 17 Canada) tributaries are treated
on a regular (3-5 year) cycle.
Table 7 provides details on the application of lampricides to 12 tributaries
of Lake Ontario (Fig. 7). The following statements highlight the treatment
program.
- Minimum lethal concentrations of lampricide were maintained throughout
all treatments, although heavy rain forced retreatment of the lower section
of Cobourg Brook.
- Graham and Shelter Valley creeks, last treated in 1986, required treatment
upstream of the sea lamprey barrier dams. High lake levels in 1993 allowed
passage of spawning sea lampreys above these structures.
Table 7. Details on
the application of lampricides to tributaries of Lake Ontario, 1996 (Number
in parentheses corresponds to location of tributary in Fig. 7.)
ALTERNATIVE CONTROL
Sterile Male Release Technique
Research on the use of the sterile male release technique (technique)
in sea lamprey control began in 1971. The technique has been used experimentally
in Lake Superior and the St. Marys River since 1991. Male sea lampreys
are captured during their spawning migrations in seven tributaries of Lakes
Michigan and Huron and transported to the sterilization facility at the
Lake Huron Biological Station. At the facility, lampreys are sterilized
with the chemosterilant bisazir, decontaminated, and released into selected
tributaries of Lake Superior and the St. Marys River. Laboratory and field
studies have shown that treated male lampreys are sterile and sexually
competitive, and the number of larvae that hatch in streams is reduced
with the technique.
The Sterile Male Release Technique Task Force was established in 1984
to refine the long-term strategy for the application of sterile male release
and to coordinate the current large-scale research program into the effectiveness
of sterile male release in Lake Superior and the St. Marys River. The report
of progress of the Task Force is presented on pages 63 to 68.
The following statements highlight the sterile male release program
for 1996.
- Male lampreys were collected from assessment traps on seven tributaries
of Lakes Michigan and Huron and 19,801 were delivered to the Lake Huron
Biological Station for sterilization and release into target and study
streams.
- A total of 9,460 sterilized male lampreys were released in 23 tributaries
of Lake Superior (Table 8) during May 24 - June 24. The ratio of sterile
to resident male lampreys was estimated at 0.6:1.
- Hypothetical reduction in reproduction for Lake Superior averaged about
66 percent during 1993-1995 and 36 percent in 1996 (the use of 6,166 male
lampreys in the study Long-term evaluation of sterile male release for
control of sea lampreys in the Great Lakes reduced the number of sterilized
lampreys available for release in Lake Superior in 1996).
- The spawning run of adult lampreys in the St. Marys River occurs 1-2
months later than in all other tributaries of the Great Lakes. During June
14-17, a total of 2,001 male lampreys captured from other tributaries of
Lake Huron and the Manistique River were sterilized and released in the
St. Marys River to test their effectiveness in the river. These imported
lampreys were both recaptured in traps and observed while spawning in proportion
to their abundance in the population.
- During July 9-29, a total of 1,649 male lampreys captured from the
St. Marys River were sterilized and returned to the river.
- An estimated ratio of 0.3 sterile:1 untreated lamprey was achieved
in the St. Marys River. Hypothetical reduction in reproduction due to sterile
male release averaged about 38 percent during 1993-1995 and was 25 percent
in 1996. The hypothetical reduction in reproduction from sterile male release
combined with the number of lampreys removed by traps was about 62 percent
during 1993-1995 and 35 percent in 1996. The number of lampreys captured
in 1996 was lower than expected due to construction of a new trap during
the spawning run. Water samples from the sterilization facility effluent
and from lamprey-holding tanks inside the facility were monitored for bisazir.
Trace amounts of bisazir (less than the minimum quantification limit of
20 g/l) were found in effluent on three days. Water in 7 of 31 holding
tanks that held decontaminated sterile lampreys contained trace amounts
of bisazir. One sample contained 86 g/l bisazir. Possible causes include
inadequate water flow in holding tanks, contamination in sample bottles,
and analytical error. Additional procedures will be instituted in 1997
to monitor water flow rates and collect backup water samples.
- Quality assurance testing was conducted to determine the precision
of delivery of bisazir during injection into lampreys. The amount of bisazir
stock solution injected was measured randomly in about two percent of the
injections. The average error was about +0.2 ml per injection over the
range of injection volumes (1-4 ml).
Table 8. The estimated
number of resident male lampreys and the number of sterile male lampreys
released into 23 tributaries of Lake Superior from May 24 to June 24, 1996
(listed by country and ordered by location, west to east) and the theoretical
reduction in numbers of sea lamprey progeny. The predicted ratio of sterile
to resident males in 1996 was 0.6:1.
Barriers
The Commission has expressed a strong commitment to reductions in use
of TFM through the implementation of alternative lamprey control strategies,
including the use of barriers to sea lamprey migration. The 1994 basin-wide
barrier plan was revised by the U.S. and Canadian barrier coordinators
in 1996 with additional economic and biological data. The plan now includes
157 potential projects on 145 Great Lakes streams.
A total of 54 barrier dams have been constructed or modified to stop
sea lampreys on tributaries of the Great Lakes: 12 on Lake Superior, 11
on Lake Michigan (including the Paw Paw River barrier which is in the planning
stages), 11 on Lake Huron, 7 on Lake Erie, and 13 on Lake Ontario (Fig.
8).
The sea lamprey barrier task force was established in 1991 to expand
the development and use of sea lamprey barriers. The report on progress
in 1996 is presented on page 69.
The following statements highlight the barrier projects on each lake.
Lake Superior
- Big Carp River: An improved, standardized, inflatable dam control system
was installed in December 1996. The new central processor regulates crest
elevations based on upstream and downstream water levels. A modem link
to the engineering computer at the Sea Lamprey Control Centre allows queries
of real-time and historical water levels and temperatures, and remote operation
of the dam.
- Wolf River: A breach in the west side of the barrier was repaired.
The breach resulted from the highest stream discharge recorded in the past
26 years.
- Nipigon River: A large, steel, double lamprey trap (2.4 x 2.4 x 6 m)
was fabricated and is scheduled for installation at the Alexander Falls
Powerhouse in 1997.
- Misery River: A flowage easement was purchased for a six-year trial
period. Successful negotiation of one more easement will allow installation
of an add-on to the crest of the existing lamprey barrier.
- Bad River: A two-year biotelemetry study of movements of walleyes and
lake sturgeons was concluded. (See Risk Assessment Section.)
Lake Michigan
- Jordan River: A quantitative estimate of lamprey numbers upstream of
the electrical weir showed that it has not been completely effective, and
lampricide treatment is necessary in 1997. An inspection revealed that
the weir is structurally sound, but is not producing an electrical field
of recommended strength.
- White River: Boards were replaced in all bays of the Hesperia Dam on
the White River. The project was completed in cooperation with the Village
of Hesperia and Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
- Pere Marquette River: The pre-barrier evaluation of steelhead runs
began in 1996, but issues of oversight and peer review of the evaluation
again delayed construction.
- Paw Paw River: A barrier project was accepted for funding under Section
1135 of the U.S. Water Resources Development Act of 1986, making the project
eligible for a 75 percent cost share with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(Corps) . The project is undergoing an initial feasibility study by the
Corps.
Lake Huron
- Still River: Improvements made to the barrier include lowering the
crest, installing an upstream piling cell wall, and placing stone downstream
of the barrier for better support of the crest.
- Trout River: Engineering plans were contracted for the repair of Sportsmans
Dam near Rogers City. Bad weather postponed initiation of the project until
spring 1997.
Lake Erie
- Big Creek: An improved, inflatable dam control system was installed
in January. A new central processor regulates crest elevation based on
upstream and downstream water levels. A modem link to the engineering computer
at the Sea Lamprey Control Centre allows queries of real-time and historical
water levels and temperature, and remote operation of the dam.
- Venison Creek: Improvements on this sheet piling barrier were completed
in 1996.
Lake Ontario
- Cobourg Brook: A barrier dam was constructed one km from the mouth
in 1996. This concrete low-head dam allows the passage of fish and the
trapping of lampreys.
- Don River: A sea lamprey barrier was incorporated in the Pottery Road
Dam removal project funded by the Metro Toronto Conservation Authority.
Department engineers reviewed plans, made hydrological and hydraulic calculations,
and recommended a design modification.
- Black River: Engineering survey work was conducted downstream of Dam
17 at Dexter, New York. Alternative sea lamprey barrier locations were
submitted for consideration by the Hydro Development Group.
Fig. 8. Location of
barrier dams constructed or modified to stop spawning sea lamprey migrations.
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