The Hartford Courant
GARY LIBOW;Courant Staff Writer
December 07, 2000
Following two massive fish kills at Pocotopaug Lake this year, the state Department of Environmental Protection is recommending three major management strategies to improve water quality and fish habitat.
The DEP's fisheries division and bureau of water management is advising the town to implement a comprehensive watershed and internal nutrient management plan to improve water quality.
After research, DEP concluded the lake has high levels of nutrients that come from both its watershed and lake bottom sediments. These nutrients result in an abundance of algae, giving the lake a cloudy green or blue-green color.
DEP is recommending the town request fishing regulations that will protect largemouth and smallmouth bass until they grow to 16 inches in length. The lack of large predatory fish, such as walleye and large bass, reduces recreational fishing opportunities, which increases the likelihood of excessive algae growth, biologists concluded.
According to the DEP, small fish such as yellow perch tend to become overabundant when predators are scarce. The perch feed on and reduce the abundance of small animals that help control algae.
In turn, DEP advocates stocking the lake with young walleye, a move that will improve recreational fishing while enhancing water quality. Walleye are a large predatory game fish native to the north- central regions of the nation, including New York and Vermont.
Walleye are also found in the Connecticut River, and have been successfully introduced into a number of Connecticut lakes, said the DEP, noting that two Connecticut water companies presently stock walleye to improve fishing and water clarity in their reservoirs.
"The primary objective of our fisheries recommendations is to restore a healthy, diverse fish population in Lake Pocotopaug," said Bob James, a DEP fisheries biologist. "Increasing the number of large fish in the lake that are capable of feeding on perch can help reduce the intensity of algae blooms. We feel that introducing walleye to the lake and promoting the growth of bass through management efforts will be beneficial."
The DEP, which surveyed fish populations to assess the extent of the die-off, projects the populations will be restored within five years. Although many yellow perch were killed, they remain abundant and at similar levels to those seen prior to the year 2000.
The initial fish kill was attributed to toxic algae that caused gill damage and suffocation. The fish kill in June was caused by high concentrations of aluminum, following treatment of 20 acres of the lake with an aluminum-based product to control algae growth.
Chuck Lee of the DEP's water management bureau said lake- management efforts will not be fully effective without a watershed- wide approach. The recommendations, he said, strive to change the biological mix in the lake and may help improve water clarity.
Lee said that biological techniques should be accompanied by efforts to reduce nutrient inputs to the lake. Nutrient controls, he said, typically include controlling storm water run-off, reducing waterfowl use of the lake, and holding nutrients in the lake bottom sediments.
Town Manager Allan Bergren expects the town council to consider the recommendations shortly.
The DEP pledged to continue to help the town implement the needed comprehensive watershed management plan.
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