LAMPRICIDE CONTROL

Tributaries harbouring larval sea lampreys are treated periodically with lampricides to eliminate or reduce the larval population before the larvae transform and recruit 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 Bayer 73) to scheduled tributaries. Specialized equipment and techniques are employed to provide concentrations of TFM that are effective in elimination of about 95% of the lamprey larvae and that 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 by about 20%.

Lampricide Control: 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.
• 77 (44 United States, 33 Canada) tributaries have been treated with lampricide at least once during 1986-95.
• Of these, 53 (30 United States, 23 Canada) tributaries are treated on a regular (3-5 year) cycle.

The following statements highlight the 1995 treatment program on Lake Superior. Table 3 provides details on the application of lampricides to the 10 tributaries and Fig. 7 shows the locations of the tributaries.

United States

• Minimum lethal concentrations of lampricide were maintained throughout all treatments.
• The Bad River, largest producer of larval sea lampreys for tributaries in the U.S., was treated after being deferred in 1994. Refinement of treatment technology reduced the amount of lampricide used by 19% of that used in the 1991 treatment.
• As a requirement of the permit of the State of Michigan, the municipal water systems of L'Anse and Baraga, Michigan were monitored during treatment of the Falls River for trace contamination of TFM.

Canada

• Minimum lethal concentrations of lampricide were maintained throughout all treatments.
• Based on the estimated number of residual larvae following the 1993 treatment, the Goulais River was treated in advance of its normal rotation.

Figure 7 - Location of tributaries treated with lampricides in 1995 Table 3. Details on the application of lampricides to streams of Lake Superior, 1995. (Number in parentheses corresponds to location of stream in Fig. 7 )

Stream Date Flow m3/s TFM kg (1, 2) Bayer 73 kg (1) Distance treated (km)

UNITED STATES Salmon Trout R. (27) June 1 2.5 198 - 12.9 East Sleeping R. (29) June 24 0.3 91 - 14.5 Falls R. (28) Aug 24 0.5 63 - 1.6 Bad R. (30) Sept 14 8.8 1,718 - 201.1 Two Hearted R. (26) Oct. 7 5.9 749 - 91.7 Total 18.0 2,819 - 321.8 CANADA Gargantua R. (34) June 28 0.4 32 - 1.7 Black Sturgeon R. (31) July 8 27.0 1,496 23.2 16.2 Little Gravel R. (32) July 11 0.5 32 - 6.9 Michipicoten R. (33) July 22 35.9 1,886 28.7 19.6 Goulais R. (35) Aug. 14 18.9 991 - 110.4 Total 82.7 4,437 51.9 154.8 GRAND TOTAL 100.7 7,256 51.9 476.6 1 Lampricides used are in kg of active ingredient. 2 Includes a total of 163 bars (0.2 kg per bar) applied in 5 streams.

Lampricide Control: Lake Michigan

[Press Release, St. Marys River Lamprey Control]

Tributary Information

• 511 tributaries to Lake Michigan.
• 121 tributaries have historical records of production of sea lamprey larvae.
• 65 tributaries have been treated with lampricide at least once during 1986-95.
• Of these, 34 tributaries are treated on a regular (3-5 year) cycle.

The following statements highlight the 1995 treatment program on Lake Michigan. Table 4 provides details of the application of lampricides to the 11 tributaries and Fig. 7 shows the locations of the tributaries.

• Minimum lethal concentrations of lampricide were maintained throughout all treatments.
• The additive Bayer 73 was used during treatment of the Betsie River to minimize mortality of burrowing mayflies.
• Porter Creek was not treated due to a flood that scoured the stream and apparently killed all the sea lamprey larvae.

Table 4. Details on the application of lampricide to streams of Lake Michigan, 1995. (Number in parentheses corresponds to location of stream in Fig. 7.)

Stream Date Discharge m3/s TFM kg1, 2 Bayer 73 kg1 Distance treated km

UNITED STATES Fishdam R. (21) May 7 1.4 128 0 27.4 Rapid R. (19) May 9 4.2 566 0 54.7 East Twin R. (17) May 19 1.0 302 0 9.7 Muskegon R. (16) Minnie Cr. May 19 0.2 56 0 4.8 Bridgton Cr. May 19 0.1 75 0 12.9 Bigelow Cr. May 23 0.8 229 0 19.3 Hibbards Cr. (18) May 22 0.5 119 0 3.2 Millecoquins R. (23) Jun 9 4.2 715 0 32.2 Whitefish R. (20) Jun 9 7.2 1,542 0 80.5 Rock R. (22) Jun 10 0.3 46 0 4.8 Betsie R. (13) Jun 14 5.4 1,075 10 20.9 Pere Marquette R. (14) Jul 14 19.9 3,727 0 243.0 White R. (15) Aug 13 14.2 2,990 14 165.7 Total 59.4 11,570 24 679.1 1 Lampricides used are in kg of active ingredient. 2 Includes a total of 367 TFM bars (0.2 kg per bar) applied in 7 streams.

Lampricide Control: Lake Huron

[Press Release, St. Marys River Lamprey Control]

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.
• 55 (32 United States, 33 Canada) tributaries have been treated with lampricide at least once during 1986-95.
• Of these, 47 (23 United States, 24 Canada) tributaries are treated on a regular (3-5 year) cycle.

The following statements highlight the 1995 treatment program on Lake Huron. Table 5 provides details on the application of lampricides to the 12 tributaries and Fig. 7 shows the locations of the tributaries.

United States

• Minimum lethal concentrations of lampricide were maintained throughout all treatments.
• Fluctuating levels of pH complicated the treatment of the Chippewa River.
• Rapidly fluctuating water levels complicated the treatment of the AuSable River.
• The treatment of Big Salt Creek, a tributary of the Saginaw River, was cancelled due to insufficient stream discharge.

Canada

• Minimum lethal concentrations of lampricide were maintained throughout all treatments.
• No significant changes in sea lamprey production were noted during any of the treatments. The largest stream treated, the Mississagi River (mean annual discharge 111m3/s), continues to be a prolific producer of sea lamprey.
• All treatments appeared to have minimal impact on non-target organisms.

Table 5. Details on the application of lampricides to streams of Lake Huron, 1995. (Number in parentheses corresponds to location of stream in Fig. 7)

Stream Date Flow m3/s TFMkg1, 2 Bayer 73 kg1 Distance treated km

UNITED STATES Devils R. (12) May 8 2.3 486 0 9.7 McKay Cr. (24) May 20 0.7 79 0 8.0 L. Munuscong R. (25) May 22 2.5 212 0 14.5 AuSable R. (11) Jun 28 24.8 3,857 43 19.3 Chippewa R. (10) Sep 16 5.2 2,737 0 119.1 Total 35.5 7,371 43 170.6 CANADA Boyne R. (41) June 1 4.7 110 - 4.3 Sturgeon R. (42) June 14 0.9 166 - 1.5 Chikanishing R. (40) June 28 0.4 12 - 1.4 Sucker Cr. (37) July 13 0.1 14 - 0.8 Mississagi R. (38) Aug. 25 68.7 3,044 46.8 39.5 Root R. (36) Sept. 12 3.8 194 - 43.9 Spragge Cr. (39) Oct. 11 0.1 5 - 0.6 Total 78.7 3,545 46.8 92.0 GRAND TOTAL 114.2 10,916 89.8 262.6 1 Lampricides used are in kg of active ingredient. 2Includes a total of 107 bars (0.2 kg per bar) applied in 6 streams.

Lampricide Control: 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.
• 18 (8 United States, 10 Canada) tributaries have been treated with lampricide at least once during 1986-95.
• Of these, 4 (3 United States, 1 Canada) tributaries are treated on a regular (3-5 year) cycle.

The following statements highlight the 1995 treatment program on Lake Erie. Table 6 provides details on the application of lampricides to the one tributary and Fig. 7 shows the location of that tributary. United States

• The treatment of Conneaut Creek was complicated by low stream flow.
• The treatment of Crooked Creek (tributary of Conneaut Creek) was deferred due to insufficient water discharge.

Table 6. Details on the application of lampricides to streams of Lake Erie, 1995. (Number in parentheses corresponds to location of stream in Fig. 7).

Stream Date Flow m3/s TFM kg1 Bayer 73 kg1 Distance treated km

UNITED STATES Conneaut Cr. (9) Oct 7 0.7 188 0 48.3 1 Lampricides used are in kg of active ingredient.

Lampricide Control: 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. (All Oswego River tributaries counted as one tributary.)
• 39 (19 United States, 20 Canada) tributaries have been treated with lampricide at least once during 1986-95.
• Of these, 31 (17 United States, 14 Canada) tributaries are treated on a regular (3-5 year) cycle.

The following statements highlight the 1995 treatment program on Lake Ontario. Table 7 provides details on the application of lampricides to the 14 tributaries and Fig. 7 shows the location of the tributaries. United States

• All streams were treated at near optimum discharge and minimum lethal concentrations of lampricide were maintained throughout all treatments.
• Non-target mortality was insignificant in all streams treated.

Canada

• Minimum lethal concentrations of lampricide were maintained throughout all treatments, with the exception of the lower reaches of Bronte and Bowmanville
• Creeks; stratification prevented adequate vertical mixing of TFM in these two streams.
• Non-target mortality was insignificant in all streams treated.

Table 7. Details on the application of lampricides to streams of Lake Ontario, 1995. (Number in parentheses corresponds to location of stream in Fig. 7)

Stream Date Flow m3/s TFM(a) kg1, 2 Bayer 73 kg1 Distance treated km

UNITED STATES Little Sandy Cr. (1) May 4 0.7 119 - 10.8 First Cr. (8) May 4 0.1 15 - 1.6 Sodus Cr. (7) May 5 0.2 47 - 1.8 Deer Cr. (2) May 7 0.2 84 - 22.5 Snake Cr. (4) May 8 0.1 27 - 10.5 Salmon R. (3) May 11 29.7 1,323 - 51.6 Fish Cr. (5) May 31 12.2 1,496 - 71.2 Nine Mile Cr. (6) June 10 0.3 91 - 14.0 Total 43.5 3,202 - 184.0 CANADA Colborne Cr. (47) June 5 0.3 75 - 0.8 Proctor Cr. (48) June 6 0.1 41 - 2.2 Bowmanville Cr. (46) June 9 1.4 464 - 24.1 Bronte Cr. (43) June 12 2.0 710 - 55.1 Farewell Cr. (45) Sept. 20 0.2 76 - 5.5 Lynde Cr. (44) Sept. 22 0.2 108 - 14.0 Total 4.2 1,473 - 101.7 GRAND TOTAL 47.7 4,675 - 285.7 1 Lampricides used are in kg of active ingredient. 2 Canada - includes a total of 25 bars (0.2 kg per bar) used on 3 streams New York - includes a total of 64 bars (0.2 kg per bar) used on 6 streams