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From the February 2008 issue
Hatchery and Marina Overhauls, Habitat Repair Included in Lake Ontario Settlement
DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis recently announced that New York State will renovate boat launches and marinas, and repair critical fish spawning habitat as part of a $12 million restoration of Lake Ontario fisheries and its tributaries. The revitalization plan is being funded with money from the 2006 settlement of the state's natural resources damages lawsuit against Occidental Chemical Corporation. The suit dealt with pollution that devastated sportfishing in Lake Ontario and the Niagara, St. Lawrence and Salmon rivers.
Forty-two Projects to be Funded
Commissioner Pete Grannis announces the projects to be funded from the settlement
DEC, as trustee of New York's natural resources, developed the restoration plan with public input obtained in 2007. In all, the plan will fund 42 projects along Lake Ontario from Niagara to St. Lawrence counties that will enhance fish habitat and research, promote angler outreach, and improve public fishing access.
"These projects will reconnect New Yorkers to old and new fishing spots and boost their catch, while improving the health of the Lake Ontario fishery," said Grannis, who three decades ago went to Niagara Falls as a New York State assemblyman to help investigate the Love Canal toxic waste disaster. "It's good news for the fish, the anglers and the communities in the Lake Ontario region," he added.
A Big Win for Recreational Fishing
The $12 million resolution is one of the largest in the nation for a natural resources damages claim based on recreational fishing losses. The settlement represents the final claim in a lawsuit the state filed against Occidental's predecessor, Hooker Chemical, in 1983. It addressed damages to the fishery caused by the discharge of dangerous chemicals from the company's main plant in Niagara Falls, and from other sites and facilities either owned or operated by Occidental.
DEC began soliciting ideas for the spending plan in early 2007, holding a series of public meetings across the Lake Ontario region. About 150 proposals were considered and 77 were advanced to a panel that scored the ideas. From the 77 projects that advanced, 42 were selected: 25 to improve access; 14 to enhance habitat and resources, and three to promote fishing in the region.
In Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties, hatchery and habitat improvements will help rebuild walleye, northern pike and muskellunge populations, and boost the area as a prime fishing destination. Because access to waterways is key to attracting anglers, the upgrades will enhance fishing for years to come. The improvements will help the local economy, especially the motels, restaurants, tackle shops and guide services that rely on a vibrant fishery.
More Information
This story is based on several press releases about the Occidental Chemical settlement. See the DEC Press Releases web page for the individual press releases which contain brief descriptions of the projects and the amounts allocated for each.
