Lampricide treatment scheduled for Maple River
NORTHERN MICHIGAN — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to apply lampricides to the Maple River in Emmet and Cheboygan counties to help kill sea lamprey larvae burrowed in the stream bottom.
The lampricide treatment will take place between May 7-16, although applications are subject to change based on local weather or stream conditions.
Prior to the treatment, trained personnel will collect data on stream water chemistry and discharge. They may also conduct on-site toxicity tests and stream flow studies with dyes that cause the water to appear red or green.
The treatment is designed to counter the invasive sea lamprey, which have caused significant harm to the Great Lakes fishery. Sea lamprey larvae live in certain Great Lakes tributaries, and infested tributaries must be treated every three to five years with lampricides to control sea lamprey populations.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, lampricides pose no unreasonable risk to the general population and the environment. But, as with any pesticide, the public is advised to use discretion and minimize unnecessary exposure.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Lampricide treatment scheduled for Maple River
