On September 3 and 4, sea lamprey populations in the Ausable delta of Lake Champlain that were mapped using deepwater electrofishing techniques were treated with the granular lampricide, bayluscide. Two 24-foot pontoon boats, equipped with granular material spreaders, targeted delta areas shown to contain high densities of sea lamprey larvae. This strategy left the majority of the delta unexposed to the chemical.

Personnel from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife provided a crew of 16 to post advisories and lay out treatment plots and guidance transects for applications. Lamprey were observed succumbing at all treatment locations. High performance liquid chromotography analysis following treatment showed bayluscide concentrations below 10 parts per billion the morning after treatments ended.

This treatment was the Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Cooperative's first boat application of bayluscide as a sea lamprey control technique. It was a successful culmination of new sea lamprey assessment and bayluscide application techniques developed for use on Lake Champlain deltas.

Boat treatments eliminate wasteful and less precise application of bayluscide from fixed-wing crop dusters.

Sea lamprey control in Lake Champlain over an eight year period has been credited for supporting one million angler days of fishing that generated over $42 million dollars in angler-related expenditures.

NORTHEAST REGION, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE -- Conserving the Nature of the Northeast