REGION 9 FISH AND WILDLIFE MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS March 2013

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1 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources, Region E. Union, Suite 3, Allegany, New York Phone: (716) Fax: (716) Website: Joe Martens Commissioner REGION 9 FISH AND WILDLIFE MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS March 2013 NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF FISH, WILDLIFE & MARINE RESOURCES Natural Resources Supervisor Paul McKeown Fisheries Manager Mike Clancy Wildlife Manager Mark Kandel 1

2 NEW YORK FISH, WILDLIFE & MARINE RESOURCE GOALS FOR 2013 ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION GOAL PROTECT, ENHANCE AND RESTORE NEW YORK'S FISH, WILDLIFE, MARINE RESOURCES AND THE ECOSYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT THEM. STRATEGIES Safeguard New York=s Unique Natural Assets PROTECTION Freshwater Wetlands Region 9 Bureau of Wildlife staff performed Article 24 activities as follows: County Activity Allegany Cattaraugus Chautauqua Erie Niagara Wyoming Delineations Violations Permit Reviews During this period, Region 9 Bureau of Wildlife staff completed two wetland determinations and delineations of state-regulated freshwater wetland boundaries. We also responded to 15 inquiries about occurrence of state-regulated freshwater wetlands and potential unmapped wetlands (i.e., wetlands meeting NYSDEC criteria but which are not yet mapped) on various properties in the region, sending out letters and maps in response to those inquiries. In addition, staff responded to one Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request for freshwater wetlands data in Niagara County. Region 9 Wildlife staff reviewed 18 Article 24 freshwater wetland permit applications for proposed development projects in Region 9 counties. In addition, we continued to review Article 24 applications for several projects initiated at earlier dates and attended meetings to discuss those and more recent permit applications. 2

3 Staff assisted Environmental Conservation Officers and Legal staff with investigating eight complaints of Article 24 violation/permit non-compliance issues in Region 9 Counties during this time period. In addition, we continued to work on resolving several previously initiated wetlands enforcement actions. Region 9 Wetlands staff inspected seven sites during this period to assess compliance with conditions of Article 24 Freshwater Wetland permits and consent orders. The inspections identified one non-compliance concern. The annual DEC/DOT meeting was held at DOT on March 18 to facilitate communication on past and future projects that require coordination between the agencies. DEC staff from Permits, Fisheries and Wildlife were in attendance, including Chuck Rosenburg and Anne Rothrock. Meetings were held regarding two wind parks proposed in Chautauqua County, Arkwright Summit Wind Park in the Towns of Arkwright and Pomfret and Ball Hill Wind Park in the Towns of Villenova and Hanover. Anne Rothrock participated in the meetings to discuss statejurisdictional wetlands impacted by the project. Ryan Rockefeller attended a kickoff meeting for the Stony Creek Wind Farm in Wyoming County (Article 24 permit issued in November 2011). The meeting was very productive in terms of reviewing project details, discussing permit-related items (e.g., change order approach), and meeting key individuals. Anne Rothrock, Ryan Rockefeller, and Mark Kandel the annual Bureau of Habitat Meeting that was held March Bureau of Wildlife Chuck Rosenburg RESOURCE USE AND ALLOCATION GOAL STRATEGIES PROVIDE A WIDE ARRAY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO ENJOY FISH, WILDLIFE AND MARINE RESOURCES. RECREATIONAL USE Wild Turkey Research Project Regional Wildlife staff finished turkey trapping for the season. A total of 92 hens were banded. The totals by county are: Allegany 9, Cattaraugus 46, Chautauqua 15, Erie 4, 3

4 Niagara 16 and Wyoming 2. Many thanks to all who participated and cooperated. Fish & Wildlife Technician Ashleigh Read holding turkey hen in Arcade area in Wyoming County. Bureau of Wildlife Emilio Rende White-tailed Deer Management Senator Gallivan s office organized a meeting on March 13 between landowners, local town supervisors, Letchworth State Park (LSP) staff and Park police, and DEC Wildlife and Law Enforcement staff to discuss landowner and hunter complaints regarding deer hunting in LSP. Regional Wildlife Manager, Mark Kandel and Big Game Biologist, Tim Spierto attended the meeting. Larry Becker attended representing the Wyoming County Sportsman s Federation. LSP has documented severe impacts to vegetation and biodiversity as a result of high deer density in the vicinity of its administration building and the surrounding area. They instituted an archery hunt utilizing DMAP permits to control deer numbers. This is a unique situation that calls for some cooperation and understanding between the Park and adjacent landowners. The primary complaint is hunters straying outside the park onto adjacent private property. A second complaint was the lack of deer in the general area of the park since the park instituted its special hunt three years ago. It was generally agreed that the primary problem to be addressed is trespass and unethical behavior of a select group of hunters. There was discussion of the Federation and the Senator s office working together with ECOs and police to provide better signs and better post and patrol the area. Landowners wanted less DMAP permits to be issued to the park and more to be issued to landowners outside the park. DEC responded that DMAP permits need to be issued where the deer problem is, in this case within the park. Further, by issuing the permits through the Park s lottery system hunting opportunity is more equitable. Also, it is inconsistent with the DMAP issuance guidelines for DEC to issue DMAP permits to landowners complaining of not enough deer. All parties in attendance agreed to keep working together to reduce conflicts. Bureau of Wildlife Mark Kandel

5 Black Bear Biologist Spierto continued to work with members of the Big Game Management Team in preparing a draft version of New York s Black Bear Management Plan. Several members of the Region 9 Wildlife Staff were on hand this month during four visits to area bear dens. Cooperative research by DEC, Finger Lakes Community College and Cornell University allowed us to assess health, sex and den characteristics for bears in eastern Allegany County. When possible, sows were re-fitted with fresh VHF telemetry collars so that their locations can be monitored throughout the coming year. Bear cub from Allegany county den. (LtoR)Wildlife technician Klock with Biologists Rothrock and Spierto Bureau of Wildlife Tim Spierto GOAL STRATEGIES PROTECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE MINIMIZE FISH, WILDLIFE AND MARINE RESOURCE-RELATED NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON NATURAL RESOURCES; AND HUMAN HEALTH, SAFETY, AND LAND USE. WILDLIFE AND HUMAN HEALTH Deer Biologist Spierto investigated several instances of dead or moribund deer. In cases where the cause of death could not be determined in the field, remains were obtained and transported to Cornell for further analysis. Bureau of Wildlife Tim Spierto

6 Nuisance wildlife permits were issued as follows: Number of Permits County Bear Deer DMAP Beaver Muskrat Turkey Allegany Cattaraugus Chautauqua Erie Niagara Wyoming Bureau of Wildlife Tim Spierto ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS GOAL FOSTER AND MAINTAIN AN ORGANIZATION THAT EFFICIENTLY ACHIEVES OUR MISSION. STRATEGIES WORKFORCE, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Lake Erie Annual Report The Lake Erie Fisheries Unit completed its annual report in March. This report summarizes a broad array of surveys completed during the 2012 field season and describes the status of prominent fish species in the New York waters of Lake Erie. Some of the notable highlights from report include: Overall 2012 open water sport fishing effort in the New York waters of Lake Erie was estimated at 337,770 angler-hours, this was a slight increase (4%) from the 2011 estimate and the highest total measured total since Walleye fishing quality was above average in 2012 and catch rates have been above average during seven of the past ten years. In 2012, yellow perch fishing quality was also exceptional. 6

7 Netting surveys measuring juvenile walleye abundance suggest that only modest spawning success occurred during However, an exceptional 2010 year class is expected to contribute significantly to the walleye sport harvest during Overall smallmouth bass abundance in survey nets has remained stable in annual collections. However, age-2 bass (2010 year class) were measured in especially high abundance and rank as the largest year class observed in the last 11 years. Overall lake trout abundance in survey nets was high in 2012 but the catch was comprised mostly of younger fish. Unfortunately, adult abundance remains at low levels due to high sea lamprey predation. A variety of measures to assess sea lamprey collectively describe the status of this invasive species in unacceptably high abundance due to a still unknown source of sea lamprey production. A comprehensive tributary angler survey conducted during measured a 42% decline in steelhead trout catch rates and a 47% decline in overall catch compared to an earlier survey. Long term sampling programs described in this report are vital to understanding Lake Erie s fish community to guide fisheries management, and safeguarding this resource for current and future generations. The full report can be found online at: or by contacting the DEC s Lake Erie Unit office. Bureau of Fisheries-Lake Erie D. Einhouse/J. Markham Region 9 Natural Resources Paul McKeown Region 9 Fisheries Staff Mike Clancy Mike Wilkinson Scott Cornett Michael Todd Tim DePriest James Zanett Justin Brewer Amanda Wagner Tobias Widger Robert Roth Natural Resources Supervisor Regional Fisheries Manager Fisheries Biologist Fisheries Biologist Fish Promotion Biologist Niagara River Habitat Improvement Specialist Principal Fisheries Technician Seasonal Fish Technician Seasonal Fish Technician Seasonal Fish Technician 7

8 Region 9 Wildlife Staff Mark Kandel Ken Baginski Emilio Rende Tim Spierto Connie Adams Kenneth J. Roblee Anne Rothrock Chuck Rosenburg Gary Klock Robert Lichorat Greg Ecker Erik Stratton Ryan Rockefeller Mike Koch Matt King Jacqueline, Walters Ashleigh Read Jan Baldwin Regional Wildlife Manager Wildlife Biologist, Sportsman Education Wildlife Biologist, Stewardship & Land Mgt. Wildlife Biologist Wildlife Biologist Wildlife Biologist Wildlife Biologist-Wetlands Program Wildlife Biologist-Ecology, Wetlands Program Fish & Wildlife Technician II Fish & Wildlife Technician II Fish & Wildlife Technician II Seasonal Fish Technician Seasonal Clerk, Sportsman Education Vacant Items Fisheries Habitat Biologist Fisheries Biologist (2) positions State Wildlife Grants Wildlife Biologist Senior Fish & Wildlife Technicians Principal Wildlife Technician 8