NYC expands boating to three more reservoirs

A program that began in 2008 on New York City's Cannonsville Reservoir in the Delaware River drainage has been expanded to include three other city owned drinking water reservoirs; Pepacton, Neversink and Schoharie.

Both Pepacton and Neversink reservoirs are also in the Delaware River Basin while Schoharie is part of the Hudson River reservoir system.

A moderately complex set of rules and regulations, along with the customary permitting process, has been put in place for anyone wishing to use these waters.

For years fishermen have been allowed to use these reservoirs after obtain a permit.  Fishing has been allowed from shore and also from a row boat, but the boat had to stay at an assigned location at the reservoir for the entire season.

To protect their drinking water, New York City doesn't allow any motors, either gas or electric, to be used on these waters.

For more information visit the NYC DEP web page that explains the process in more detail: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/watershed_protection/cannonsville_boating_program.shtml

2012 Atlantic Tropical Storm/Hurricane Names

Back in 1953 the National Weather Service began naming tropical cyclones.  Today these storm names are maintained by an international committee at the World Meteorological Organization.  The names are listed in a six year interval that are rotated each year.  In other words, the storm names for 2011 will be the same for the storms in 2017.

This holds pretty true for most years except when a storm is so horrific it's name gets retired so not to invoke any terrible memories.  When there is a storm of that magnitude the committee decides on scratching the name off the list and then comes up with a new name.

Some of the names that have been retired are Katrina, Igor, Ivan, Andrew, Gloria and Hugo.

The 2012 storm names for the Atlantic are: 

Alberto
Beryl
Chris
Debby
Ernesto
Florence
Gordon
Helene
Isaac
Joyce
Kirk
Leslie
Michael
Nadine
Oscar
Patty
Rafael
Sandy
Tony
Valerie
William

Al Caucci's Latest Mayfly Identification Guide

Al Caucci has released a new mayfly guide for fly fisherman that includes updated information and is indispensable to the angler in identifying most of the mayfly species in North America that are important to the fly fisherman.  The Mayfly Guide: Quick and Easy Steps to Identifying Nymphs, Duns, and Spinners, is a must have for figuring out those difficult and sometimes obscure hatches encountered on the trout stream.

Caucci's prior books, the Instant Mayfly Identification Guide, Hatches and Hatches II have been widely popular with fisherman and have become virtually a required addition to every fly anglers library.

This new book is certainly in the same league complete with waterproof pages to make it safe to carry on the stream. In its pages are easy instructions on identifying nymphs, duns and spinners along with excellent color photographs of the insects.

Data can easily be cross referenced by the insects common names or by their scientific names making it an excellent guide for the beginner fly fisherman to the expert.

NOAA Fisheries 2012 Summer Internships for Undergraduate Students at The Northeast Fisheries Science Center

The Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) is offering summer employment /internship positions in 2012 through its Bradford E. Brown Student Internship Program. Named for a retired NOAA Fisheries scientist who was a leader in introducing young people to fisheries science, the program offers a limited number of paid summer positions during May to September distributed across NEFSC programs and laboratories.

Research topics include population biology and dynamics, resource assessment and environmental surveys, taxonomy, physical and biological oceanography, social sciences, data management, larval fish/plankton ecology, large marine ecosystems, aquaculture, biotechnology, remote sensing, protected species and apex predators. Further information about the Northeast Fisheries Science Center and its research facilities is available online at: http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/aboutus.html

Pending available funding, summer positions are offered throughout the Center’s six laboratories, which are located in Woods Hole, Mass.; Narragansett, R.I.; Milford, Conn.; Highlands, N.J., Washington, D.C. and Orono, Maine.  Summer positions are filled by matching an applicant’s skills and interest with an appropriate area of research within these laboratories. The 2012 list of summer job/internship opportunities and all related information and requirements can be found online at http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/sstudent/.

To participate in the internship program, applicants must be an active full-time student or half-time undergraduate/graduate student at a college or university for the upcoming 2012 school year at the time of application, or be accepted as a full-time or half-time student in an academic program for the 2012 school year by the time the summer position begins. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen. All completed application materials must be postmarked by April 15, 2012.

Questions about the program may be directed to NEFSC.Summer.Intern@noaa.gov

Atlantic sturgeon listed as an endangered species

NOAA Fisheries announced that five populations of Atlantic sturgeon will be listed as endangered. Of the six populations on the east coast five of them made the list which include the Chesapeake Bay, New York Bight, Carolina, and South Atlantic. Included in these populations is the Delaware river population which might number as few as just 300 fish. The Gulf of Maine population is also in trouble.  That population made the threatened list.

Atlantic sturgeon are slow growing fish living most of their lives in saltwater.  They are dependent on freshwater estuaries for spawning and for their early growth where they remain until reaching 30 to 40 inches (about 6 years old). 

The southern fish grow at a faster rate than the northern ones, but nonetheless all populations can be considered very slow to mature.  For example, South Carolina sturgeon mature at 5 to 19 years of age while Hudson river fish are 11 to 21 years old before they mature. As you move further north the St. Lawrence sturgeon aren't mature until they reach 22 to 34 years of age.

One they grow they do get big though.  Atlantic sturgeon can grow to 14 feet long and weigh as much as 800 pounds. Typically they reach 6 or 8 feet and get up to 300 pounds.

Finally, this ancient species is getting the protection it deserves.  Since females spawn only every 2 to 5 years it is expected to take at least 40 years before the sturgeon recovers to a population that represents 20 age classes.

Besides simply multiplying, Atlantic sturgeon need to overcome many obstacles in their path.  These threats include river dredging, dams,locks, water withdrawals and getting hit by ships.

Hopefully 40 years from now these ancients of the ocean can again be considered thriving.

Don't Lease More State Forest Land for Oil and Gas Development

Over 40 sportsmen groups ask Pa. governor not to lease more state lands for Marcellus Shale development.

 Over 40 sportsmen groups and conservation organizations, representing more than 100,000 sportsmen and women in Pennsylvania, sent a letter to Gov. Tom Corbett today, asking that he not lease additional state forest lands for oil and gas development.

Over 700,000 acres — almost half of Pennsylvania's state forest lands within the Marcellus Shale region — have been leased for gas drilling. Pennsylvania sportsmen are asking that their voices be considered as the governor develops a budget for the next year.

"Gov. Corbett is looking for a quick, easy way to fill the gaps in the state budget," said Ken Undercoffer, president of the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited, "but we can't sacrifice our state forest system, our natural resources or our hunting and fishing heritage, for a short-term gain.

"Hunting and fishing is big business in Pennsylvania each year, more than $4.3 billion is generated from fishing, hunting and wildlife-related recreation — much of which occurs in public forests. State forests are hugely valuable to Pennsylvania and we need to do what we can to preserve them for the next generation," said Don Robertson, president of Pennsylvania division of the Izaak Walton League."

A 2010 Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) study found that leasing additional state forest lands would significantly affect the wild character and ecological integrity of the state's forest system. Gov. Rendell placed a ban on additional leasing of state forest lands based on the agency's report.

Signed by such groups as the National Wildlife Federation, the Pennsylvania Forest Coalition, Quality Deer Management Association and local and state chapters of national Trout Unlimited, the letter asks Gov. Corbett to "upload the moratorium on leasing of additional state forest lands," and "preserve the long-held tradition of hunting, fishing, trapping and other sportsmen-related activities on these lands."

Improved way to estimate saltwater recreational fishing

NOAA today announced it has begun to use an improved method to estimate the amount of fish caught by saltwater anglers, which will allow rules that fishermen follow to be based on more accurate information.

The method is part of an overall effort to improve the accuracy of recreational catch data collected by the Marine Recreational Information Program, and was developed by a team of NOAA scientists and outside experts.

“The new estimation method is a fundamental change that better reflects what is happening on the water and within the recreational fishing community,” said Eric Schwaab, NOAA’s acting assistant secretary of commerce for conservation and management. “Better, more accurate estimates can only be a plus for the saltwater recreational fishing industry, which provides jobs for many Americans and contributes to the economic vitality of our coastal communities.”

The agency today released recalculated estimates going back to 2004 using the new method. There were no overall trends in terms of size or direction of the new estimates; catch estimates for some species go up, some go down, and some remain about the same. To view comparisons of recreational catch estimates using the previous method and the revised method, go to: http://www.CountMyFish.noaa.gov.

“The recreational fishing community has a shared interest in scientifically sound, accurate data and a shared responsibility in making it available,” said Bruce Freeman, a New Jersey recreational fisherman, scientist and member of the Jersey Coast Anglers Association. “With this new estimation method, NOAA is taking an important first step toward the high-quality catch data that many of us have been calling for.”

Using these new estimates, NOAA will now work with the regional fishery management councils, the states, and other stakeholders to integrate these results into fisheries science and management. 

Beginning this year, NOAA will use the new method to calculate estimates for the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico for use in fishery management and stock assessment by NOAA, regional fishery management councils and states. Other areas of the country, such as the West Coast, Hawaii, and Alaska, use different survey and estimation methods for saltwater recreational catch. NOAA is working with these regional partners to conduct similar evaluations and, as necessary, implement improvements to their estimation methods.

Another important part of the Marine Recreational Information Program is the National Saltwater Angler Registry, which will help NOAA improve the accuracy of fishing effort estimates by increasing the proportion of fishing households that are surveyed. Additional improvements that will increase the accuracy of the estimates are being developed, including revised dockside survey methods, testing of approaches to improving data timeliness, and use of electronic logbooks in the for-hire vessel sector. To learn more about MRIP, go to: http://www.CountMyFish.noaa.gov.

One rod, one reel, one lure equal new bass tournament rules

If you're fishing the Bassmaster Classic this year or the Bassmaster Elite Series you'll have to do all your fish catching with just one lure.  And one rod and one reel.

Gone from the scene are the Alabama rigs, the single jig with five wire leaders leading to soft plastic baits that supposedly resemble a baitfish school.  Along the same lines, double topwater lures, umbrella rigs and drop shot rigs employing a jig as a weight all fall under the more than one lure category.

Remember, the rule change only applies to the Classic and the Elite Series competitions.  All the lesser events are still under the old rules.  Feeling they should be held to a higher and more professional standard the Elite Series competitors requested this rule change.

US Bans Importation and Interstate Transportation of Four Giant Snakes

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has banned the importation of four nonnative snakes, the Burmese python, the yellow anaconda, and the northern and southern African pythons. The snakes, all constrictors, have already harmed wildlife and rearranged the balance in Florida's Everglades.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would like to also add the reticulated python, boa constrictor, DeSchauensee’s anaconda, green anaconda and Beni anaconda to the list.

All these large constrictor snakes have the potential to become established in the southern U.S. where they can threaten native species, some of which are already endangered or threatened.

For more information check out: http://www.fws.gov/invasives/news.html

North American Bat Death Toll Exceeds 5.5 Million From White-nose Syndrome

On the verge of another season of winter hibernating bat surveys, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists and partners estimate that at least 5.7 million to 6.7 million bats have now died from white-nose syndrome. Biologists expect the disease to continue to spread.

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is decimating bat populations across eastern North America, with mortality rates reaching up to 100 percent at many sites. First documented in New York in 2006, the disease has spread quickly into 16 states and four Canadian provinces. Bats with WNS exhibit unusual behavior during cold winter months, including flying outside during the day and clustering near the entrances of caves and mines where they hibernate. Bats have been found sick and dying in unprecedented numbers near these hibernacula.

“This startling new information illustrates the severity of the threat that white-nose syndrome poses for bats, as well as the scope of the problem facing our nation. Bats provide tremendous value to the U.S. economy as natural pest control for American farms and forests every year, while playing an essential role in helping to control insects that can spread disease to people,” said Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. “We are working closely with our partners to understand the spread of this deadly disease and minimize its impacts to affected bat species.”

Estimating the total number of bat deaths has been a difficult challenge for biologists. Although consistent population counts for federally listed endangered bats, like the Indiana bat, have been a priority for state and federal biologists, establishing population counts of once “common” bat species, like little brown bats, was historically not the primary focus of seasonal bat population counts.

“White-nose syndrome has spread quickly through bat populations in eastern North America, and has caused significant mortality in many colonies,” said National WNS Coordinator, Dr. Jeremy Coleman, “Many bats were lost before we were able to establish pre-white-nose syndrome population estimates.”

More than 140 partners, including tribal, state and federal biologists and bat researchers convened in Carlisle, Pennsylvania for the 2012 Northeast Bat Working Group (NEBWG) meeting last week to discuss challenges facing bat research, management and conservation. Coordinating with wildlife officials in Canada, the group discussed population-level impacts to hibernating bats and developed the estimate of bats lost to WNS.

In addition to the lack of population data for many bat species, there has also been a lack of consistency in how bat population data was reported among agencies. As part of the May 2011 national WNS response plan, which was developed by the Service in partnership with a team of federal, state, tribal, and NGO scientists, agencies are addressing this by establishing methods for consistent data collection.

The National Plan for Assisting States, Federal Agencies and Tribes in Managing White-Nose Syndrome in Bats provides a framework for the coordination and management of the national WNS investigation response, and the Service leads an extensive network of partners in implementing the plan.

The Service serves as the primary resource for up-to-date information and recommendations for all partners, such as important decontamination protocols for cave researchers and visitors and a cave access advisory that requests a voluntary moratorium on activities in caves in affected states to minimize the potential spread of WNS.

In addition to developing science-based protocols and guidance for land management agencies and other partners to minimize the spread of WNS, the Service has funded numerous research projects to support and assess management recommendations and improve our basic understanding of the dynamics of the disease.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service.


For more information about white-nose syndrome, visit www.fws.gov/whitenosesyndrome. Connect with our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usfwswns, follow our tweets at www.twitter.com/usfws_wns, and download white-nose syndrome and bat photos from our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq/collections/72157626455036388/.