FWP proposes Swan Lake study

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), Region 1, has written a draft environmental assessment (EA) proposing to conduct a three-year study to assess the effectiveness of using modified electrofishing equipment to destroy non-native lake trout eggs and embryos in Swan Lake.

Lake trout were first detected in Swan Lake in 1998. The lake trout population has increased over time and represents a considerable threat to the popular kokanee and bull trout fisheries.

Previous research efforts in Swan Lake have investigated the size and age structure of the lake trout population, and a current project examines the use of gillnetting as a tool to reduce lake trout numbers. The proposed study investigates the use of a common fisheries application (electrofishing) as a potential tool to assist fishery managers with alternative ways to control lake trout at earlier life stages.

The draft EA is available on the FWP web site at fwp.mt.gov under Recent Public Notices.

The draft will be out for public review through Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011. Written comments must be postmarked by Sept. 29, 2011. Please direct your questions or comments to Leo Rosenthal, fisheries biologist, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 490 N. Meridian Rd., Kalispell, MT 59901, 751-4548, or e-mail lrosenthal@mt.gov.