Lake Davis in California has been encountering problems with Northern pike, a nonnative invasive fish species that threatens California’s aquatic resources. Northern pike are top predators built for speed and camouflaged for an edge in hunting. Pike are also highly reproductive making their presence in Lake Davis an even larger problem to control. The Lake has undergone treatment for this problem in the past but unfortunately treatment failed and the problem persists.
The Department of Forest and Game conducted an environmental review process with the U.S. Forest Service in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act. After extensive public outreach and input, several pike elimination alternatives were evaluated. The Department of Forest and Game determined that rotenone, a naturally occurring compound, is the piscicide that had the fewest environmental impacts so in turn will be used to kill off the species. It has also been approved for fishery management use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as well as the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. The Department of Fish and Game will also be setting up checkpoints at Lake Davis in order to help educate the public about laws and regulations and allow for the detection of violations of fish and game laws, as well as facilitate the gathering of biological and statistical data related to the pike problem.
The Department of Forest and Game conducted an environmental review process with the U.S. Forest Service in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act. After extensive public outreach and input, several pike elimination alternatives were evaluated. The Department of Forest and Game determined that rotenone, a naturally occurring compound, is the piscicide that had the fewest environmental impacts so in turn will be used to kill off the species. It has also been approved for fishery management use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as well as the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. The Department of Fish and Game will also be setting up checkpoints at Lake Davis in order to help educate the public about laws and regulations and allow for the detection of violations of fish and game laws, as well as facilitate the gathering of biological and statistical data related to the pike problem.
According to Ryan Broddrick, director of the state Department of Fish and Game, "It's imperative this eradication project quickly moves forward. Given the ever-increasing pike population, the increasing incidence of anglers catching moving live pike, and the potential for spilling of the reservoir in extremely wet years, it is critical to minimize any delay." The goal is to finish the eradication of Pike in the lake and begin restocking the lake with trout. The eradication of this ambush predator is important in maintaining the unique ecology of Lake Davis. The Pike are growing in number and in turn adversely affecting the ecology of the reservoir. The species are highly tolerant and adaptable making it easy for the Northern Pike to overtake other species. Many steps are being taken to remove the species from this lake as well as preparing legislation to ensure that the species doesn’t spread to other areas of California.
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