9646

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9646
• Author: Wiley, R. W. and R. S. Wydoski.
• Title: Management of Undesirable Fish Species.
• USFW Year: 1993.
• USFW - Doc Type: 335-354
• Copyright Material: YES

UNDESIRABLE SPECIES

339

Box 14.2 Items for Consideration in Planning Chemical Treatment

I. Determine the need for chemical treatment to restore the sport fishery
based on pretreatment surveys of the fish population.
2. Obtain and evaluate complete water quality and fishery statistics.
3. Determine the volume (lake or pond) or length and volume (stream) of
water to be treated.
4. Determine the amount of toxicant required to obtain desired treatment
(amounts of toxicant may be decreased if lake levels can be lowered
or the flow of regulated streams reduced).
5. Determine if the chemical must be detoxified (some break down to
nontoxic components quickly due to water temperature, sunlight,
etc.); accurately determine the amount of material required to detox-
ify the specific concentration of the toxicant.
6. Provide an opportunity for the public to become informed and allow
them an opportunity to comment on the treatment.
7. Ensure that the treatment will not contaminate potential sources of
drinking water.
8. Evaluate the potential adverse impacts on environmentally sensitive
species (including threatened and endangered species).
9. Develop a detailed operational plan that completely describes all
aspects of the project.
10. Carefully consider fish species to be used in restocking waters to
ascertain that suitable environmental conditions are present.

meets all of these criteria. Therefore, fisheries managers must carefully evaluate
the benefits of using toxicants with the potential adverse environmental effects.

14.4.2 Planning a Chemical Treatment Project

Environmental assessments provide a mechanism to plan a project and to select
the best alternative that will accomplish the goals and objectives (Box 14.2). In the
United States, environmental assessments are required by the National Environ-
mental Policy Act (42 U.S.c. Sections 4321-4361; see Chapter 4). Environmental
assessments must include a description of the proposed treatment, why the
treatment is proposed, a description of the environment, environmental impacts
of the proposed treatment, mitigating measures to offset adverse impacts of the
proposed treatment, discussion of unavoidable adverse impacts, discussion of
irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources, documentation of public
and agency interest, and alternatives to accomplish the proposed work.
Environmental assessments are reviewed by the Fish and Wildlife Service,
other federal and state agencies. and the public. If no adverse comments are
received or if benefits clearly exceed adverse impacts, the treatment can proceed.
(If there are significant adverse environmental impacts or potential public health
hazards, an environmental impact statement must be prepared.) Pretreatment
studies may be necessary to obtain information needed to prepare an environ-
mental assessment. A comparison of the alternative actions and the potential