Mcdowell Lake Won’T Be Treated

Thu., April 16, 1998

Fenton Roskelley Correspondent

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has turned down requests to treat McDowell Lake with rotenone this year.

Lisa Langelier, manager of the Little Pend Oreille Wildlife Refuge, has advised the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department and Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club members that she won’t permit requests that the fly fishing-only lake on the refuge be rehabilitated until possibly next year.

The lake is infested with so many tench that trout growth is poor.

“We want to know how much impact to wildlife use of rotenone in the fall would have before committing (to rehabilitation,)” she informed the department.

She said the FWS is developing a comprehensive conservation plan and an environmental impact statement that will “address management priorities for the refuge, including the relationship of recreational fishing to other refuge priorities such as migratory bird nesting or migration.”

However, she said she would consider rotenone next year.

The Fish and Wildlife Department plans to net tench when they are spawning this year and remove as many as possible.

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