AGFC to begin eradication of snakeheads on March 20

Submitted by Ted Williams on Tue, 03/17/2009 - 11:22.

Note: The AGFC plans to have a day for the media to get photographs, video
and images of the eradication project on Friday, March 20 at 1 p.m. at Lake
Greenlee in Brinkley. The AGFC will have biologists available for
interviews as well as crews distributing the Rotenone nearby for photo
opportunities. If you’re interested in this story, please call Keith
Stephens at (501) 223-6342.



         BRINKLEY – Almost a year ago, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
   fisheries biologists confirmed a breeding population of northern
   snakehead, an invasive species from Asia, near Brinkley. The population
   was discovered when a farmer found an unusual fish wiggling along a
   gravel farm road near a ditch and contacted the AGFC regional office in
   Brinkley. Later this month, AGFC and U.S. Fish and Wildlife personnel
   will begin a process to eradicate the invasive species from Piney Creek
   and its watershed.

         The goal is to prevent snakeheads from threatening native fish
   populations in Arkansas and elsewhere in the lower Mississippi River
   basin. An eradication plan originally scheduled for October last year
   was postponed due to heavy rainfall associated with tropical storm
   systems Gustav and Ike. The rainfall caused higher-than-normal water
   flows in Piney Creek, limiting the AGFC’s ability to effectively
   implement the eradication plan. Weather conditions also delayed the rice
   harvest in many fields adjacent to Piney Creek, another factor that
   hampered the eradication project.

         The eradication process includes the use of helicopters, boats,
   ground crews and amphibious track vehicles. The crews will be spreading
   Rotenone, a chemical for fish eradications, which will kill out all fish
   in the waters where it is placed.

Tom R. MacKenzie
Media Relations Specialist and Native American Liaison
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Southeast Region
1875 Century Blvd Ste 410
Atlanta, GA 30345-3319
404-679-7291  Fax:404-679-7286  Cell: 678-296-6400
http://www.fws.gov/southeast
tom_mackenzie@fws.gov

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