Chiputneticook Lakes International Conservancy or CLIC hosted its 15th annual salmon stocking into East Grand Lake on May 18 and May 22.
The project started in March when the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife delivered salmon eggs to local schools. This year, five classrooms from Houlton, Hodgdon and Danforth Elementary schools participated in the project.
The eggs are raised in cold-water fish tanks provided by CLIC. When the salmon reach the fry stage, the release date is planned. The release takes place at the mouth of East Grand Lake at the U.S. and Canadian Customs crossing.
CLIC set up several events for this year’s salmon release. Danforth students chose to tour the Grand Lake Stream Hatchery with Dave Marsanskis, fish culture supervisor, to view where the salmon are raised.
The students released their fish in conjunction with Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, releasing 2,000 yearling landlocked salmon that were raised in the hatchery.
Guest speaker, Regional Fishery Biologist Nels Kramer, spoke to the students about the health of sport fishing and fish stocking in the St. Croix Lakes Watershed.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection kindly opened their doors to give the students tours of the custom facility. This year, for the first time in many years, Canadian Customs gave tours of their facility and all students were treated to a “welcome to Canada” cake. Woody Wheaton Land Trust members also were at the event with fly fishing and outdoor cooking demonstrations. A cookout followed for all students and adults present at the release. There were 96 students and 44 adults attending at the combined release dates.
This educational, as well as fun event, was provided free of charge by CLIC, which among many other conservancy projects, works closely with State of Maine Fisheries Departments to keep a healthy fish population in East Grand Lake.
