A 50-year mission to restore wild lake trout in Lake Champlain reached a milestone this spring as state and federal agencies declared the species self-sustaining — and announced the end of hatchery stocking.
The decision, made public April 10 by the Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative, marks the success of a long-standing partnership between the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
“The establishment of a self-sustaining lake trout population in Lake Champlain is a direct result of a robust cooperative effort between partner agencies and the University of Vermont,” said DEC Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton. “This restoration effort serves as a model for states to effectuate positive and collaborative conservation outcomes.”
Annual stocking will conclude after one final round this spring. Officials will shift focus to monitoring and long-term health assessments of the wild trout population.
“Bringing back Lake Champlain’s native lake trout to the point that they no longer depend on stocking is an incredible conservation success,” said Andrea Shortsleeve, interim commissioner for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. “This would not have been possible without strong partnerships.”
Lake trout stocking began in the 1950s, but recovery was stunted by the rise of sea lamprey — a parasitic invasive species that preys on fish like trout. The problem peaked in 2006, when 99 of every 100 trout bore lamprey wounds. A control program, initiated in 1990 and led by USFWS since 2011, has since pushed that figure down to 23 per 100.
“The Service is proud to be a partner in this cooperative,” said Wendi Weber, USFWS regional director. “It’s exciting to see the return on investments in the sea lamprey program, by rebuilding an important recreational fishery and supporting the regional economy.”
The control efforts include barriers on streams, targeted chemical treatments to eliminate larvae, and trapping adults before they spawn. These measures have helped Lake Champlain sustain a thriving fishing industry, now estimated to generate $474 million annually.
While lake trout populations are now stable, the agencies emphasized that ongoing lamprey control remains essential. Should the wild numbers drop, the cooperative is prepared to resume stocking as needed.
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