The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that the agency is holding a public meeting on Tuesday, March 13, to outline plans for upcoming fisheries work on the Upper Delaware River system.  The meeting will be held at Hancock High School, 67 Education Lane, Hancock NY, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The Upper Delaware River system is made up of two tailwater rivers, the East and West branches, which converge in Hancock to form the main stem of the Delaware River.

At the meeting, biologists will outline a comprehensive fisheries investigation plan to assess the current status of the wild trout fishery. Developed collaboratively by DEC and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the plan will be completed over the next three years. 

The plan includes survey activities such as monthly electrofishing, spring and fall redd counts (measures of trout spawning activity), trout tagging, and an angler creel survey. The purpose of this intensive effort is to gather information to develop a new fisheries management plan for the trout fishery of the Upper Delaware system. 

The meeting will offer anglers and the public the opportunity to ask questions about the upcoming work and learn about how they can support the investigation plan.  

Copies of the investigation plan are available at:  http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/112782.html. Questions can be sent to Chris VanMaaren, DEC Region 4 Fisheries Manager, 65561 State Hwy 10, Stamford, NY 12167, or emailed to fwfish4@dec.ny.gov.