The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has started the third year of its river creel survey on the Saranac and Boquet Rivers, both tributaries to Lake Champlain. The ongoing survey is part of the Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative’s efforts to assess and restore salmon populations.
“Gathering firsthand information from angler surveys is imperative to fisheries research in the Lake Champlain watershed,” said Regional Director Joe Zalewski. “The data gleaned from the hundreds of interviews collected so far in the study are tremendously impactful towards informing management actions that benefit the fishery and further benefit anglers. We encourage anglers to take part in this continued survey opportunity when out enjoying the abundant Saranac and Bouquet Rivers.”
Starting September 15, 2025, DEC biologists will focus on Atlantic salmon spawning runs in these rivers. The goal is to better understand how anglers use these rivers, what species they target, how many fish are caught or harvested, and what expectations anglers have for salmon fishing in the Champlain basin. Information from this effort will help develop a management plan for these waterways.
Anglers are being asked to voluntarily share details about their fishing trips. Data collected will include preferred target species, numbers of fish caught or kept, and satisfaction with the salmon fishery. With permission, biological samples such as length measurements, fin clip presence, sea lamprey wounds, and genetic material may also be taken from caught fish.
Survey locations on the Saranac River include Green Street fishing access, Allen Street (private), and below Imperial Dam in Plattsburgh. On the Boquet River, surveys will cover areas from Willsboro’s Gilliland Park boat launch upstream to just below the cascades.
A report summarizing findings will be published on DEC’s website in Spring 2026. More details about DEC Region 5 research activities can also be found online.
