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The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued an updated advisory today about eating fish from waters in the commonwealth. It's not all bad news as seven waterways had their warnings either lifted or eased. But it there is some bad news for the Upper Delarew River.
The DEP has issued a new warning for smallmouth bass in Pike and Wayne Counties. These two counties encompass the entire Upper Delaware River and include all the border water between Pennsylvania and New York. In the case of Pike County part of the border is also shared with New Jersey. All total, this is somewhere around 100 mile of river. What the DEP suggests is that no more than two meals per month be from smallmouth bass from this section of river due to mercury contamination.
Mercury from emissions is thought to be a major contributor. A 2008 study published by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation revealed a similar pattern on the New York side of the river in several lakes in the Delaware River Basin.
Other Pennsylvania waterways with new advisories are:
• One meal per month advisory for Largemouth Bass in Shohola Lake in Pike County;
• Two meals per month advisory for Largemouth Bass in Lackawanna Lake in Lackawanna County;
• Two meals per month advisory for Largemouth Bass in Stephen Foster Lake in Bradford County;
• One meal per month advisory for Smallmouth Bass in the Susquehanna River in Bradford and Wyoming counties;
• Two meals per month advisory for Smallmouth Bass in the Allegheny River in Warren, Forest, and Venango counties;
• One meal per month advisory for Northern Pike in Conneaut Lake in Crawford County; and
• One meal per month advisory for Largemouth Bass in Crystal Lake in Crawford County.
To read the entire press release, including waters with lifted or eased advisories check out this link: DEP Issues Updated Fish Consumption Advisories for 2011
