DEC Enters Third Year of River Creel Survey on the Saranac and Boquet Rivers

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the third year of the river creel survey of the Saranac and Boquet Rivers, tributaries to Lake Champlain. This survey is a central part of Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative's salmon assessment and restoration efforts.

"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."

The survey begins September 15, 2025, and is focused on the Atlantic salmon spawning runs in the Saranac and Boquet rivers. The survey will provide DEC fisheries biologists with a better understanding of angler use, catch, harvest, and angler expectations on salmon rivers in the Champlain basin. Information gathered will be used to develop a management plan that will outline management actions on these rivers.

Anglers will be asked to voluntarily participate in the survey by providing information about their day of fishing. Collected data will include an angler's preferred target species, the number of fish caught and harvested, and the angler's satisfaction with the salmon fishery. If the angler allows, biological data will be collected from fish caught (length, presence of fin clips, number of sea lamprey wounds, and a genetic sample).

Survey sites on the Saranac River include the Green Street fishing access, Allen Street (private), and the fishing pool below Imperial Dam in the city of Plattsburgh. The Boquet River sites include the stretch of river from the town of Willsboro boat launch at Gilliland Park upstream to the fishing pool just below the cascades.

A survey report will be released in Spring 2026 on DEC's website. For more information about research by DEC Region 5 staff, visit DEC's website.