LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission says it moved an estimated 100,000 fish from Fords Lake to the nearby Susquehanna River during a two-day salvage operation last week.
Ten PFBC hatchery trucks transported about 30,000 pounds of fish to the commission’s West Falls Access on Oct. 14 and 15. The lake is being drawn down ahead of a $3.1 million dam rehabilitation project expected to begin in spring 2027.
The commission said the operation was considered successful, but some fish died during the drawdown and relocation. Others were buried in the lakebed during the final stages because they were not expected to survive or could not be safely transported.
The PFBC acknowledged that seeing dead fish at the lake upset some community members and said it plans to improve public education about future salvage operations. The agency said these operations are limited to trained staff because of public safety concerns and the risk of spreading invasive species or disease.
Fishing regulations at Fords Lake were removed in January to allow anglers to catch and keep more fish before the drawdown began Sept. 16.
After dam work is completed and the lake refills, the PFBC plans a multiyear restocking effort to rebuild a self-sustaining fish population. The commission expects the lake to refill in fall 2028.
Video provided by NEPA Drone.