The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission on Monday responded to recent criticism over fish deaths caused by a lake drawdown related to a dam repair in Lackawanna County.
The commission estimates it moved more than 100,000 fish from Fords Lake this month in preparation for a $3.1 million dam rehabilitation project.
Staff conducted the salvage operation on Oct. 14 and 15, using 10 hatchery trucks to transport approximately 30,000 pounds of fish to the Susquehanna River at the West Falls Access. The relocation effort came after the 73-acre lake began a drawdown on Sept. 16 to prepare for dam improvements scheduled to start in spring 2027.
WBRE/WYOU News on Sunday quoted a local angler as being “absolutely” disgusted by “dead fish flopping in here — bass, calico bass, perch, everything.”
State lawmakers also were critical of the operation.
“We are sickened and appalled by the sheer number of fish that have been lost during the draining” of the lake, Sen. Marty Flynn and Rep. Jim Haddock, both Democrats representing parts of Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, wrote in a joint statement Friday.
“What has happened is unacceptable, and we share the frustration and outrage of the sportsmen and women who have witnessed this firsthand,” the statement continued, calling on the Fish and Boat Commission “to provide a full accounting of the fish salvage operation, including how many fish were successfully relocated, how many were lost and what decisions led to this outcome.”
The Fish and Boat Commission on Monday detailed that it had removed all fishing regulations at Fords Lake in January 2026, including seasons and size limits, to encourage anglers to harvest fish before water levels dropped.
Commission officials deemed the fish salvage effort a success, while acknowledging the operation was not entirely efficient. Some fish died during the transport process, while others moved naturally out of the lake as water levels receded. Fish that could not be safely transported or were not expected to survive were buried in the lakebed.
“The PFBC acknowledges that the presence of dead fish at Fords Lake has been upsetting to some in the community,” commission officials said in a statement Monday. “As an agency, the PFBC is committed to improving this process in the future, including providing better public education and setting expectations about fish salvage operations.”
The commission also noted it does not allow public participation in fish salvage operations due to safety concerns and the potential spread of aquatic invasive species and disease. Only trained staff are permitted to conduct the work.
After dam improvements are complete and the lake is refilled by fall 2028, the state plans to implement a multi-year restocking program aimed at reestablishing a self-sustaining fish population and restoring quality fishing opportunities at Fords Lake.
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