CT DEEP Fisheries Northern Pike Management

Northern Pike have been a integral sport fish in Bantam Lake for many years.  The success of this introduction effort is largely due to using the local herbaceous inland wetlands on the White Memorial Foundation property as spawning areas for adult fish every spring.  Once the adults have spawned, the adults are captured so they can be returned to the Bantam Lake where they are important predator and game fish. 

Jason and Abby (CT DEEP Fisheries Division) deploy a gill net to capture adult Northern Pike. 

Several of White Memorial's herbaceous inland wetlands are used for spawning areas for
Northern Pike that are released into other lakes throughout the state.  

Abby removed the fish from the gill net and
Jason waits with a net to quickly transport the fish to a holding tank. 

Northern Pike in net and about to be released into Bantam Lake.  

Once the juvenile fish grow and develop into a size class referred to as fingerlings, they will try to swim into Bantam Lake.  A weir has been installed at a culvert under the road to capture the fingerlings so that they can be measured and released into other lakes in CT.

This gate traps fingerlings that try to disperse from the spawning area.  

White Memorial Geographic Information System (GIS) Update

Matthew Goclowski takes a break from recording data
to show off a night Fisheries Survey catch
 with CT DEEP, Fisheries Division.

Basic Elements of White Memorial's Geographic Information System Upgrade
by Matthew Goclowski

Geographic Information System (GIS) is commonly associated with maps and the cartographers that build maps.  GIS has evolved into more than just maps.  It has become a way of perceiving the landscape and the unique relationships associated with features found on a landscape.  It is White Memorial's fortune that Matthew Goclowski approached us to help update our GIS database pro bono publico.  Matthew Goclowski is a fisheries biologist in Connecticut, who occasionally works for CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Fisheries Division.  He has worked for other natural resource management non-profit organizations in New England aiding their GIS needs and knew what we needed to get our system up to speed.  Matthew's education includes a Bachelor of Science from the University of Connecticut, a Master of Science from Auburn University, and a Postbaccalaureate Certificate in GIS from Pennsylvania State University.  Matt's upgrade will help us with a wide variety of Research and Conservation Program elements, primarily communicating with our colleagues in Natural Resource Management.

We thank Matt for his generosity and support.