Mercury Advisories

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Pennsylvania DEP Issues Statewide Fish-Consumption Advisory.
On April 11th 2001, state officials issued a one-meal-per-week consumption advisory for all fish caught in the Pennsylvania's waterways. In addition to the advisory, state officials issued more protective, meal-specific advisories for mercury in sport fish.

Pennsylvania has six categories of consumption advisories:

• no restriction
• one meal per week
• two meals per month
• one meal per month
• one meal every two months
• do not eat

One meal is considered to be one-half pound of fish for a 150-pound person.

This is the first step in what the Clean Air Council and other environmentalists have been calling for a long time. Clean Air Council was instrumental in distributing a report that questioned Pennsylvania's lack of warning about the threat of eating mercury contaminated fish. The Council also gained public support with a letter writing campaign urging DEP to adopt safe standards for mercury in fish, such as those advised by the Environmental Protection Agency, or the stricter standards adopted by neighboring Ohio and New Jersey. The standards must be tight in order to protect sensitive members of the population from the threat of mercury.

The fact that there is one overarching advisory for all locally caught fish (one meal per week) for PCB's and mercury is somewhat misleading. It is a good step in ensuring that the population is aware of the contamination problem out there, however, there is a particular section of the population that is at risk from eating contaminated fish: pregnant women, nursing women, young children, and women who are of childbearing age. Many children and women do not come under the 150-pound weight category. Some of these members of the population could not eat one meal a week and still be safe. Commercially bought fish have also been exposed to these contaminants so if the sensitive members of the population think it is safe to eat this fish and then eat only one portion of locally caught fish, they are mistaken.

As far as PCB's are concerned, PA DEP admitted on April 11th that the state was misinterpreting data that had been collected from fish around the state. Therefore, what is needed is a stricter testing regime that also emphasizes individual cases of higher contamination, similar to how they have begun to address the mercury issue.

The following is a listing of additional fish consumption advisories for mercury contamination. The format is as follows: Water Body, Area Under Advisory, Species, Meal Frequency.


DELAWARE RIVER BASIN

• Lake Wallenpaupack (Pike and Wayne Counties), Entire lake, Walleye, 1 meal/month
  
• Delaware River, Source to Yardley, American eel, 2 meals/month
  
• Delaware River and Estuary (Bucks, Philadelphia, and Delaware Counties), Yardley to PA/DE state border, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Beltsville Lake (Beltsville State Park) (Carbon County), Entire lake, Walleye, 2 meals/month
  
• Tobyhanna Creek (Carbon and Monroe Counties), Pocono Lake dam to mouth, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Tunkhannock Creek (Wyoming County), Confluence of South Branch to mouth, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Bush Kill (Monroe and Pike Counties), Confluence of Saw Creek to mouth, American eel, 2 meals/month
  
• Promised Land Lake (Promised Land State Park) (Pike County), Entire lake, Largemouth bass, 1 meal/month
  
• Prompton Reservoir (W. Br. Lackawaxen River) (Wayne County), Entire lake, Largemouth bass & Walleye, 1 meal/month & 2 meals/month
  
• West Branch Delaware River (Wayne County), Entire section in PA, Brown trout, 2 meals/month
  

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN

• Susquehanna River (Susquehanna County), Entire section in PA from the NY line above Starrucca Creek to the NY line below Great Bend, Smallmouth bass & Fallfish, 2 meals/month
  
• Susquehanna River (Wyoming, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Columbia, Northumberland, and Montour Counties), PA Route 92 bridge at Falls to confluence with West Branch, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Big Elk Creek (Chester County), Confluence of East and West Branches to PA/MD border, American ee,l 2 meals/month
  
• Conestoga River (Lancaster County), Slackwater to mouth, Rock bass, 2 meals/month
  
• West Conewago Creek (York County), SR 0295 bridge to mouth, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Laurel Lake (Cumberland County), Entire lake, Largemouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Tuscarora Creek (Juniata County), SR 3008 bridge above Port Royal to mouth, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Aughwick Creek (Huntingdon County), U.S. 522 bridge below Shirleysburg to mouth, Rock bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Raystown Branch Juniata River (Bedford and Huntingdon Counties), Confluence of Ravers Run (near Warriors Path State Park) to slackwater of Raystown Lake, Rock bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Middle Creek (Snyder County), SR 0035 bridge to mouth, Smallmouth bass & Rock bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Penns Creek (Snyder and Union Counties), Confluence of Laurel Run to SR 0204 at New Berlin, Smallmouth bass & Rock bass, 2 meals/month
  
• West Branch Susquehanna River (Union and Northumberland Counties), I-80 bridge to mouth, Channel catfish, 2 meals/month
  
• Hunters Lake (Sullivan County), Entire lake, Largemouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• White Deer Creek (Union County), I-80 bridge to mouth, Brown trout, 2 meals/month
  
• Loyalsock Creek (Sullivan and Lycoming Counties), Confluence of Little Loyalsock Creek at Forksville to mouth, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Pine Creek (Tioga County), Confluence of Painter Run to confluence of Fourmile Run near Colton Point State Park, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Kettle Creek (Clinton County), Alvin R. Bush Dam to mouth, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Sinnemahoning Creek (Clinton and Cameron Counties), Confluence of Lower Jerry Run to mouth, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek (Cameron County), George B. Stevenson Dam to mouth, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Parker Dam State Park Lake (Clearfield County), Entire lake, Largemouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Driftwood Branch Sinnemahoning Creek (Cameron County), SR 0120 bridge at Cameron to confluence of Big Run, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Black Moshannon State Park Lake (Centre County), Entire lake, Chain pickerel, 1 meal/month
  
• Fishing Creek (Columbia County), SR 4008 bridge near Light Street to mouth, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Lake Jean (Ricketts Glen State Park) (Sullivan and Luzerne Counties), Entire lake, Chain pickerel & Yellow perch, 1 meal/month & 2 meals/month
  
• Lily Lake (Luzerne County), Entire lake, Largemouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Lake Winola (Wyoming County), Entire lake, Largemouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Lackawanna Lake (Lackawanna State Park) (Lackawanna County), Entire lake, Bluegill, 2 meals/month
  
• Wyalusing Creek (Bradford County), SR 0706 bridge at Camptown to mouth, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Towanda Creek (Bradford County), Confluence of Schrader Creek to mouth, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Sunfish Pond (Bradford County), Entire pond, Largemouth bass & Yellow perch, 2 meals/month
  
• Sugar Creek (Bradford County), Confluence of Bailey Run to mouth, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Chemung River (Bradford County), NY/PA border to mouth, Channel catfish, 2 meals/month
  
• Tioga River (Tioga County), Confluence of Crooked Creek to PA/NY border, Smallmouth bass, 1 meal/month
  
• Cowanesque Reservoir (Tioga County), Entire lake, Largemouth bass, 1 meal/month
  
• Cowanesque River (Tioga County), Cowanesque Reservoir to PA/NY border, Black crappie, 2 meals/month
  
• Hammond Reservoir (Tioga County), Entire lake, Largemouth bass, 1 meal/month
  

POTOMAC RIVER BASIN

• Licking Creek (Fulton and Franklin Counties), Confluence of Big Cove Creek to PA/MD border, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Meadow Grounds Lake (Fulton County), Entire lake, Walleye, 2 meals/month
  

OHIO RIVER BASIN

• Traverse Creek (Beaver County), Source to dam in Raccoon State Park, Largemouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Thorn Creek (Butler County), Source to SR 2012 bridge at Frazier Mill, Trout, 2 meals/month
  
• Youghiogheny Lake (Fayette and Somerset Counties), Entire lake, Smallmouth bass & Walleye, 2 meals/month
  
• Youghiogheny River (Fayette and Somerset Counties), Youghiogheny Lake Dam to confluence of Lick Run, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Dunkard Creek (Greene County), Confluence of Toms Run to confluence of Roberts Run, Largemouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Dunkard Creek (Greene County), SR 2021 bridge to mouth, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Allegheny River (McKean County), Confluence of Potato Creek to PA/NY border, Smallmouth bass, 1 meal/month
  
• Allegheny Reservoir (Warren and McKean Counties), Entire lake, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Allegheny River (Warren County), Kinzua Dam to confluence of Morse Run, Walleye, 2 meals/month
  
• Allegheny River (Forest County), Warren/Forest County line to confluence of Tubbs Run, Walleye, 1 meal/month
  
• Allegheny River (Venango County), Confluence of Sandy Creek to confluence of Witherup Run at St. George, Walleye, 2 meals/month
  
• Beaver Run Reservoir (Westmoreland County), Entire lake, Largemouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Clarion River (Forest, Jefferson, and Clarion Counties), Confluence of Coleman Run above Cooksburg to confluence of Maxwell Run, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Clarion River (Clarion County), Confluence of Canoe Creek above Callensburg to confluence of Turkey Run, Walleye, 2 meals/month
  
• East Branch Lake (E. Br. Clarion River) (Elk County), Entire lake, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• French Creek (Crawford County), Confluence of Conneauttee Creek to confluence of Conneaut Outlet, Smallmouth bass, 1 meal/month
  
• Sugar Lake (Crawford County), Entire lake, Largemouth bass 2 meals/month
  
• Tamarack Lake (Crawford County), Entire lake, Muskellunge & Walleye, 1 meal/month & 2 meals/month
  
• Conneaut Lake (Crawford County), Entire lake, Largemouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Edinboro Lake (Erie County), Entire lake, Largemouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Lake LeBoeuf (Erie County), Entire lake, Largemouth bass Muskellunge & Carp, 1 meal/month
  
• Lake Pleasant (Erie County), Entire lake, Largemouth bass, 1 meal/month
  
• Eaton Reservoir (Erie County), Entire lake, Largemouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Oil Creek (Venango County), SR 1004 bridge at Petroleum Center to mouth, Smallmouth bass, 1 meal/month
  
• Tionesta Creek (Warren and Forest Counties), SR 0666 bridge at Henrys Mills to Tionesta Reservoir Dam, Smallmouth bass & Golden redhorse, 2 meals/month
  
• Brokenstraw Creek (Warren County), Confluence of Little Brokenstraw Creek to mouth, Golden redhorse, 2 meals/month
  
• Conewango Creek (Warren County), NY/PA border to mouth, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Tunungwant Creek (McKean County), Confluence of East and West Branches to PA/NY border, Carp, 2 meals/month
  

LAKE ERIE BASIN

• Conneaut Creek (Erie County), SR 0215 bridge to PA/OH border, Smallmouth bass, 2 meals/month
  
• Lake Erie (Erie County), Open waters, Walleye under 23 inches & Freshwater drum, 2 meals/month
  
• Presque Isle Bay (Erie County), Entire Bay, Largemouth bass, 2 meals/month