Miller Lake Lamprey: The Return to Miller Lake

One of the few species to have ‘recovered’ from extinction, the Miller Lake Lamprey (Entosphenus minimus)was believed extinct after treatment of Miller Lake (Klamath Basin) with Toxaphene in 1958. In the 1990s, Miller Lake Lampreys were discovered in the Williamson River, Miller Creek and the Sycan River. Subsequently, they were found to be relatively common in the Williamson and Sycan drainages, but were not found in Miller Lake, which was isolated by a barrier installed in 1959. Since 2005, the Miller Lake Lamprey Conservation Plan (ODFW) has guided conservation goals, one of which is to re-establish lampreys in Miller Lake. The MLL Working Group is formed of individuals representing agencies, universities and private biologists. We camp annually at Miller Lake to discuss conservation needs, monitor the population and perform needed work, including barrier removal, surveys and reintroduction of ammocoetes into the lake. All work, including excellent fireside meals, has been done without funding. Reintroduction of about 600 ammocoetes annually to the lake and tributaries since 2010 demonstrates that ammocoetes successfully settle in available habitat. As of 2014, ammocoete populations are easily detected at three reintroduction sites, but adults have not yet been found in the lake - monitoring continues.