BETHEL – A state fisheries biologist is to speak next week about the Rapid River’s brook trout population, invasive bass and bass mitigation efforts.

Dave Boucher, who is based at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s regional headquarters in Strong, is the keynote speaker at the Mollyockett Chapter of Trout Unlimited’s monthly meeting.

It will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 21, in Ordway Hall at Gould Academy on Church Street.

Dinner is to be served at 5:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public.

Boucher said his presentation includes:

• A description of the special nature of the Rapid River’s brook trout population and the fishery it supports.

• The threat posed by illegally stocked smallmouth bass from Umbagog Lake.

• A brief summary of information that his department and Florida Power and Light have gathered about developing strategies to mitigate the presence of bass.

• Department strategies already in place.

• Identification of additional trout conservation strategies and research needs in support of them.

The Rapid River runs five miles, from Lower Richardson Lake in Township C, through Upton and Magalloway Plantation and into Umbagog Lake.

Additional meeting topics include a discussion on the upcoming non-point source pollution survey of the Bear River watershed in Newry, and a recap of the Sunday River study.
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