Plant closing may help Lake Erie's fish

Wednesday, 01 February 2012 04:29

Plant closing may help Lake Erie's fish

TOLEDO -- Environmentalists and charter fishing captains expect Lake Erie's fish population to climb with the closing of coal-burning units at a power plant near the mouth of the lake's biggest tributary.

The plant, which is being shut down by its operator because of new air pollution rules, sucks in billions of gallons of water each year and kills millions of fish near some of the lake's most popular fishing spots.

Environmental groups have said for years that the fish kills have contributed to declining levels of both yellow perch and walleye, two prized fish that draw anglers from around the Midwest. The groups have tried to force the plant's owner, Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp., to install costly changes that would stop millions of fish from being killed each year.