News Archive
The silver carp captured in the Illinois Waterway on June 22, 2017 below T.J. O'Brien Lock and Dam. Image courtesy of Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Invasive silver carp removed from Lake Calumet
August 5, 2022
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Invasive Carp Regional Coordinating Committee today announced the removal of one silver carp from Lake Calumet in the Chicago Area Waterway System. Lake Calumet is approximately seven miles from Lake Michigan. The fish was captured yesterday by gill netting and electro-fishing crews from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
eDNA from invasive silver carp identified in Lake Erie's Presque Isle Bay
Pre-cautionary electrofishing found no carp, additional eDNA sampling planned
July 21, 2022
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission today announced that it has conducted targeted invasive carp sampling in Presque Isle Bay, Erie County, after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service detected the presence of Silver Carp environmental DNA.
Copi Po' Boy prepared by chef Brian Jupiter.
State of Illinois renames and rebrands Asian carp
Choose Copi: Eat Well and Do Good
June 22, 2022
Following more than two years of consumer research and planning, the State of Illinois today unveiled "Copi," the new name for Asian carp. The new name and brand are designed to address public misconceptions about this delicious top-feeding fish, which is overrunning Midwest waterways.
Cover of the 2022 Invasive Carp Action Plan
Invasive Carp Regional Coordinating Committee Releases 2022 Invasive Carp Action Plan
March 31, 2022
The Invasive Carp Regional Coordinating Committee is pleased to announce the release of its 2022 Invasive Carp Action Plan, a comprehensive portfolio of 60 projects focused on Great Lakes protection.
Water sampling tubes for eDNA testing. Photo by Monica Blaser/USFWS.
Environmental DNA from Invasive Carp Identified in Milwaukee River
October 5, 2021
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced it would conduct targeted invasive carp sampling in the Milwaukee River with assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during the week of Oct. 4, 2021, after detecting invasive carp environmental DNA.
Contracted fisher aboard a boat setting gill net during the intensive monitoring event within the Chicago Area Waterway system. Photo courtesy of Justin Widloe/Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Spring Seasonal Intensive Monitoring Event Completed
June 24, 2021
Partner agencies under the leadership of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources found no Bighead Carp or Silver Carp during the annual Spring Seasonal Intensive Monitoring event conducted throughout the Chicago Area Waterway System in May 2021.
Cover of the 2021 Asian Carp Action Plan.
Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee Releases 2021 Asian Carp Action Plan
March 22, 2021
The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee is pleased to announce the release of its 2021 Asian Carp Action Plan, a comprehensive portfolio of projects focused on Great Lakes protection.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources biologists complete an electrofishing run in the Chicago Area Waterway System as part of fall 2020 Seasonal Intensive Monitoring event that concluded on September 25. Photo courtesy of Claire Snyder/Illinois DNR.
Chicago Area Waterway System Fall 2020 Seasonal Intensive Monitoring Event Concludes
October 1, 2020
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and partner agencies under the leadership of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee, directed by the partnership’s Monitoring and Response Work Group, found no Asian carp during their fall Seasonal Intensive Monitoring event conducted throughout the Chicago Area Waterway System
The Racine Avenue Pumping Station in Chicago. Photo courtesy of Justin Brown/Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.
Follow-up eDNA results announced for Bubbly Creek, Chicago
September 17, 2020
2020 results are now posted for the eDNA sampling done in follow-up to the high number of positive Asian carp eDNA samples found in the South Fork of the South Branch of the Chicago River in 2019.
An adult grass carp. Photo by Ryan Hagerty/USFWS.
Invasive grass carp captured in the Tittabawassee River
April 14, 2020
During a routine fish survey in the Tittabawassee River below the Dow Dam in Midland County on March 17, Michigan Department of Natural Resources staff captured an invasive grass carp.
A barge traveling through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. Photo courtesy of USFWS.
Results of Asian carp barge entrainment field trials released
April 3, 2020
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released the results of the 2018 Asian carp barge entrainment field trials. The results of the research illustrate that there is a potential for small Asian carp to be inadvertently trapped and transported by commercial barge tows through upstream lock chambers.
Grass and silver carp recently pulled from the Mississippi River in southeastern Minnesota. Photo by MN DNR.
More than 50 invasive carp captured on Mississippi River
March 23, 2020
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is conducting an immediate response to the capture of 51 invasive carp on the Mississippi River.The invasive carp were caught by two commercial fishing operators near La Crosse and Trempealeau, Wisconsin, during routine spring netting last weekend.
Cover of the 2020 Asian Carp Action Plan.
Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee Releases 2020 Asian Carp Action Plan
March 2, 2020
The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee is pleased to announce the release of the 2020 Asian Carp Action Plan, the partnership’s comprehensive portfolio of projects focused on Great Lakes protection.
Water sampling tubes for eDNA testing. Photo by Monica Blaser/USFWS.
Invasive carp eDNA sampling results cause retesting on three Michigan inland lakes
February 28, 2020
Environmental DNA testing by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service revealed no evidence of genetic material from bighead and silver carp in Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, Long Lake in Hillsdale County or Cass Lake in Oakland County.
Boats on the Chicago River participating in Bubbly Creek response actions. Photo courtesy of IL DNR.
No Asian carp found in two-week sampling of Bubbly Creek
November 22, 2019
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and partner agencies under the leadership of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee have found no Asian carp in the second week of searching for the invasive fish in the Chicago Area Waterway System.
Contracted fisherman aboard a boat participating in Bubbly Creek response actions in the South Branch of the Chicago River. Photo courtesy of IL DNR.
UPDATE: No Asian carp found in follow up sampling, second week being delayed for worker safety
November 8, 2019
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and partner agencies under the leadership of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee have found no Asian carp in the first week of searching for the invasive fish in the Chicago Area Waterway System.
Map depicting response area for two-week intensive sampling effort.
Asian carp sampling and assessment effort planned for November 4-15 in Chicago Area Waterway System
November 1, 2019
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and partner agencies under the leadership of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee will conduct a two-week intensive sampling effort in the South Fork of the South Branch of the Chicago River following the recent detection of Asian carp environmental DNA in that area
Black carp identification video. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
New black carp identification video now available
September 10, 2019
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is pleased to announce the first black carp identification video that teaches viewers how to identify black carp using grass carp as a point of comparison.
Read more about the release of the black carp identification video »
Water sampling tubes for eDNA testing. Photo by Monica Blaser/USFWS.
Michigan continues early detection efforts for invasive carp
July 2, 2019
Results are in for the first round of environmental DNA testing for invasive bighead and silver carp in tributaries of Lake Michigan. None of the 336 water samples collected in the Kalamazoo River, Spring Lake and Lake Macatawa tested positive for the genetic material of invasive carp.
Cover of the 2019 Asian Carp Action Plan.
Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee releases 2019 Asian Carp Action Plan
April 29, 2019
The updated Action Plan includes aggressive new prevention and control efforts, including expanded Asian carp population reduction along established fronts, large-scale field trials of potential barriers and deterrent technologies, and actions to address black and grass carp threats.
Potato crusted silverfin found in dining halls at University of Illinois. Photo courtesy of University of Illinois Dining Services.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources launches the Market Value Grant Program
March 14, 2019
Illinois Department of Natural Resources has launched the Market Value Grant Program offering up to $8,000 to fish processors and product makers to defray costs of business travel and trade show attendance to market their Asian carp products.
A biologist using a bongo net to collect samples to determine early life history data for grass carp. Photo by Nicole King of the University of Toledo.
Newly hatched invasive grass carp found in Maumee River, Ohio
First larval grass carp captured within Great Lakes watershed
March 6, 2019
In June 2018, a sampling crew from The University of Toledo collaborating with the U.S. Geological Survey sampled the Maumee River in Toledo, Ohio, for early life stages of grass carp. During processing of samples in January 2019, six larval grass carp were identified. A genetic analysis conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey recently confirmed that these newly hatched fish are grass carp.
Read more about the newly hatched grass carp in the Maumee River »
Juvenile black carp. Photo courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Juvenile black carp discovered in Western Kentucky
Discovery provides evidence this invasive species is reproducing in the state
January 11, 2019
A juvenile black carp has been discovered in Ballard County, according to the Fisheries Division of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The fish, a member of the invasive Asian carp species, came from Gar Creek near the Ohio River.
Read more about the juvenile black carp disvocered in Kentucky »
Grass carp from a seller for testing. The carp are usually packaged by dealers in this way and then placed into boxes for safe transport and transfer into ponds. Photo courtesy of Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Ohio tests more than 1,000 grass carp from state dealers
October 30, 2018
In an effort to ensure only sterile grass carp are available for purchase by the public in Ohio, the ODNR Division of Wildlife purchased and tested 1,200 grass carp from 16 different dealers over a two-year period.
Current view of the towpath along the Ohio-Erie Canal, Akron, Ohio. Photo courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awards contract to reduce probability of aquatic nuisance species movement
October 3, 2018
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded a $1.9 million contract to SAF, Inc. of Akron, Ohio for the construction of several structural measures to reduce the probability of aquatic nuisance species, including Asian carp, from moving into the Great Lakes at Ohio-Erie Canal located in Summit County, Ohio.
Crews of fisheries biologists sampling for grass carp on the Sandusky River. Photo courtesy of Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Collaborative effort to sample for grass carp in the Sandusky and Maumee Rivers
August 17, 2018
Fisheries biologists from multiple agencies conducted a project on the Sandusky and Maumee rivers to assess their ability to capture grass carp.
Cover of the Asian Carp Business Process Analysis and Action Plan. Courtesy of Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Illinois shares Business Process Analysis and Action Plan
July 16, 2018
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources shares its Business Process Analysis and Action Plan as a guide to bolster current removal activities and further reduce the spread of Asian carp in the Illinois Waterway.
Bowfishing tournament poster. Illustration courtesy of Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
Kentucky hosts tournament for bow anglers to combat invasive carps
June 19, 2018
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency are partnering with the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Kentucky State Parks and the Bowfishing Association of America to host a fishing tournament for bow anglers. The tournament is set for the night of June 23-24.
The cover of the 2018 Asian Carp Action Plan.
Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee releases 2018 Asian Carp Action Plan
May 21, 2018
The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) announced today the release of its 2018 Asian Carp Action Plan. Developed annually since 2010, the action plan is designed to prevent the spread of invasive Asian carp in the Great Lakes. The action plan incorporates advances in the most current science making it a continually evolving foundation for the work of the ACRCC partnership.
Bighead carp. Photo courtesy of Minnesota DNR.
Tagged bighead carp leads DNR to 2 others in St. Croix River
May 17, 2018
On May 11, 2018, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources captured two bighead carp during a search on the St. Croix River to recapture a tagged bighead carp they have been tracking as part of an invasive carp pilot project.
Cover of the 2017 Preliminary Barge Study Results White Paper.
2017 Preliminary Barge Study results
April 3, 2018
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers undertook large-scale field studies in 2017 to examine two potential techniques for mitigating the risk of commercial barge tow-mediated fish passage at the Electric Dispersal Barrier System in Romeoville, IL; and to assess the potential inadvertent entrainment (trapping) and transport of Silver Carp by commercial barges transiting navigation pools currently populated by Asian carp in the Illinois Waterway.
Bighead carp captured by commercial anglers in Barkley Lake, Kentucky. Photo courtesy of Paul Rister/Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
Kentucky to deploy wall of sound to battle invasive fish
March 19, 2018
Researchers will experiment with a riverbed bubbler and sound system as part of the ongoing effort to slow the spread of Asian carp throughout the Mississippi River basin. European technology originally designed to steer migrating salmon back into main river channels will be tested below Barkley Dam in western Kentucky as an environmentally friendly way to block passage of Asian carp upstream.
Black carp. Photo courtesy of Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
Black carp found in Lake Barkley, Kentucky
December 14, 2017
On November 29, 2017 the Critical Species Investigations branch of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Fisheries Division captured the first ever documented black carp in Lake Barkley.Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources staff were working with a commercial fisherman targeting silver carp in Lake Barkley with gill nets when they captured the black carp.
Grass carp sampling in Sandusky River the week of August 28, 2017. Photo courtesy of Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Collaborative Effort Held to Sample for Grass Carp in the Sandusky River
August 31, 2017
Fisheries biologists from multiple agencies recently conducted a project on the Sandusky River to assess the ability to capture grass carp, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
The silver carp captured in the Illinois Waterway below T.J. O'Brien Lock and Dam on June 22, 2017. Photo courtesy of Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Autopsy Complete of Silver Carp Captured 9 Miles from Lake Michigan
August 18, 2017
An autopsy of the silver carp found this past June, 9 miles from Lake Michigan in the Little Calumet River of the Chicago Area Waterway System, finds that the fish originated in the Illinois/Middle Mississippi watershed.
Aerial view of Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Joliet Illinois. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.
Corps Releases Draft Report Related to Preventing Spread of Asian Carp into the Great Lakes
August 10, 2017
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has released The Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study – Brandon Road Draft Integrated Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Statement – Will County, Illinois (GLMRIS-Brandon Road Report) for public review and comment.
Minnesota DNR specialists implant a tag in a bighead carp. Photo courtesy of MN DNR.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Tagging Invasive Carp for First Time
August 3, 2017
Minnesota Legislature granted the state's Department of Natural Resources the authority to use tagging as a research tool. For the first time in Minnesota, the DNR is using a tagged bighead carp to learn more about invasive carps.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service field team deployed to the response. Photo courtesy of IL DNR.
No Silver or Bighead Carps Found as Sampling Concludes in Illinois Waterway
July 10, 2017
No silver or bighead Asian carp have been seen or caught since the capture of an adult male silver carp 9 miles from Lake Michigan on June 22 by contracted commercial fisher below the T.J. O’Brien Lock and Dam.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Magna Carpa deployed to Calumet Harbor on June 27, 2017. Photo courtesy of IL DNR.
No Silver or Bighead Carps Found as Sampling Continues in Illinois Waterway
June 29, 2017
No silver or bighead Asian carp have been seen or caught since the capture of an adult male silver carp 9 miles from Lake Michigan on June 22 by contracted commercial fisher below the T.J. O’Brien Lock and Dam.
Silver carp captured in the Illinois Waterway on June 22, 2017 below T.J. O'Brien Lock and Dam. Image courtesy of Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Silver Carp Captured Nine Miles from Lake Michigan
June 23, 2017
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) announce the preliminary finding of 1 silver carp in the Illinois Waterway below T.J. O’Brien Lock and Dam, approximately nine miles away from Lake Michigan.
Black carp found at river mile 137 of Illinois River in April of 2017. Photo courtesy of Aaron Roberts.
Black Carp Bounty Leads to Discovery in Illinois River
May 23, 2017
(updated)
A black carp captured this April in the Illinois River by a commercial fisher highlights a unique partnership between fishers, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and Southern Illinois University.
Silver carp captured on the St. Croix River by a commercial angler. Image courtesy of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Minnesota Discovers Silver Carp in St. Croix River
March 16, 2017
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the first capture of a silver carp on the St. Croix River. The invasive carp was caught by a commercial angler near Prescott, Wis., during proactive monitoring in partnership with the DNR.
Grass carp. Photo by USFWS.
Ecological Risk Assessment of Grass Carp for the Great Lakes Basin
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans-Canada (DFO), along with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, released an ecological risk assessment of grass carp at the end of January 2017.
Cover of the 2017 Asian Carp Action Plan
Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee Releases 2017 Asian Carp Action Plan
The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee’s (ACRCC) announced the release of its Fiscal Year 2017 Action Plan today. The Action Plan document details 60 high-priority strategic measures designed to prevent the spread of four species of invasive Asian carp in the Great Lakes.
Barge. Photo by USFWS.
2016 Preliminary Barge Results
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a preliminary report of a study documenting how barge traffic impacts fish movement within the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Electric Dispersal Barrier System.
Crucian carp. Photo courtesy of Mary Shattock/Creative Commons
Service Acts to Prevent Harm to Native Wildlife from 11 Nonnative Species
September 29, 2016
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today took action to help ensure 10 nonnative freshwater fish species and one nonnative freshwater crayfish species do not become established in the United States and damage native wildlife and habitats.
Science and Technology Help Managers Battle Invading Asian Carp
Learn About USGS Role in Asian Carp Fight
A new USGS fact sheet describes USGS science and technology that is helping managers reduce existing Asian carp populations and control their spread in the nation’s waterways.
Harvesting Asian carp using the Unified Method. Photo by ILDNR.
Illinois DNR Releases Video on Unified Method
August 23, 2016
Multiple government agencies worked together with contracted commercial fishers to remove 96,000 pounds of Asian carp in just two weeks using a method that moves fish from one end of a lake to another so they can be harvested at once.
Water Resources Reform and Development Act Report.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Releases Second Annual Water Resources Reform and Development Act Report to Congress
June 22, 2016
Today the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released to the public the second annual report to Congress on activities and expenditures to manage the threat of Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins.
Monitoring and Response Plan and Contingency Plan.
Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee Releases 2016 Asian Carp Monitoring and Response Plan, Including Contingency Plan
May 24, 2016
The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) today released its first Contingency Plan which outlines member agencies’ preparedness to defend the Great Lakes from Asian carp in the Illinois River system.
Eagle Marsh berm. Photo by Katie Steiger-Meister/USFWS.
Completed Eagle Marsh berm blocks Asian carp pathway to Great Lakes
May 11, 2016
Asian carp have one less pathway to the Great Lakes, thanks to the completion of a project announced today by the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC).
Asian Carp courtesy of Kate Gardiner/Creative Commons.
2016 Asian Carp Action Plan Released
May 11, 2016
The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) today announced the release of the 2016 Asian Carp Control Action Plan. Formerly called the Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework, the document outlines the strategic and coordinated actions federal, provincial, state and local partners are taking to prevent the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes.
Juvenile black carp. Photo by Missouri Department of Conservation.
Evidence of Black Carp Natural Reproduction Found in Mississippi River
February 25, 2016
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Researchers with the Missouri Department of Conservation report the first documented evidence of invasive black carp reproduction in the wild in North America.
Hours old larvae in 2007 from Illinois River near Havana, Illinois. Photo by Kevin Irons/IDNR.
Asian Carp eggs and larvae identified in the Upper Illinois Waterway during 2015
On June 18, 2015, three Silver Carp larvae were collected, approximately a mile-and-a-half upstream of the I-55 Bridge (Channahon, Illinois), in the Dresden Island Pool of the Des Plaines River (River Mile (RM) 279.3). Asian carp eggs were also identified from samples collected from Marseilles and Starved Rock pools of the Illinois River, as well as from downstream pools.
A depiction of a simplified Lake Erie food web showing the potential impacts of Asian carp. Graphic provided by NOAA GLERL.
Study: Asian carp could cause some Lake Erie fish to decline, others to increase
ANN ARBOR—If they successfully invade Lake Erie, Asian carp could eventually account for about a third of the total weight of fish in the lake and could cause declines in most fish species—including prized sport and commercial fish such as walleye, according to a new computer modeling study.
Map depicting the location of carp in the Illinois Waterway. Map courtesy of USFWS.
UPDATE: Small Asian Carp Found in Marseilles Pool of Illinois River
October 30, 2015
On October 22, 2015, as part of an on-going comprehensive monitoring plan for assessing location and populations of Asian carp in the Illinois Waterway, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) sampling crews detected two small silver carp in the Marseilles Pool of the Illinois River.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service crew electrofishing. Photo by Gary Chancey/USFWS.
USFWS Shares Results of Studies on Small Fish Movement and Barge Traffic
October 15, 2015
This past year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted studies to test whether small fish could become trapped in the underwater spaces between commercial barges and inadvertently transported over various distances and across electrical barriers.
Silver carp. Photo courtesy of USGS.
Invasive Silver Carp Respond Strongly to Sound
September 28, 2015
Silver carp, a species of invasive Asian carp, demonstrated a strong aversion to certain noises during a recent study on the potential use of sound for silver carp control.
Small Asian carp found in the Starved Rock pool of the Illinois Waterway by Sheehan Island. Photo by USFWS.
Six-inch silver carp found in Starved Rock Pool, Illinois River
September 11, 2015
As part of a comprehensive monitoring plan for assessing location and populations of Asian carp on the Illinois Waterway, crews have detected silver carp less than 6-inches in length in the Starved Rock Pool of the Illinois River, just a few miles downstream from Marseilles Lock and Dam near Ottawa, Illinois.
Commercial fishermen stand onshore near netted Asian carp. Photo by Michigan DNR.
Response exercise provides DNR staff with more training on Asian carp removal
August 10, 2015
The Department of Natural Resources sent several Fisheries Division staff last week to Illinois to assist their DNR with an on-going Asian carp removal project.
Cover of the 2015 Framework overlaying juvenile Asian carp. Photo provided by USFWS.
Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee Releases 2015 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework
June 30, 2015
The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee today announced the release of the 2015 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework. The Framework outlines the steps federal, state, and provincial partners will take in the fight again Asian carp.
An electrofishing boat looking for Asian carp. Photo courtesy of Michigan DNR.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Helps State Partners Take a Stand against Asian Carp
June 30, 2015
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Region is pleased to announce $800,000 in funding to assist state partners in the Upper Mississippi River and Ohio River basins in their Asian carp prevention and control efforts.
A young silver carp captured near Peru, IL. Photo by USFWS.
Updated Map on Location of Bighead and Silver Carps in the Illinois Waterway
Updated map for the April sampling results in the Illinois Waterway.
National Grass Carp Report. Photo courtesy of USFWS.
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Funds National Grass Carp Report
February 25, 2015
In an effort to prevent the illegal or unintentional release of grass carps into the Great Lakes, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requested the Mississippi Interstate Cooperative Resource Association to examine commercial grass carp production in the United States.
Cover of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act Report.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Releases First Annual Water Resources Reform and Development Act Report to Congress
February 4, 2015
Today the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released to Congress the first annual report of summary activities and expenditures to manage the threat of Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins.
Ventral view of Asian carp. Photo by ACRCC.
100,000 Pounds of Asian Carp - Illinois DNR Works to Prevent Asian Carp From Approaching the Chicago Area Waterway
The Illinois DNR continues to work with contracted commercial fishers to prevent Asian carp from approaching the Chicago Area Waterway System and electric barrier system in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal at Romeoville.
Watergun platforms and hydroacoustics boat. Photo provided by USGS.
New USGS Videos on Asian Carp Control Tools
See how scientists from the USGS, Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Southern Illinois University combined multiple Asian carp control technologies during field tests in a backwater of the Illinois River.
A view of a taxidermy Asian carp displyed inside the new lab. Photo by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Harper Government opens Asian Carp Science Lab
Today, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Regional Minister for Southwestern Ontario, joined by Member of Parliament for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound Larry Miller, announced the opening of a new Asian carp science lab in Burlington, Ontario.
2014 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework. Photo by ACRCC.
Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee Releases 2014 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework
June 24, 2014
WASHINGTON – The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) today announced a coordinated strategy to protect the Great Lakes from silver and bighead carp, building on previous Obama Administration efforts to prevent self-sustaining populations from becoming established in the Great Lakes.
Covers of the 2014 Monitoring and Response Plan and Summary of Great Lakes eDNA Monitoring Program. Photo by ACRCC.
2014 Monitoring Plans Released
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) today announced the release of an updated Monitoring and Response Plan (MRP) intended to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp. For the first time the MRP is being released concurrently with a summary of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Great Lakes eDNA Monitoring Program.
A map demonstrating where physical separation is supported based on public comments. Image courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Summary of Public Comments on GLMRIS Released
CHICAGO - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers posted a summary May 5, 2014, of comments submitted and recorded for administrative record during the public comment period for the Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) Report.
GLMRIS panel at a public meeting. Photo courtesy of USACE.
GLMRIS Newsletter Available
Volume 4, Issue 1 of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study Newsletter is now available. In this issue, find out what the GLMRIS Team has been up to since the release of the report; what mitigation is and why it is important, and how it was incorporated into the report.
A man powerwashes of his boat to prevent spread of invasives. Photo provided by Quebec Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks.
Video: 5 Steps to Protect Your Lake from Exotic Species
April 7, 2014
Please enjoy a new video from Quebec's Ministry of Sustainable development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks that demonstrates five easy and effective steps to clean up fishing boats and recreational crafts to prevent the introduction and spread of exotic invasive species.
Fish sampling and Asian carp monitoring. Photo by ACRCC.
Québec Joins Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee
March 10, 2014
The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) announced today that the Government of Québec has joined the effort to ensure comprehensive action to protect the Great Lakes from invasive Asian carp.
Rotenone/dye tracking boat on the water. Photo provided by USGS.
Report Released Documenting the 2009 and 2010 Large-Scale Rotenone Applications in the Chicago Area Waterway System
Two large-scale and complex applications of rotenone in the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) in 2009 and 2010 to combat invasive Asian carp are documented in this report.
GLMRIS graphic logo. Provided by USACE.
Report submitted to Congress with alternatives to prevent Asian carp and other species’ transfer between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins
January 6, 2014
CHICAGO - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers submitted to Congress the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) Report on Jan. 6, 2014.
Presentation to update partners on GLMRIS activities. Photo by USACE.
USACE releases GLMRIS newsletter
While many exciting releases and engagements have taken place since our last newsletter in July, the majority of the team’s time has been tremendously focused on the drafting, compilation and quality assurance review of the GLMRIS Report, which will be made public in January.
Assorted bait fish and juvenile Asian carp. Photo courtesy of MI DNR.
Are you using Asian carp as bait? Michigan's new video helps you find out
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has developed a video to assist anglers and the general public in identifying juvenile Asian carp.
University of Illinois researchers Tatiana Garcia, a graduate student and civil and environmental engineering professor Marcelo Garcia. Photo by L. Brian Stauffer, University of Illinois News Bureau.
New tool helps in understanding how Asian carp eggs spread
To combat the threat of invasive Asian carp in the Great Lakes, the University of Illinois, in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey, has developed a tributary assessment tool to help predict which Great Lakes tributaries might be vulnerable to Asian carp spawning and could support egg transport and development.
eDNA testing. Photo courtesy of USFWS.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service New Leader in eDNA Science for the Early Detection of Asian Carp
August 14, 2013
The Midwest Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced this week that it has assumed environmental DNA (eDNA) sample processing responsibilities for the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) for the early detection of Asian carp.
Eagle Marsh Pathway. Photo provided by USACE.
Corps of Engineers releases updated report on prevention controls at Eagle Marsh for aquatic nuisance species transfer
August 14, 2013
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released the updated Eagle Marsh Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Controls Report, which identifies options and technologies to prevent the transfer via water of Asian carp and other ANS between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins at Eagle Marsh wetlands preserve, located in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Bighead Carp. Photo courtesy of NYSDEC.
New York Announces Changes to Bighead Carp Regulations to Protect Great Lakes
August 9, 2013
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that changes pertaining to the regulations governing the import, transport, possession and sale of bighead carp are now in effect.
Electric barrier construction work. Photo by USACE.
Corps awards contract for work on new electric barrier
CHICAGO - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Chicago District awarded a contract in the amount of $2.8 million July 31, 2013, to E.P. Doyle & Son LLC for construction of water structures as part of a new electric barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) in Romeoville, Ill.
2013 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework. Photo courtesy of ACRCC.
Obama Administration Releases 2013 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework
WASHINGTON – The Obama Administration today announced a series of new measures to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp, building on the comprehensive plan the Administration created in 2010 to prevent this invasive species from developing self-sustaining populations in the Great Lakes.
GLMRIS graphic logo. Provided by USACE.
New GLMRIS Newsletter Available
Volume 3, Issue 2 of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study Newsletter is now available. In this issue: the GLMRIS Report and Agency Technical Reviews, updated pathway reports on areas outside of the Chicago Area Waterway System (Focus Area 2) posted, the 2013 Asian carp monitoring plan and distribution maps and more!
Collecting data on Milwaukee River. Photo by USGS.
Investigation of Great Lakes Tributaries for Asian Carp Spawning and Egg-Transport Suitability
Two Lake Michigan tributaries (the Milwaukee and St. Joseph Rivers) and two Lake Erie tributaries (the Maumee and Sandusky Rivers) were investigated to determine if they possess the hydraulic (water velocity and turbulence) and water-quality characteristics to allow successful spawning of Asian carps.
Cover of the 2013 Monitoring and Response Plan. Photo by ACRCC.
Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee Announces 2013 Asian Carp Monitoring and Response Plan for Illinois Waters
May 9, 2013
CHICAGO - The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) today released its 2013 Asian Carp Monitoring and Response Plan (MRP). Outlining a revised and aggressive set of actions to track and remove Asian carp in the Upper Illinois River and the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS), the 2013 MRP is again designed to prevent Asian carp from establishing populations in the CAWS and Lake Michigan.
Distribution map of both bighead and silver carp in the Mississippi River, Ohio River, and Great Lakes in North America. Photo by ACRCC.
Members of Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee release Asian carp in North America distribution maps
April 26, 2013
CHICAGO - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) today released "Asian Carp Distribution in North America," which displays current data on the presence of bighead carp and silver carp at all life stages, as well as black carp and grass carp occurrences, in the Mississippi River, Ohio River and Great Lakes.
Coast Guard, EPA investigate potential for Asian carp to enter Great Lakes in barges
February 28, 2013
CLEVELAND — A study conducted by the Coast Guard Research and Development Center in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released Thursday concluded that barge ballast tanks present a minimal risk for incidental transport and introduction of Asian carp into the waters of the Great Lakes.
Ribbon Cutting at the Opening of the Whitney Genetics Laboratory. Photo by USFWS.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Opens New Whitney Genetics Lab
ONALASKA, WI– The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's La Crosse Resources Center held a dedication ceremony event in Onalaska, WI on Friday, April 5, 2013, to celebrate the newly constructed Whitney Genetics Laboratory and renovated Fisheries Resources Center.
GLMRIS graphic logo. Photo provided by USACE.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers release GLMRIS newsletter
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers releases its Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin (GLMRIS) Study Newsletter to help keep the public up-to-date on the progress of GLMRIS activities.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fisheries biologist collects water samples for eDNA analysis. USFWS photo.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service releases video on the science of eDNA in the fight against Asian carp
In the fight against Asian carp and other aquatic nuisance species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other project partners have turned to environmental DNA as a new fisheries tool.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers fish biologist, Kelly Baerwaldt (left) accepts the Junior Scientist of the Year Award from Quad City Engineering and Science Council. QCESC photo.
Quad City Engineering and Science Council Recognizes Kelly Baerwaldt
At its 51st Annual National Engineers Week Banquet held on February 20th, the Quad City Engineering and Science Council (QCESC) recognized Kelly Baerwaldt with its 2013 Junior Scientist of the Year Award.
Map demonstrating potential aquatic pathways. Photo courtesy of USACE.
GLMRIS team releases Ohio and New York ANS reports for public comment
February 22, 2013
The U.S Army Corps of Engineers is accepting comments for Ohio and New York Aquatic Nuisance Species Pathway Reports.
Silver Carp on a Barge. Photo by USACE.
Federal agencies release Asian carp environmental DNA study findings
February 20, 2013
CHICAGO - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey today released an interim report for the Asian Carp Environmental DNA Calibration Study (ECALS), which is a three-year study funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
Bighead carp in the invasive species exhibit at the Shedd Aquarium. Photo provided by Shedd Aquarium.
Shedd Adds Three Asian Carp Found in Chicago's Humboldt Park Lagoon to Invasive Species Exhibit
December 20, 2012
CHICAGO – Shedd Aquarium announced the addition of three large Asian carp – specifically bighead carp – to its Invasive Species exhibit, after they were discovered on Oct. 9 during strategic surveillance by Illinois Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologists at an inland lagoon at Chicago’s Humboldt Park.
Map demonstrating potential aquatic pathways. Photo courtesy of USACE.
U.S Army Corps of Engineers accepting comments for Wisconsin Aquatic Nuisance Species Pathway Reports
November 27, 2012
CHICAGO -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) today, Nov. 27, released for public comment eight draft Aquatic Pathway Assessment Reports for the State of Wisconsin.
Eagle Marsh Pathway. Photo by USACE.
USACE Releases Eagle Marsh Report
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has released the Eagle Marsh Aquatic Nuisance Species Controls Report for public review and comment. Eagle Marsh, which is located in Fort Wayne, Ind., has been identified as a potential pathway where ANS may spread between the Mississippi River and Great Lakes basins.
Eagle Marsh Pathway. Photo by USACE.
USACE accepting comments for Indiana Aquatic Nuisance Species Pathway Reports
November 9, 2012
CHICAGO -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) today, Nov. 9, released for public comment three draft Aquatic Pathway Assessment Reports for the State of Indiana: Eagle Marsh, Loomis Lake and Parker-Cobb Ditch.
Rapid Response. Photo by IL DNR.
Next Rapid Response in Lake Calumet Announced
The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) will conduct a Level 1 response in Lake Calumet on October 30-31, 2012.
Fish sampling gear, nets. Photo by ACRCC.
ACRCC to Intensify Monitoring on the Chicago Area Waterway System in Response to eDNA Results
October 9, 2012
CHICAGO- The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) today announced intensive monitoring action will begin in the North Shore Channel of the Chicago River on Tuesday, October 16th, after three consecutive rounds of Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling yielded positive results for Asian carp DNA in the North Shore Channel.
GLMRIS exhibit displays. Photo courtesy of USACE.
Corps of Engineers releases interim aquatic nuisance species report to Congress
CHICAGO - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) today released the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) 90-Day Interim Report, transmitted by the Secretary of the Army, Civil Works, to Congress, Oct. 4.
Map demonstrating potential aquatic pathways. Photo courtesy of USACE.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers accepting comments for Minnesota Aquatic Nuisance Species Pathway Reports
Sept. 25, 2012
CHICAGO - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) today released for public comment two draft Aquatic Pathway Assessment Reports for Swan River and Libby Branch of Swan River in Minnesota that evaluate key evidence to estimate the likelihood of an aquatic pathway forming and the possibility of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) using it to reach the adjacent basin.
A cooler filled with eDNA water samples. Photo by USFWS.
Water samples detect Asian carp eDNA in Lake Erie’s Maumee Bay
September 25, 2012
Asian carp environmental DNA (eDNA) has been detected in three of 350 water samples collected from western Lake Erie’s Maumee Bay and Maumee River between July 31 and August 4.
GLMRIS graphic logo. Provided by USACE.
Army Corps releases Focus Area 2 Aquatic Pathways Summary Report, solicits public comment
CHICAGO - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) today released for public comment the Focus Area 2 Aquatic Pathways Assessment Summary Report. This report presents the methodology and key evidence used to assess the potential for transfer of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins through several aquatic pathways.
Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee Announces Availability of New Asian Carp Video Footage
September 5, 2012
ANN ARBOR, MI—The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) today released new Asian carp footage to the broadcast media and to the public. The footage, which is freely available online in both high-definition and streaming formats, for the first time provides extensive, professionally filmed video of Asian carp.
No Asian Carp eDNA Found in Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan Waters
August 30, 2012
MILWAUKEE - No environmental DNA evidence of Asian carp has been found in Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan tributaries or harbors, according to results received this week by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
USFWS biologists process eDNA water samples. Photo courtesy of USFWS.
Sample Results Found Asian Carp eDNA in Sandusky Bay
August 28, 2012
On July 30-31, Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers collected 150 water samples from the Sandusky Bay and Sandusky River. Analysis of these water samples indicated 20 samples out of 150 taken from throughout Sandusky Bay and Sandusky River have tested positive for the presence of silver carp environmental DNA (eDNA).
GLMRIS graphic logo. Provided by USACE.
USACE release GLMRIS newsletter
he U.S. Army Corps of Engineers releases its Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin (GLMRIS) Study Newsletter to help keep the public up-to-date on the progress of GLMRIS activities.
Western Lake Erie. Photo by USFWS.
No Asian Carp Found in Western Lake Erie
August 10, 2012
After a week of intensive electrofishing and gill netting activities in Sandusky Bay, Maumee Bay and their main tributaries, officials have found no bighead or silver Asian carps in western Lake Erie.
Canada Joins Obama Administration’s Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee
August 7, 2012
WASHINGTON – The Obama Administration announced today that Canada has joined the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC), the latest step in the Administration’s effort to ensure comprehensive action to protect the Great Lakes from invasive Asian carp.
Collecting eDNA water samples. Photo by USFWS.
Agencies Plan for Further Assessment of Two Asian Carp Species in Lake Erie
August 2, 2012
Laboratory results received earlier this month indicated the presence of Asian carp environmental DNA (eDNA) in 6 of the 417 water samples collected in August 2011. Four samples from Sandusky Bay, in Ohio waters, tested positive for bighead carp eDNA, while two samples from north Maumee Bay, in Michigan waters, were positive for silver carp eDNA.
Nets placed by crews throughout the Lake Calumet area. Photo by IL DNR.
No Asian Carp found in Lake Calumet after 3-day intensive search
July 16, 2012
The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee announced today that no Asian carp were found during a three-day intensive search for the invasive species in Lake Calumet within the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS).
Cooking carp at Taste of Chicago. Photo by USACE.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources Brings Asian Carp to the Taste of Chicago
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources teamed up with the John G. Shedd Aquarium, Feeding Illinois and Illinois American Water to build understanding of how a vibrant local market for Asian carp contributes to managing the population of this invasive species on the opening day of the Taste of Chicago.
A sampling net being deployed. Photo courtesy of USCG.
ACRCC to Begin Intensive Monitoring in Lake Calumet in Response to Environmental DNA Results
July 9, 2012
CHICAGO- The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee’s Monitoring and Rapid Response Work Group today announced intensive monitoring action will begin in Lake Calumet and surrounding areas on Tuesday, July 10th, after three consecutive rounds of Environmental DNA sampling yielded positive results for Asian carp DNA.
Commercial Fisheries Boat. Photo courtesy of USACE.
Army Corps releases GLMRIS report on fishing
July 5, 2012
CHICAGO - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released two reports today July 5, the “Treaty Rights and Subsistence Fishing in the U.S. Waters of the Great Lakes, Upper Mississippi River and Ohio River Basins” and “Pro-Fishing Tournaments in the Great Lakes, Upper Mississippi River and Ohio River Basins”.
Silver and Bighead Carp. ACRCC Photo.
Obama Administration Announces next Asian Carp Public Forum
The public is invited to the next Asian Carp Regional Coordination Committee public meeting on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at 2:00 PM CDT at Ralph Metcalfe Federal Building Room #325, 77 W. Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL. The White House Council on Environmental Quality Asian Carp Director John Goss will lead a public meeting of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee to discuss the proactive efforts of the Obama Administration and the Great Lakes states to prevent Asian carp from establishing a self-sustaining population in the Great Lakes.
Electric barrier maintenance. Photo by Illinois DNR.
ACRCC Monitoring and Rapid Response Update
June 29, 2012
This is the second set of 2012 environmental DNA samples that have been taken from Lake Calumet, part of the Chicago Area Waterway System. Both sample sets have returned positive hits for silver carp DNA. A third set of samples was also collected from Lake Calumet on June 25, 2012.
Netting carp on Lake Calumet. Photo by Illinois DNR.
ACRCC Monitoring and Rapid Response Update
June 12, 2012
The first round of environmental DNA sampling in 2012 was collected on May 22nd. Samples were collected from Lake Calumet and Little Calumet River. The monitoring results included 17 positives for silver carp (14 from Lake Calumet, 3 from Little Calumet River). Zero positives for bighead carp were found.
GLMRIS graphic logo. Provided by USACE.
U.S. Army Corps Engineers release Great Lake Mississippi River Interbasin Study Newsletter
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers releases its Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin (GLMRIS) Study Newsletter to help keep the public up-to-date on the progress of GLMRIS activities.
Bighead and Silver carp. Photo by USFWS.
Obama Administration to Present Asian Carp Control Options by 2013
May 8, 2012
As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to protecting the Great Lakes from Asian carp and other invasive species, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will provide Congress and the public the opportunity to identify a potential permanent Asian carp solution in 2013, much earlier than expected.
Commercial fisheries boat. Photo courtesy of USACE.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers releases report on valuation of commercial fisheries in U.S. waters of the Great Lakes
CHICAGO - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released May 1 the “Commercial Fisheries Baseline Economic Assessment - U.S. Waters of the Great Lakes, Upper Mississippi River, and Ohio River Basins”, an Interim Product of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study.
Light attenuating dyes. Photo by USACE.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers releases final Aquatic Nuisance Species Control Paper based on public input
CHICAGO - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released today April 18 the final Inventory of Available Controls for Aquatic Nuisance Species of Concern – Chicago Area Waterway System, an Interim Product of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study.
A tagged fish caught in a net during the Lake Calumet Rapid Response. Photo by IL DNR.
Southern Illinois University - Carbondale releases report on the use of fishing to control Asian carp populations
Bighead carp and silver carp invaded the Illinois River waterway over a decade ago. Populations of these fishes have grown dense in the lower and middle Illinois River and both species are approaching the Chicago Area Waterway System and the defensive electrical barrier.
Participants seated at the public meeting at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by USFWS.
Obama Administration to Host Public Meeting on Asian Carp in Bloomington, Minnesota
WASHINGTON, D.C. – White House Council on Environmental Quality Asian Carp Director John Goss led a public meeting of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee on Thursday, April 5, 2012, at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Bloomington, Minnesota, to discuss the proactive efforts of the Obama Administration and the Great Lakes states to prevent Asian carp from establishing a self-sustaining population in the Great Lakes.
Coast Guard Boats. Photo courtesy of USCG.
U.S. Coast Guard amends regulations on ballast water management
CLEVELAND — The U.S. Coast Guard announced Friday publication in the Federal Register of a final rule for standards for living organisms in ships' ballast water discharged into waters of the United States.
Filtering eDNA water samples. Photo courtesy of USACE.
Federal agencies release first interim report on Asian carp environmental DNA results
CHICAGO - Members of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee released March 15 the first interim report of the Asian Carp Environmental DNA Calibration Study.
Surgical implantation of an acoustic transmitter into a bighead carp. Photo courtesy of Purdue University.
Indiana Department of Natural Resources releases report on Asian carp movements in Wabash River Watershed
Over 180 aquatic non-indigenous species have been introduced into Great Lakes Basin waters to date, and new introductions are expected in the future. The so-called "Asian carps" are large threats to the Great Lakes given expected trajectories of nutrient flow disruption and food web alterations that will likely accompany their introduction to the Basin.
GLMRIS graphic logo. Provided by USACE.
USACE releases GLMRIS newsletter
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers releases its Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin (GLMRIS) Study Newsletter to help keep the public up-to-date on the progress of GLMRIS activities.
Cover of the 2012 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework. Provided by ACRCC.
Obama Administration Releases 2012 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework
February 23, 2012
WASHINGTON – The Obama Administration today announced a series of new measures to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp, building on the unprecedented proactive plan the Administration established in February 2010 to prevent this invasive species from developing self-sustaining populations in the Great Lakes.
Picture collage of speakers and participants at the public forum. Photo courtesy of USACE.
Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee participates in Asian Carp public forum, hosted by Congresswoman Kaptur
February 21, 2012
Alake Erie Asian Carp public forum, hosted by Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH) was held on Feb. 6, 2012, at the Bowling Green State University Firelands Campus in Huron, Ohio. Over 100 stakeholders, media representatives and members of non-governmental organizations, including the Izaak Walton League and Ohio Environmental Council, attended.
Electric barrier maintenance. Photo by Illinois DNR.
Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee Monitoring Workgroup Releases Environmental DNA Snapshot
The Monitoring and Rapid Response Workgroup conducted an environmental DNA or "eDNA" sampling event at the end of October 2011, called the "eDNA snapshot", to obtain a comprehensive system-wide view of Asian carp DNA distribution in the Chicago Area Waterway System.
USGS scientists conducting a fishery assessment on Lake Erie. Photo by USGS.
Invasive Carps Could Find a Home in Lake Erie
Lake Erie and its largest tributaries are suitable habitats for invasive Asian carps to reproduce and mature, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey study.
Participants listen to a speaker at public meeting. Photo by USFWS.
Obama Administration to Host Public Meeting on Asian Carp in Portage, Indiana
WASHINGTON, D.C. – White House Council on Environmental Quality Asian Carp Director John Goss will lead a public meeting of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee on Thursday, January 12, 2012, in Portage, Indiana, to discuss the proactive efforts of the Obama Administration and the Great Lakes states to prevent Asian carp from establishing a self-sustaining population in the Great Lakes.
Bighead carp. Photo courtesy of USFWS.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources releases report on bighead carp in urban fishing ponds
Adult bighead carp have periodically been reported, captured and removed from urban fishing ponds throughout Illinois since the late 1990s and have been noted as of late in fee fishing ponds (ponds where catchable size fish are stocked and usage fees are charged) in other Midwestern states.
Light attenuating dyes. Photo by USACE.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers accepting comments for Aquatic Nuisance Species Controls Paper, released today
December 21, 2011
CHICAGO - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today released for public comment the "Inventory of Available Controls for Aquatic Nuisance Species of Concern – Chicago Area Waterway System," an Interim Product of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study.
Barrier maintenance and fish suppression work. Photo by USACE.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers releases assessment of cargo traffic on Chicago Area Waterway System
December 7, 2011
CHICAGO - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released Dec. 7 the Baseline Assessment of Cargo Traffic on the Chicago Area Waterways System, an interim product of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study.
Barrier Control Buildings. Photo by USACE.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers resets operating parameters of electric barriers in the Chicago Area Waterway System
November 28, 2011
CHICAGO – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today they will return the operating parameters of the electric barrier to the higher operating parameters established in October 2011.
Target Hunger Nnow! -Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Marc Miller. Photo courtesy of Illinois DNR.
Target Hunger Now! marks largest humanitarian efforts undertaken by State of Illinois
TARGET HUNGER NOW! is one of the largest humanitarian efforts undertaken by the State of Illinois. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Feeding Illinois and our corporate partners are coordinating this innovative program to encourage hunters and anglers to donate deer and Asian carp for processing into healthy, ready-to-serve meals.
A silver carp in the gas bladder inflation stage, an early life stage. Photo provided by USGS.
U.S Geological Survey - New Carp Publication
August 24, 2011
Developmental Rate and Behavior of Early Life Stages of Bighead Carp and Silver Carp: This report provides new findings on how long it takes for bighead and silver carp eggs to develop after spawning and for the larval fish to get to the stage at which they can swim on their own.
Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee to Begin Intensive Monitoring in Lake Calument
July 29, 2011
CHICAGO- The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee today announced intensive monitoring action will begin in Lake Calumet and surrounding areas on Monday, August 1st, after three consecutive rounds of Environmental DNA sampling yielded positive results for Asian carp DNA.
Members from ACRCC partner organizations at the release of the Asian Carp Monitoring and Rapid Response Plan. Photo by ACRCC.
2011 Asian Carp Monitoring and Rapid Response Plan Released
CHICAGO- On May 23 the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee released its 2011 Asian Carp Monitoring and Rapid Response Plan, outlining an aggressive set of actions to track and remove Asian carp in the Upper Illinois River and the Chicago Area Waterway System to prevent this invasive species from establishing in the Great Lakes.
USFWS staff examining DIDSON data on a computer. Photo by USFWS.
Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee uses new Dual Frequency Identification SONAR technology to detect Asian carp
The Dual Frequency Identification SONAR, or DIDSON, is an acoustic camera that can be used in turbid water to observe fish behavior and location in real time with minimal disturbance.
Audience at the Chicago carp meeting on May 23, 2011. Photo by USFWS.
Obama Administration hosts Asian carp public meeting in Chicago
The White House Council on Environmental Quality Asian Carp Director John Goss led a public meeting of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee on Thursday, April 28, 2011, to discuss the proactive efforts of the Obama Administration and the Great Lakes states to prevent Asian carp from establishing a self-sustaining population in the Great Lakes.
Obama Administration to Host Public Meeting on Asian Carp in Port Clinton, Ohio
WASHINGTON, D.C. – White House Council on Environmental Quality Asian Carp Director John Goss will lead a public meeting of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee on Thursday, July 7, 2011, in Port Clinton, Ohio, to discuss the proactive efforts of the Obama Administration and the Great Lakes states to prevent Asian carp from establishing a self-sustaining population in the Great Lakes.
Obama Administration to Host Public Meeting on Asian Carp in Chicago, Illinois
WASHINGTON, D.C. – White House Council on Environmental Quality Asian Carp Director John Goss will lead a public meeting of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee on Thursday, April 28, 2011, in Chicago, Illinois, to discuss the proactive efforts of the Obama Administration and the Great Lakes states to prevent Asian carp from establishing a self-sustaining population in the Great Lakes.
Asian Carp Research and Technology Control Projects
The USGS, working with other Federal and state agencies through the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee, is undertaking partner-driven research to meet management needs for Asian carp control.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Activates New Fish Barrier (IIB)
On April 7, 2011, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers activated electric fish Barrier IIB on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Romeoville, Illinois.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Releases Operational Parameter Report
CINCINNATI, OH – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today released a research report on the operation of the electric dispersal barrier system in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.
Bighead Carp Added to Federal List of Injurious Wildlife
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will publish a final rule in the Federal Register on March 22, officially adding the bighead carp to the federal injurious wildlife list.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources Announces Results of Chicago Area Bait Shops Inspections for Asian Carp
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources today announced results of eDNA sampling at 52 bait shops in nine northeast Illinois counties – sampling that is part of the effort to stop the spread of Asian carp.
Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study is now accepting comments
The Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study is now accepting comments through March 31, 2011.
2011 Asian Carp Control Strategy Matrix
For easy reference, this Matrix is a summary of the projects identified in the 2011 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework.
2011 Asian Carp Control Strategy Matrix
INDIANA- The largest sampling to date of Indiana waterways for environmental DNA evidence of Asian carp yielded negative results on either side of Eagle Marsh near Fort Wayne, University of Notre Dame researchers have reported.
2011 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework Released
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee released the 2011 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework today.
Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study Public Participation Schedule
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in consultation with other federal agencies, Native American tribes, state agencies, local governments and non-governmental organizations, is conducting the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study.
Federal Judge Denies Preliminary Injunction in Asian Carp Litigation
ILLINOIS – Earlier this month Judge Robert M. Dow released his order denying the preliminary injunction sought by plaintiffs regarding Asian carp and the Chicago Area Waterway System.
Little Calumet River Rapid Response Fish Count Report Released
ILLINOIS – A rotenone rapid response, known as Operation Pelican, was completed on a 2.6-mile section of the Little Calumet River immediately downstream of the T. J. O’Brien Lock and Control Works during May 19-28, 2010.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Releases Interbasin Study Plans
Chicago – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today released two documents for public review, the program management plan for the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study, and the Other Pathways Preliminary Risk Characterization Report.
Members of Congress applaud completion of Des Plaines River Asian carp barrier
On October 31, members of the Asian Carp Regional Coordination Committee, Members of Congress, agency officials, and other stakeholders gathered to celebrate the completion of Asian carp barricades.
Michigan Releases Proposed Asian Carp Management Plan
Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment Fisheries Division Management Team released their report this month.
Great Lakes States Invited to Join Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee
John Goss, the Council on Environmental Quality’s Asian Carp Director, has invited all Great Lakes states to join the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee.
Carp Fence in Indiana Complete
October 20, 2010
Construction of the 1,177-foot main fence and a supplemental 494-foot debris catch fence began in early September and was completed on Tuesday.
No Asian carp in environmental DNA tests at Indiana ports
October 15, 2010
Researchers from the University of Notre Dame announced Thursday they found no evidence of Asian carp in their environmental DNA sampling of Indiana ports and harbors near Lake Michigan.
Illinois Waterway Barrier Defense Project Update
October 15, 2010
Asian Carp Harvest Summary for Starved Rock Lock and Dam to Lockport Lock and Dam.
Additional vessel traffic restrictions announced for the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal in October
To support the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ plan to conduct intensive fish sampling efforts in the Lockport Pool, the U.S. Coast Guard expects to impose periodic waterway restrictions on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.
Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee Briefs Great Lakes States Today in Washington, D.C.
Today members of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee are briefing Great Lakes states about their progress in stopping the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes.
Obama Administration Officials Meet with Great Lakes Governors
Officials Meet with Great Lakes Governors to discuss progress in implementing the Administration’s coordinated strategy for preventing invasive Asian carp from establishing populations in the Great Lakes.
Council on Environmental Quality Appoints John Goss as Asian Carp Director
September 8, 2010
Continuing the Obama Administration’s proactive response to the threat that Asian carp poses to the Great Lakes, the Council on Environmental Quality today announced the appointment of John Goss as the Asian Carp Director.
Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to close periodically Oct. 4-8 to facilitate U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' construction project
September 2, 2010
The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee announces periodic waterway closures on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal each day from October 4 through October 8.
Senator Durbin and Congresswoman Halvorson Tour Illinois River with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Illinois Department of Natural Resources to Learn about Asian Carp
August 10, 2010
On August 9, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service organized a site visit and boat tour of a section the Illinois River near Starved Rock State Park at the request of U.S. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson (D-IL-11).
Testing complete on Bighead Asian Carp Found in Lake Calumet
August 5, 2010
A six-year-old Bighead carp that was caught in the waters of Lake Calumet just outside Lake Michigan in late June may have lived nearly its entire life in waters of Great Lakes origin according to tests and analysis conducted by Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wabash Maumee Connection Site Visit Field Report
Potential of Asian Carp Migration from the Ohio River into the Lake Erie Basin within Ohio
July 21, 2010
Preventing Establishment of Asian Carp in the Great Lakes: The Wabash / Maumee River Connection
Indiana Department of Natural Resources to erect mesh barrier to block Asian carp
July 14, 2010
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources will take a lead role in implementing a short-term step to address the advance of Asian carp up the Wabash River system and their potential movement into the Maumee River, a tributary to Lake Erie.
Governor Quinn Announces New Initiative to Control Asian Carp Population
July 13, 2010
Governor Pat Quinn today announced a new initiative to stop the spread of invasive Asian carp species into the Great Lakes.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources Fish Report from Lake Calumet Rapid Response
Bighead carp found in the Chicago Area Waterway System. Photo courtesy of Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Bighead Asian Carp Found in Chicago Area Waterway System
The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee announced that one Bighead Asian carp has been found in Lake Calumet along the Chicago Area Waterway System.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers releases Interim Report III and IIIA
June 3, 2010
The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee announced today that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has conducted two studies focused on enhancing the efficacy of the electric barrier system and reducing the risk of Asian carp reaching the Great Lakes.
Fish Sampling Operation Complete on Little Calumet River: Safety zone rescinded; waterway reopened to commercial and recreational traffic
May 25, 2010
The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee wrapped up a successful sampling and data collection operation on the Little Calumet River in South Chicago.
Fish Sampling Effort Winds Down on Little Calumet River: No Bighead or Silver carp collected
May 24, 2010
The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee is nearing completion of a sampling and data collection operation on the Little Calumet River in South Chicago.
Asian Carp Sampling Effort Continues on Little Calumet River: No Bighead or Silver carp collected
May 23, 2010
The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee continued sampling efforts on the Little Calumet River in South Chicago.
Asian carp sampling effort officially underway on secton of the Litle Calumet River – Uplink Satellite coordinates included
May 20, 2010
A five‐mile section of the Little Calumet River in South Chicago is now closed to all traffic for a period of four to six days as sampling efforts for Asian carp get underway.
Attention! Communities Around Little Calumet River May 20-27
Attention! On Friday May 20th the application of the fish toxicant Rotenone will take place on the Little Calumet River, for a 2 mile stretch down stream of the T.J. O'Brien Lock and Dam.
Updated Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework
Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee Announces Three-Month Monitoring and Sampling Plan
May 5, 2010
The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee is announcing its latest monitoring and sampling plan to guide Asian carp control efforts in the Chicago Area Waterway System.
Addendum to Environmental Assessment
Addendum to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Environmental Assessment titled: Emergency Measures Associated with the Maintenance of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Fish Dispersal Barriers
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Finding of No Significant Impact
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Finding of No Significant Impact
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Announces Finding of No Significant Impact for Proposed Asian Carp Actions
May 5, 2010
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces a Finding of No Significant Impact for an Addendum to the Environmental Assessment for Asian carp control in the Chicago Area Waterway System.
Field Crews Announce February ‐ March Sampling Results in Chicago Area Waterway System
March 29, 2010
Field crews from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers intensively sampled throughout the entire Chicago Area Waterway System and no Asian carp were observed or collected.
Asian Carp Control Strategy Draft Framework Powerpoint
Public Meeting on Asian Carp control efforts February 17 in Ypsilanti, Michigan
February 8, 2010
The International Joint Commission, in cooperation with the participating agencies listed below, is hosting a public meeting in Ypsilanti, Michigan, on Feb. 17.
Federal Officials Unveil Aggressive Strategy to Reduce Threat of Asian Carp in the Great Lakes
February 8, 2010
Federal officials from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the Interior, and the U.S. Coast Guard today unveiled a strategy that outlines over 25 short and long-term actions and $78.5 million in investments to combat the spread of Asian carp.
Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework
Download the Asian Carp Briefing Package
Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee to hold February 12 public meeting in Chicago
February 3, 2010
Agencies accelerate action in response to new test results suggesting Asian carp presence in Calumet Harbor – U.S. Army Corps of Engineer
January 19, 2010
The multi-agency Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee has received information from the University of Notre Dame about one positive environmental DNA result for silver carp in Calumet Harbor approximately one-half mile north of the Calumet River and one more at a location in the Calumet River north of O'Brien Lock.
New environmental DNA results within the Chicago Waterway System (UNCLASSIFIED) – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
January 14, 2010
On January 7, 2010 the University of Notre Dame confirmed that a small number of water samples taken on the North Shore Channel near the Wilmette Pumping Station in late October 2009 have tested positive for the presence of Silver carp DNA.
U.S. Coast Guard amends regulations on ballast water management
The U.S. Coast Guard announced Friday publication in the Federal Register of a final rule for standards for living organisms in ships' ballast water discharged into waters of the United States.
Safety Zone, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Romeoville, Illinois. - Coast Guard
President Obama's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Funding to be Used for Immediate Asian Carp Control Measures - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
December 14, 2009
Great Lakes Inter-agency Task Force Chair and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced $13 million in federal funding to prevent Asian carp from migrating further toward the Great Lakes.
Asian Carp Rapid Response Workgroup finishes operation on Cal-Sag Channel – Illinois Department of Natural Resources
December 8, 2009
The Asian Carp Rapid Response Workgroup has completed fishing operations near the T.J. O'Brien Lock in an attempt to locate Asian carp after environmental DNA sampling in the area tested positive for the invasive species.
Asian Carp Rapid Response Workgroup wraps up main operation on Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal – Illinois Department of Natural Resources
December 6, 2009
The Asian Carp Rapid Response Workgroup is closing out main project operations on a 5.7-mile stretch of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal that began on December 2.
Asian Carp Rapid Response Update: Media access area cloased at 2:30 p.m. CST today - Illinois Department of Natural Resources
December 4, 2009
Asian Carp Found in Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal – Illinois Department of Natural Resources
December 3, 2009
The Asian Carp Rapid Response Workgroup announced that a bighead Asian carp was found in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal just above the Lockport Lock and Dam
MEDIA ADVISORY: Major Press Announcement on Rapid Response Efforts on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal – Illinois Department of Natural Resources
December 3, 2009
Asian Carp Rapid Response Project to begin on Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal – Illinois Department of Natural Resources
December 2, 2009
The Asian Carp Rapid Response team will begin its work this week on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to control the movement of Asian carp.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Finding of No Significant Impact
New environmental DNA Monitoring Results Spur Rapid Response Action – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
November 20, 2009
Water samples, taken from the area between the electric barriers and Lake Michigan on September 23 and October 1, tested positive for the presence of Asian carp.
Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to Close for Fish Barrier Maintenance – Illinios Department of Natural Resources
November 13, 2009
A section of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal is planned to be closed to all traffic, weather permitting, beginning December 2 for a period of four to five days.