2010 Asian Carp Sampling Summary
*Note that these data are field summaries that are provisional and subject to revision pending thorough review.
Week of November 22, 2010
Fixed Site Sampling Downstream of the Dispersal Barrier
Site A: Lockport Pool – Lockport Lock and Dam to Electric Barrier
Site B: Brandon Road Pool – Brandon Road Lock and Dam to Lockport Lock and Dam
Site C: Dresden Pool – I-55 Bridge to Brandon Road Lock and Dam
Site D: Marseilles Pool – Rt. 47 Bridge (Morris) to Dresden Lock and Dam
One IDNR electrofishing boat and crew completed four 15-minute runs at each Site B and one 15-minute run at Site C (total shock time = 1.25 hours) on November 22, 2010. Inclement weather prevented completion of sampling in the Dresden Pool. The crew sampled 906 fish from 29 species and 2 hybrid groups. No Asian carp were captured or seen. This is the final sampling effort for the year for the fixed sites downstream of the barrier. Sampling will resume next spring (March/April).
Week of October 18, 2010
Fixed Site Sampling Upstream of the Dispersal Barrier
Site 1: Lake Calumet
Site 2: Little Calumet River
Site 3: Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC), South Branch Chicago River
Site 4: North Branch Chicago River, North Shore Channel
Site 5: North Shore Channel
Two IDNR electrofishing boats and crews sampled the five fixed sites above the barrier from Tuesday, October 19 through Wednesday, October 20. Sample effort included a total of 41 electrofishing runs (15 minutes each; 10.25 hours total). A total of 3,213 fish from 38 species and 1 hybrid group were sampled during the effort. No Asian carp were captured or seen.
Lockport Pool Fish Sampling
Three IDNR boats and crews, two USFWS boats and crews, two USACE boats and crews, and one INHS boat and crew sampled with conventional gears in the Lockport Pool of the CSSC between the Electric Barrier near Romeoville and the Lockport Lock and Power Station from Tuesday-Thursday, October 19-21. Results will inform the level of fish suppression necessary during upcoming planned maintenance of Electric Barrier IIA. Sample gear and effort included 12 DC electrofishing runs (30 minutes each; 6.0 hours total), 9 experimental gill nets (2,250 feet x 2 nights = 4,500 feet total), 10 trammel nets (2,700 feet x 2 nights = 5,400 feet total), 10 minnow fyke nets (10 nets set for 2 nights; 20 net-nights total, 10 purse seine hauls (seine dimensions = 100 feet long x 15 feet deep), 9 midwater trawl tows (5 minutes each tow; 45 minutes total), and three hydroacoustic sonar runs (30 minutes each; 90 minutes total). A total of 4,019 fish from 27 species and 3 hybrid groups were sampled during the effort. Hydroacoustic data is still being analyzed. No Asian carp were captured or seen.
Telemetry Project
USACE successfully located 5 of 6 previously tagged surrogate species (i.e., common carp) in the Lockport Pool downstream of the Electric Barrier. The one fish that was not located may have been residing in an area not surveyed with the mobile tracking receiver. Stationary receivers indicate that this fish has not moved upstream of the Electric Barrier. An additional 23 common carp were tagged with ultrasonic transmitters and released in Lockport pool below the Barrier. This brings the total of tagged fish in this area to 29 fish (all common carp). Stationary and mobile tracking will monitor the movement of these fish to determine if they are able to challenge or penetrate the Barrier.
Week of October 11, 2010
Fixed Site Sampling Upstream of the Dispersal Barrier
No activity
DNA Monitoring
One IDNR boat and crew (with assistance from USACE) obtained 120 water samples from the Lockport Pool of the CSSC upstream (N = 60) and downstream (N = 60) of the Electric Barrier on Wednesday, October 13. Samples were filtered by USACE and sent to the ERDC laboratory in Vicksburg, MS for processing. This activity is in support of pre maintenance fish sampling designed to assess Asian carp abundance in the Lockport Pool downstream of the electric barriers near Romeoville.
Week of September 27, 2010
Fixed Site Sampling Upstream of the Dispersal Barrier
One USFWS boat and crew and one USACE boat and crew sampled the five fixed sites above the barrier from Monday, September 27 through Thursday, September 28. Sample effort included a total of 48 electrofishing runs (15 minutes each; 12.0 hours total). More than 2,439 fish from 24 species were sampled during the effort. No Asian carp were captured or seen.
Site 1: Lake Calumet
Site 2: Little Calumet River
Site 3: Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC), South Branch Chicago River
Site 4: North Branch Chicago River, North Shore Channel
Site 5: North Shore Channel
Barrier Defense Project
Two contract fishing/IDNR crew set four 100 yard trammel nets at the fixed sites in Lockport and Brandon Road pools on Monday, September 27. No Asian carp were captured or observed during this effort. Five contract fishing/IDNR crews set 11,200 yards of trammel and gill nets in the Marseilles Pool and removed 209 bighead carp (4,598 pounds) and 204 silver carp (3,672 pounds).
Week of September 13, 2010
Fixed Site Sampling Upstream of the Dispersal Barrier
Two commercial fishing/IDNR crews and two IDNR electrofishing boats and crews and sampled the five fixed sites above the barrier from Tuesday, September 14 through Thursday, September 16. Sample effort included total of 44 electrofishing runs (15 minutes each; 11.0 hours total) and 5,800 yards of trammel net. A total of 6,088 fish from 36 species and 2 hybrid groups were sampled during the effort. No Asian carp were captured or seen.
Site 1: Lake Calumet
Site 2: Little Calumet River
Site 3: Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC), South Branch Chicago River
Site 4: North Branch Chicago River, North Shore Channel
Site 5: North Shore Channel
Barrier Defense Project
Two commercial fishing/IDNR crews fished a total of 1,800 yards of net in the Dresden Pool on Wednesday, September 15 and captured no Asian carp. Four commercial fishing/IDNR crews fished more than 2,700 yards of net in the Marseilles Pool near Morris, Illinois from Wednesday, September 15 through Saturday September 18. Two electrofishing crews also shocked the area for over two hours. The combined catch for the week for the Marseilles Pool was 69 bighead carp weighing 1,380 pounds, 116 silver carp weighing 1,292 pounds, and 150 bighead and silver carp weighing 1,950 pounds. Catch rates in this area have declined substantially after a little more than a month of intense commercial fishing.