2011 Asian Carp Sampling Summary

*Note that these data are field summaries that are provisional and subject to revision pending thorough review.

Week of December 12, 2011

This will be the final weekly summary for the year. As such, additional information has been included to update stakeholders on recent activities for two projects not outlined in the December 12 weekly schedule. An annual summary report for all of the projects in the 2011 Monitoring Plan is currently in preparation and will be made available on the AsianCarp.us website early next year. We will start-up the weekly schedules and summaries again in March/April 2012.

Bottom Line: Monitoring took place this past week at and below the Dispersal Barrier (see schedule for the week of December 12). No BIGHEAD or SILVER carp were observed at the Barrier nor were any captured or observed in new locations downstream of the Barrier.

Exploratory Gear Development Project

The USFWS-Columbia reports having success capturing Asian carp with a modified Paupier net during recent trial runs in the Missouri River. The Paupier is a framed net used in the Gulf of Mexico inshore shrimp industry. Two large gates (wings) on either side of the vessel, support a net that is designed for maximum water flow and minimum water pressure build up (internal pressure wave). The prototype nets were designed in collaboration with a net builder from Louisiana and have an opening of 2 x 72 feet² and a length of 10 meters. They were made of 5.25-inch stretched mesh and capable of speeds of 10 knots with the 22-foot long river vessel and 150 horsepower outboard engine. Ease of set up and deployment may make these nets useful for spot sampling Asian carp in the first five feet of the water column in slack water or high flow river habitats. Additional modifications to net design are planned and future trials will take place in the Mississippi and Illinois rivers during the coming months. View the Paupier in action.

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 lakes and ponds in other Midwestern states. Recent sampling by IDNR in Chicago area fishing ponds with DC electrofishing gear and trammel/gill nets this past fall resulted in catches of 17 adult bighead carp (48-80 pounds) from Flatfoot Lake in Dolton, Illinois and three adult bighead carp (56-62 pounds) from Schiller Pond in Schiller Park, Illinois. Sampling in two additional ponds produced no catches or observation of bighead carp. Silver carp have not been captured or observed in any Illinois urban fishing ponds. A growing body of evidence suggests that bighead carp likely were introduced accidentally in contaminated shipments of channel catfish made during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Changes in State and Federal regulations banning the shipment of live bighead carp appear to have stopped this source of fish, as no sighting or captures of young bighead carp have been reported in recent years. A report summarizing IDNR's experience with this alternative Asian carp vector will soon be posted on the AsianCarp.us website. The report outlines a monitoring plan that IDNR has put into place for Illinois ponds and recommends that other states with urban fishing programs or fee fishing lakes consider this potential bighead carp introduction pathway.

Week of November 14, 2011

Bottom Line: Much sampling took place this past week. No BIGHEAD or SILVER carp were reported captured or observed upstream of the Dispersal Barrier nor were any found in new locations downstream of the Barrier.

Week of November 7, 2011

A corrected sampling scheduled for the week of November 7 is included below. Sorry for the inconvenience. We rescheduled electrofishing at sites downstream of the barrier to this week. Net sampling at these sites will take place next week.

Bottom Line: Sampling took place below the Dispersal Barrier this past week (see schedule for the week of November 7). No BIGHEAD or SILVER carp were reported captured or observed in new locations downstream of the Barrier.

Fixed Site Sampling Downstream of 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 Island Pool – I-55 Bridge to Brandon Road Lock and Dam
Site D: Marseilles Pool – Rt. 47 Bridge (Morris) to Dresden Lock and Dam

Monday, November 7

One IDNR electrofishing boat and crew will be electrofishing at Site C.

Tuesday, November 8

One IDNR electrofishing boat and crew will be electrofishing at Site D.

Wednesday, November 9

One USACE boat and crew will be electrofishing at Sites A and B.

Week of October 17, 2011

Bottom Line: Much sampling took place this past week (see schedule for the week of October 17). No BIGHEAD or SILVER carp were reported captured or observed upstream of the Dispersal Barrier nor were any found in new locations downstream of the Barrier.

It should be noted that on Thursday, October 20 a commercial net crew and IDNR biologist completing additional net samples below the barrier observed one adult bighead carp (35-40 lbs.) in the Brandon Road Pool about 200 yards downstream of the confluence of the Des Plaines River and CSSC. The fish was not captured during Thursday's netting effort (1500 yards of net set in Brandon Pool and 1600 yards set in Lockport Pool) nor during focused netting in Brandon Road Pool with two commercial boats on Friday (1550 yards set). Although bighead and silver carp have been observed in the Brandon Road Pool in the past, this observation represents the first sighting of Asian carp in the pool during the past 1.5 years of intensive sampling. Commercial net crews will again target the Brandon Road Pool during scheduled sampling the week of October 31.

Week of September 5, 2011

Much sampling took place this past week (see schedule for the week of September 5). No BIGHEAD or SILVER carp were reported captured or observed upstream of the Dispersal Barrier nor were any found in new locations downstream of the Barrier.

Week of August 29, 2011

Sampling for several projects took place this past week (see schedule for the week of August 29). No BIGHEAD or SILVER carp were reported captured or observed upstream of the Dispersal Barrier nor were any found in new locations downstream of the Barrier.

Week of August 15, 2011

No sampling with conventional gears took place in the CAWS this past week. However, sampling did occur lower Des Plaines and Illinois rivers.

No BIGHEAD or SILVER carp were reported captured or observed in new locations downstream of the Electric Barrier System.

Week of July 11, 2011

Bottom Line: Much work was again completed this week. No bighead or silver carp were captured or observed upstream of the Dispersal Barrier nor were any found in new locations downstream of the Barrier.

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

One USFWS-Carterville electrofishing boat and crew and two commercial fishing boats and crews with IDNR biologists sampled the five fixed sites above the Dispersal Barrier during July 11-14. Sample effort included a total of 48 electrofishing runs (15 minutes each; 12.0 hours total) and 17 trammel net sets (200-500 yards/set; 5,800 yards total). A combined total of 5,702 fish representing 41 species and 2 hybrid groups were sampled during the effort. No bighead or silver carp were captured or seen.

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 Island 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 and one USACE – Chicago District electrofishing boat and crew sampled the four fixed sites below the Dispersal Barrier During July 11-20 and two commercial fishing boats and crews with IDNR biologists sampled the same fixed sites with trammel nets on July 14. Sample effort included a total of 16 electrofishing runs (four 15-minute runs/site; 4.0 hours total) and 16 trammel/gill net sets (200-400 yards/set; 3,600 yards total). The combined catch among gears was 771 fish representing 42 species and 2 hybrid groups. No bighead or silver carp were collected or observed in the Lockport, Brandon Road, and Dresden Island pools. Five silver carp were captured by electrofishing were captured by electrofishing in the Marseilles Pool. Commercial fishers sampled five bighead and seven silver carp from the Marseilles Pool.

Additional Netting For Asian Carp Downstream of the Dispersal Barrier

Two commercial fishing boats and crews with IDNR biologists sampled with trammel nets downstream from Treats Island in Dresden Island Pool on July 15. Sample effort included six trammel/gill net sets (250-400 yards/set; 1,350 yards total) and the total catch was 27 fish representing 6 species. No Asian carp were captured during this sampling effort.

eDNA Monitoring Project

One USFWS-Columbia boat and crew obtained 100 water samples (plus six control samples) for eDNA analysis from Lake Calumet and the Calumet River/Little Calumet River on July 12. Samples were filtered at the USEPA lab in Chicago and forwarded to ERDC in Vicksburg, MS for analysis.

Barrier Defense Asian Carp Removal Project

Dresden Island Pool: 10-24 miles downstream from Dispersal Barrier

Marseilles Pool: 24-51 miles downstream from Dispersal Barrier

Starved Rock Pool: 51-65 miles downstream from Dispersal Barrier

Five commercial fishing boats and crews and five IDNR observers fished a combined 28,700 yards of net from Tuesday-Friday, July 12-15. Netting effort focused on the Marseilles Pool near Morris (21,600 yards of net), but also took place in Starved Rock Pool (7,100 yards of net). A total of 1,409 bighead carp and 584 silver carp were removed during the effort. The combined harvest for both species was 40,620 pounds and 73% of this total was taken from the Marseilles Pool. A 2011 cumulative removal summary for all locations combined is included below.

Larval Fish, zooplankton, and Productivity Monitoring

From July 11-15, two INHS boats and crews again sampled larval fish, zooplankton, and water quality from 21 locations on the Illinois River, lower Des Plaines River, and CAWS. This sampling effort included all of the 21 sites designated for larval fish/productivity sampling. Samples are currently being processed and results will be made available upon completion of sample processing.

Gear Evaluation Study

One INHS boat and crew sampled with multiple gears in the Dresden Island Pool near I-55 (approximate river mile = 278) and the Marseilles Pool near Morris (approximate river mile = 261) from July 11-15. A combined total of 1,717 fish from representing at least 41 species and 2 hybrid groups were sampled. Three bighead carp were sampled in Dresden Island Pool and 32 bighead carp and 12 bighead x silver carp hybrids were sampled from the Marseilles Pool. All captured Asian carp were adults.

Week of June 27, 2011

No bighead or silver carp were captured or observed above the Dispersal Barrier nor were any found in new locations downstream of the Barrier.

Reach Sampling Upstream of the Dispersal Barrier

Reach 1: CSSC to Stickney Water Reclamation Plant (WRP)

Reach 2: CSSC and Cal-Sag Channel junction to Calumet Harbor

Reach 3: CSSC from Stickney WRP to Chicago Lock

Reach 4: North Branch Chicago River to Wilmette Pumping Station

One INHS electrofishing boat and crew electrofished at Reach 4 (North Shore Channel and North Branch Chicago River) on June 28. Sample effort totaled 16 electrofishing runs (15 minutes each; 4.0 hours total). A combined total of 294 fish representing 12 species were sampled during the effort. No bighead or silver carp were captured or seen.

DIDSON Barrier Efficacy Project

USFWS (Carterville and La Crosse) with help from the USACE (Rock Island and Chicago Districts) performed wild fish DIDSON studies at the electric fish barriers from June 28 – July 1. Approximately 10.0 hours of DIDSON recordings were obtained in and around barriers 2A and 2B. Videos will be reviewed and analyzed and then discussed in a final report after project completion.

Barrier Defense Asian Carp Removal Project

Dresden Island Pool: 10-24 miles downstream from Dispersal Barrier

Marseilles Pool: 24-51 miles downstream from Dispersal Barrier

Starved Rock Pool: 51-65 miles downstream from Dispersal Barrier

One IDNR boat and crew assisted crews from SIUC in the marking phase of a mark-recapture study of Asian carp at the Hanson Material Services gravel pits near Morris. This is the site in the Marseilles Pool of the Illinois River that receives a large portion of the fishing effort for the Barrier Defense Removal Project. Crews marked over 500 Asian carp during the effort. The recapture sample will begin July 12, the next scheduled date for commercial harvest below the barrier.

Larval Fish, Zooplankton, and Productivity Monitoring

From June 27-July 3, one INHS boat and crew and one Western Illinois University (WIU) boat and crew sampled larval fish, zooplankton, and water quality from 21 locations on the Illinois River, lower Des Plaines River, and CAWS. This sampling effort included all of the 21 sites designated for larval fish/productivity sampling. Samples are currently being processed and results will be made available upon completion of sample processing.

Gear Evaluation Study

One INHS boat and crew sampled with multiple gears in the La Grange Pool of the Illinois River near Havana (river mile 116) from June 27-29. Twelve types of gear were evaluated at each location. A combined total of 3,004 fish representing 31 species and 1 hybrid group were sampled. The catch included 44 Asian carp. Of those, 7 were silver carp, 14 were bighead carp, 15 were obvious bighead x silver carp hybrids, and 8 were grass carp.

Upper Des Plaines River Monitoring Project

One boat and crew from USFWS-La Crosse with assistance from MWRD completed electrofishing and trammel/gill net sampling in the upper Des Plaines River at Lemont and Columbia Woods sites on June 28 and 29. Sampling at a third site near Riverside was postponed to a later date in July. Effort included 2.0 hours of DC electrofishing and 466 yards of net at Lemont and 2.25 hours of electrofishing and 666 yards of net at Columbia Woods. A combined total of 466 fish representing 26 species were sampled during the effort. No Asian carp were captured or seen.

Week of June 20, 2011

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 and two commercial fishing boats and crews with IDNR biologists sampled the five fixed sites upstream of the Dispersal Barrier from June 20-22. Sample effort included a total of 48 electrofishing runs (15 minutes each; 12.0 hours total) and 23 trammel/gill net sets (200-400 yards/set; 5,800 yards total). A combined total of 3,313 fish representing 41 species and 2 hybrid groups were sampled during the effort. No bighead or silver carp were captured or seen.

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 Island 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 and one USACE electrofishing boat and crew sampled the four fixed sites below the Dispersal Barrier on June 21-22 and two commercial fishing boats and crews with IDNR biologists sampled the same fixed sites with trammel nets on June 23. Sample effort included a total of 16 electrofishing runs (four 15-minute runs/site; 4.0 hours total) and 14 trammel net sets (200-400 yards/set; 2,300 yards total). The combined catch among gears was 688 fish representing 39 species and 1 hybrid groups. No bighead or silver carp were collected or observed in the Lockport and Brandon Road pools. Two bighead carp were taken with gill nets in the Dresden Island Pool about 18 miles downstream of the Dispersal Barrier. One bighead carp and 22 silver carp were captured by electrofishing and 5 bigheads and 9 silvers were taken with trammel and gill nets further downstream in the Marseilles Pool.

Additional Netting For Asian Carp Downstream of the Dispersal Barrier

Two commercial fishing boats and crews with IDNR biologists sampled with trammel and gill nets in Dresden Island Pool from Treats Island downstream to the Kankakee River on June 24. Sample effort included nine net sets (200-400 yards/set; 2,000 yards total) and the total catch was 59 fish representing five species. No Asian carp were captured or observed during this sampling effort.

eDNA Monitoring Project

One USFWS-La Crosse boat and crew obtained 114 water samples (plus six control samples) for eDNA analysis from the Chicago River and South Branch Chicago River (Chicago Lock to Bubbly Creek) on June 23. Samples were filtered at the USEPA lab in Chicago and forwarded to ERDC in Vicksburg, MS for analysis.

Barrier Defense Asian Carp Removal Project

Dresden Island Pool: 10-24 miles downstream from Dispersal Barrier

Marseilles Pool: 24-51 miles downstream from Dispersal Barrier

Starved Rock Pool: 51-65 miles downstream from Dispersal Barrier

Five commercial fishing boats and crews and five IDNR observers fished a combined 32,900 yards of net from Tuesday-Friday, June 21-24. Netting effort focused on the Marseilles Pool near Morris (25,900 yards of net), but also took place in lower Dresden Island Pool (1,300 yards of net) and Starved Rock Pool (5,700 yards of net). A total of 1,621 bighead carp and 817 silver carp were removed during the effort (only one of each species in the Dresden Island Pool). The combined harvest for both species was 42,754 pounds and 86% of this total was taken from the Marseilles Pool.

Telemetry Project

Biologists from USACE (MVR, LRC, and MVS) assisted by USFWS were able to successfully implement the first phase of the small fish telemetry study on 20-24 June. In all, 14 small fish (2 to 6 inches in length) were successfully tagged with small ultrasonic transmitters. Six fish were released above Barrier 2B and below Barrier 1, and eight fish were released immediately downstream of Barrier 2B. Species tagged included: black crappie, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, green sunfish, pumpkinseed, black bullhead, and white sucker. Fish were captured using mini fyke nets and electrofishing from Lockport and Brandon Road pools. Tagged fish were held and allowed to acclimate before release.

Additionally, crews were able to capture and tag 47 fish for the ongoing adult telemetry work. Species captured and tagged in Lockport Pool were common carp (including a few mirror carp), freshwater drum, and channel catfish.

The VR4 receiver download began this week, as well. Lengthy download time and inclement weather allowed 2 of 4 receivers to be successfully downloaded. The remaining two receivers will be downloaded and data will be analyzed in the coming weeks.

Week of May 16, 2011

Bottom Line: No Asian carp were captured or observed upstream of the Dispersal Barrier nor were any found in new locations downstream of the Barrier.

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

One boat and crew from USFWS – Columbia sampled the five fixed sites above the Dispersal Barrier on Tuesday -Thursday, May 17-19. This completed fixed site sampling initiated the previous week. Sample effort included a total of 50 electrofishing runs (15 minutes each; 12.5 hours total). A combined total of 1,563 fish representing 25 species were sampled during the effort. No Asian carp were captured or seen.

eDNA Monitoring Project

One IDNR boat and crew obtained 120 water samples for eDNA analysis from the North Shore Channel on Monday, May 16. Samples were filtered at the USEPA lab in Chicago and forwarded to ERDC in Vicksburg, MS for analysis.

Barrier Defense Asian Carp Removal Project

Dresden Island Pool: 10-24 miles downstream from Dispersal Barrier

Marseilles Pool: 24-51 miles downstream from Dispersal Barrier

Starved Rock Pool: 51-65 miles downstream from Dispersal Barrier

Five commercial fishing boats and crews and five IDNR observers fished a combined 30,100 yards of net from Tuesday-Friday, May 17-20. Netting effort focused on backwater areas of Marseilles Pool near Morris (25,300 yards of net), but also took place in lower Dresden Island Pool (1,600 yards of net) and Starved Rock Pool (3,200 yards of net). A total of 1,604 bighead carp and 1,602 silver carp were removed during the effort. The combined harvest for both species was 63,608 pounds and 60% of this total was taken from the Marseilles Pool.

Gear Evaluation Study

One INHS boat and crew sampled with multiple gears at Treadway and Lilly lakes in the LaGrange Pool (river mile 80.2-157.6; Dispersal Barrier is at mile 296.1) of the Illinois River from Monday – Friday, May 16-20, 2011. Twelve types of gear were evaluated at each location. A combined total of 353 fish representing 34 species and 2 hybrid groups were sampled, including 65 Asian carp. Of the Asian carp, 33 were silvers, 22 were bigheads, 6 were obvious bighead x silver carp hybrids, and 4 were grass carp.

Week of May 9, 2011

Bottom Line: Much work was completed this week. No Asian carp were captured or observed upstream of the Dispersal Barrier nor were any found in new locations downstream of the Barrier.

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 commercial fishing boats and crews with IDNR observers sampled the five fixed sites above the Dispersal Barrier on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 10-11. Sample effort included a total of 23 trammel net sets (200-600 yards/set; 6,000 yards total). A combined total of 486 fish representing 8 species and 1 hybrid group were sampled during the effort. No Asian carp were captured or seen. Electrofishing at the fixed sites will take place the week of May 16.

Additional Netting For Asian Carp Upstream of the Dispersal Barrier

On Thursday, May 12, two commercial fishing boats and crews with IDNR observers sampled with trammel nets on the Calumet River from Calumet Harbor to O’Brien Lock and Dam. Sample effort included 10 net sets (200 yards/set; 2,000 yards total). A total of 19 fish representing 6 species were sampled during the effort. No bighead or silver carp were captured or seen.

Additional Netting For Asian Carp Downstream of the Dispersal Barrier

On Friday, May 13, two commercial fishing boats and crews with IDNR observers sampled with trammel nets in the Dresden Island Pool from the casino riverboat downstream to the dam, including one set at the Kankakee River confluence. Sample effort included 10 net sets (200 yards/set; 2,000 yards total). A total of 48 common carp, 14 smallmouth buffalo, and 1 adult bighead carp were sampled during the effort. The bighead carp was taken near Big Basin Marina 22 miles downstream from the Dispersal Barrier.

eDNA Monitoring Project

One USFWS-Lacrosse boat and crew obtained 120 water samples for eDNA analysis from the Chicago River and South Branch Chicago River (Chicago Lock to Bubbly Creek) on Tuesday, May 10. Samples were filtered at the USEPA lab in Chicago and will be forwarded to ERDC in Vicksburg, MS for analysis.

The first eDNA sample collection and filtering training was held in conjunction with the sampling event. Four members of the LaCrosse crew and three members of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency participated. Matt Shanks of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Chicago District provided sample collection training while Shawna Herleth-King, also of the USACE Chicago District, provided filtering training. Participants were trained according to protocols set forth in Version 1 (May 2011) of the Quality Assurance Project Plan: eDNA Monitoring of Invasive Asian Carp in the Chicago Area Waterway System. Additional training on eDNA sample collection and filtering will occur in the upcoming months (June and July) for those agencies unable to participate in the May training.

Barrier Defense Asian Carp Removal Project

Dresden Island Pool: 10-24 miles downstream from Dispersal Barrier

Marseilles Pool: 24-51 miles downstream from Dispersal Barrier

Starved Rock Pool: 51-65 miles downstream from Dispersal Barrier

Five commercial fishing boats and crews and five IDNR observers completed 75 trammel/gill net sets (31,200 yards of net total) from Tuesday-Friday, May 10-13. Netting effort focused on backwater areas of Marseilles Pool near Morris (23,100 yards of net), but also took place in lower Dresden Island Pool (1,300 yards of net) and Starved Rock Pool (5,700 yards of net). A total of 1,984 bighead carp and 882 silver carp were removed during the effort. The combined harvest for both species was 63,608 pounds and 80% of this total was taken from the Marseilles Pool.

Telemetry Project

Four Vemco VR4 receivers were deployed by USACE at the Barrier site on 9-10 May. The manufacturer aided in the placement and calibration of the receivers. These receivers use VPS technology to triangulate the position of the tagged fish in the water, enabling tracking of the exact movement paths of each fish near the Barrier. The data is downloaded via wireless modem, allowing all downloads to take place from a secure location and not requiring manual retrieval. These receivers will be deployed for a minimum of 5 years, with data downloaded monthly.

Gear Evaluation Study

One INHS boat and crew sampled with multiple gears in the Dresden Island Pool near I-55 and the Marseilles Pool near Morris from Monday – Friday, May 9-13, 2011. Fourteen types of gear were evaluated at each location. A combined total of 1,879 fish from representing 54 species and 3 hybrid groups were sampled. No Asian carp were sampled in Dresden Island Pool and eight bighead carp were sampled in a trap net (1) and hoop nets (7) in the Marseilles Pool near Morris about 65 miles downstream of the Dispersal Barrier.

Week of April 11, 2011

Barrier Defense Asian Carp Removal Project

Five commercial fishing boats and crews and five IDNR observers completed 61 trammel/gill net sets (29,900 yards of net total) from Tuesday-Friday, April 12-15. Netting effort focused on backwater areas of Marseilles Pool near Morris (23,100 yards of net), but also took place in lower Dresden Island Pool (3,200 yards of net) and Starved Rock Pool (3,600 yards of net). A total of 2,933 bighead carp and 852 silver carp were removed during the effort. The combined harvest for both species was 85,481 pounds and 95% of this total was taken from the Marseilles Pool. Although this was the first week of sampling for 2011, a cumulative removal summary is included below.

Telemetry Project

One USACE boat and crew from the Rock Island and Chicago districts completed telemetry work in the CAWS, lower Des Plaines River, and upper Illinois River on Tuesday through Thursday, April 12-14. Initial field observations suggest no inter-pool movement of tagged fish or movement of fish across the Dispersal Barrier in either direction. A more thorough evaluation of downloaded data from receivers and mobile tracking is currently underway and will be summarized in future reports. Specific work completed over the week is included below.

Stationary receivers were deployed in both the CSSC and Calumet-Sag Channel approximately one mile upstream of their confluence and another receiver was deployed in the Lockport Pool downstream of the Dispersal Barrier.
Data was downloaded from receivers located in the Lockport Pool.
Mobile tracking took place in the Little Calumet River and Calumet-Sag Channel from just upstream of Acme Bend downstream to the CSSC, the CSSC from the I-55 bridge downstream to the Lockport Lock, the entire Brandon Road Pool; and the Dresden Island Pool from the Brandon Road Lock and Dam to a point 1 mile south of Moose Island.

Week of April 4, 2011

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

One USFWS boat and crew from Carterville and Lacrosse stations sampled the five fixed sites above the Dispersal Barrier during Monday-Thursday, April 4-7 and two commercial fishing boats and crews with IDNR observers sampled the same fixed sites with nets on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 5 and 6. Sample effort included a total of 48 electrofishing runs (15 minutes each; 12.0 hours total) and 17 trammel net sets (200-400 yards/set; 5,800 yards total). A combined total of 1,904 fish representing 35 species and 2 hybrid groups were sampled during the effort. No bighead or silver carp were captured or seen.

Additional Netting For Asian Carp Upstream of the Dispersal Barrier

On Thursday, April 7, two commercial fishing boats and crews with IDNR observers sampled with trammel nets on the Calumet-Sag Channel from the confluence with the CSSC to several miles upstream of the Worth boat launch. Sample effort included 15 net sets (200-400 yards/set; 4,000 yards total). A total of 29 common carp and 1 grass carp were sampled during the effort. No bighead or silver carp were captured or seen.

Additional Netting For Asian Carp Downstream of the Dispersal Barrier

Two commercial fishing boats and crews with IDNR observers sampled with trammel nets in the Brandon Road Pool upstream and downstream of the Ruby Street boat launch on Friday, April 8. Sample effort included 5 net sets (200-400 yards/set; 1,600 yards total). A total of 119 common carp, 5 common carp x goldfish hybrids, and 1 grass carp were sampled during the effort. No bighead or silver carp were captured or seen.

Telemetry Project

USACE successfully deployed receivers upstream of the Dispersal Barrier on Tuesday April 5. Additional receivers will be deployed during the week of April 11.