About the Invasive Carp Regional Coordinating Committee

The multi-agency Asian Carp Rapid Response Workgroup first came together in late 2009 to implement the rapid response plan in light of a positive invasive carp eDNA result within the Chicago Area Waterway System. The Invasive Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ICRCC) was formally established in early 2010 under the name Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee and represents the collective efforts of international, federal, state and municipal agencies to combat the spread of invasive carp into the Great Lakes. The ICRCC provides oversight and coordination of interagency prevention activities through development and implementation of an annual Invasive Carp Action Plan and complementary Monitoring and Response Plan.

The ICRCC’s objectives are to:

1. Promote collection of biological information on invasive carp, their impacts, preferred habitats, and biological and ecological requirements.
2. Identify additional research, technology, and data needed to effectively inform and support invasive carp management strategies.
3. Support development of technologies and methods that will result in the control and management of invasive carp; and the transferability of these new tools for use in the control of other invasive species, where possible.
4. Encourage the exchange of information between member agencies and stakeholders, and seek opportunities to transfer and further leverage control technologies developed as part of the Action Plan to other areas of the United States and Canada. Work under this objective by the ICRCC fulfills the coordination and notification requirements of the United States-Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
5. Coordinate implementation and evaluate the effectiveness of collaborative invasive carp assessment, prevention and control measures, as described in the annual Invasive Carp Action Plan.

The work of the ICRCC is supported by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, as well as partner agency resources. Funding is used to monitor, control and develop new technologies for invasive carp in the Great Lakes basin. As outlined in the annual Invasive Carp Action Plan, the ICRCC works to ensure a sustainable population of invasive carp do not become established in the Great Lakes.

There have been significant developments in the fight to keep invasive carp out of the Great Lakes. As we work together toward an effective long-term solution, we will continue our collaborative and coordinated daily efforts to protect the Great Lakes and Great Lakes communities.

Harvesting invasive carp using the Unified Method. Photo by Illinois DNR.