Asian Carp Communication Briefing 5 30 2014

Council on Environmental Quality Asian Carp Communications Briefing May 21 - 30, 2014 Recent Updates to Asiancarp.us   New GLMRIS newsletter available (PDF) Video: Steps to Protect Your Lake from Exotic Species Editorials/Op-eds: None Releases: MWRD celebrates 125th Anniversary May 29, 2014 The year is 1871 The smell of charred wood permeates throughout Chicago as the last embers of the Great Fire are finally extinguished The remnants of what use to be a bustling city center are carried by horse and cart to Lake Michigan for disposal Also flowing into the lake is the Chicago River, a repository of animal carcasses, refuse, sewage and stench Eighteen years later, the Illinois General Assembly enacted the Sanitary District Enabling Act on May 29, 1889, establishing the Sanitary District with the purpose of protecting our water supply and managing wastewater Since 1889, the Sanitary District, later named the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD), has worked to improve water quality and prevent flooding in our region The young agency’s first initiative was to reverse the flow of the polluted Chicago River away from Lake Michigan, the source of the city's drinking water, by excavating the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Excavating the 28 mile canal was a project of unprecedented scale and difficulty It took 8,500 workers eight years to complete Many of the same methods and techniques were used a few years later for the construction of the Panama Canal The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal is often referred to as the “canal that saved Chicago.” Without it, the city was in danger of drowning in its own wastewater and would not exist as we know it today The importance of the canal is memorialized in the flag of the city of Chicago, adopted in 1917 The top blue stripe on the flag represents the lake and the North Branch of the Chicago River and the bottom stripe represents the South Branch and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal The waterway system protected the lake from the river's water, but the river itself was still famously polluted In the early 20th century, the MWRD began developing wastewater treatment technology and building water reclamation plants to clean wastewater before it reached the waterways Today, the MWRD operates seven water reclamation plants with outstanding records of compliance with water quality standards and is leading the way in developing sustainable new treatment processes Historically, the MWRD's treatment plants worked to clean wastewater in dry weather, but during rain storms, the sewer system could become overwhelmed and overflow to waterways The MWRD began work on the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP) or "Deep Tunnel" in the early 1970s to address this problem TARP consists of over 100 miles of tunnels as large as 33 feet in diameter and vast reservoirs to capture stormwater and sewer overflows The “tunnel” portion of TARP was completed in 2006 and is fully operational The “reservoir” portion of TARP is currently under construction Since it went online, TARP has greatly reduced combined sewer overflows, protected property and improved water quality The system will be even more effective when the reservoirs are complete Other cities around the world have followed the MWRD’s lead and have undertaken similar deep tunnel projects to reduce combined sewer overflows In 2004, the MWRD was granted stormwater management authority for Cook County Since then, we have embarked on constructing major regional flood control projects throughout the county We are also exploring ways to work with all 125 communities using available technologies to decrease flooding in major rain events which we are experiencing on a more routine basis To prevent future commercial, municipal, and residential development and redevelopment projects from exacerbating flooding, the Board approved the Watershed Management Ordinance which provides uniform stormwater management regulations for Cook County The WMO took effect on May As the MWRD continues through our second century, we are proud of being the leading wastewater treatment agency in the country As the industry evolves, we are using emerging technologies and processes to support our mission, our customers and our water environment We are pursuing sustainable practices, embracing partnerships and implementing available technologies while working together with communities to eliminate flooding The work we started in 1889 made the Chicago region habitable The cutting edge work we are pursuing today will continue to transform and shape the wastewater industry in the future Great Lakes States Teaming Up to Search for Invasive Fish in Calumet Harbor, Illinois and Indiana Waters of Lake Michigan Indiana Department of Natural Resources, May 28, 2014 Exercise Will Strengthen Invasive Species Response Coordination Among Great Lakes States CHICAGO, IL – Crews from natural resources agencies and organizations in the Great Lakes region are teaming up to coordinate an invasive fish surveillance exercise in Calumet Harbor and near-shore Illinois and Indiana waters of Lake Michigan The exercise – including intensive netting and electro-fishing – will be the first of its kind utilizing provisions of the new Mutual Aid Agreement for Combatting Aquatic Invasive Species, signed at the Council of Great Lakes Governors meeting on April 26 in Chicago “Illinois and our partner Great Lakes states and Canadian provinces – working with federal agencies, local officials, and others interested in protecting the Great Lakes – are committed to controlling the spread of aquatic invaders like Asian carp and Eurasian ruffe,” said Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Marc Miller “The new Mutual Aid Agreement allows us to draw on the resources and good will of all of our partners, and this exercise will provide us a real-time test of our response to aquatic invasive species in and near Lake Michigan.” “Indiana is proud to join Illinois in this effort It is imperative we work together to assess invasive threats to Lake Michigan and the impact it will have on the entire Great Lakes basin All the Great Lakes states need to continue to work together to prevent invasive species from being introduced into our waters,” said Indiana Department of Natural Resources Director Cameron F Clark Crews coordinated by the Illinois and Indiana Departments of Natural Resources are deploying boats on Chicago’s Calumet Harbor, and on adjoining waters of Lake Michigan on both sides of the Illinois-Indiana state line, for electro-fishing and netting to determine whether invasive Eurasian ruffe are present “Aquatic invasive threats know no national or state boundaries Our ability to sample fish communities, respond quickly, and effectively communicate on efforts could be critical in the future to respond to a threat within the Great Lakes basin,” said Indiana DNR Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator Eric Fischer Eurasian ruffe, an eastern European species of fish, have been found in Lake Superior since the mid1980s, have a similar diet and feeding habits of native fish, and could present problems for the food web in Lake Michigan Researchers detected environmental DNA of Eurasian ruffe in Calumet Harbor last year “We use eDNA as an ‘early warning system’ While our annual surveys and local fishers have never seen Eurasian ruffe in Illinois waters, this exercise will help us know more about the presence and certainly build upon collaboration with our valuable partners on invasive species issues” said Kevin Irons, Aquatic Nuisance Species Program Manager for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources The Illinois Department of Natural Resources continues to ask anglers to be on the lookout for and help with reporting any findings in Illinois waters of Eurasian ruffe To date no Eurasian ruffe has been found in Illinois waters Agencies and entities participating in the May 28 exercise will include Natural Resources Agencies of Illinois and Indiana, Michigan, and Minnesota, along with the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S Army Corps of Engineers, United States Geological Survey, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the U.S Coast Guard, the Illinois Natural History Survey and the Chicago Park District To stop the movement of all aquatic nuisance species, sportsmen and women are reminded to ‘Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers’ and ‘Be a Hero – Transport Zero’ by following three simple steps: 1) Remove plants animals and mud from equipment; 2) Drain all water from your boat and gear; and 3) Dry everything thoroughly with a towel To find out more about the Eurasian ruffe, check the USGS Non-indigenous Aquatic Species website at http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=7 Zoeller Lauds Federal Asian Carp Bill May 23, 2014 The Indiana Attorney General believes federal legislation designed to help stop the spread of non-native Asian carp is a move in the right direction Greg Zoeller says he hopes the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service will "follow through vigorously" to offer grant money to states like Indiana that are affected by the invasive species INDIANAPOLIS, Ind - A bill Congress passed this week would help provide federal assistance to states in their efforts to stop the spread of invasive Asian carp in rivers and streams Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller, who has asked the federal government to more to assist states such as Indiana in eradicating the non-native fish species, expressed his appreciation to members of Congress for passing the bill that could provide federal grant funds to states to fund Asian carp-control efforts The conference committee report of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA) passed Tuesday in the U.S House of Representatives by a vote of 412-4, and passed Thursday in the U.S Senate by a vote of 91-7, and now moves to the President's desk for his signature Among the bill's many provisions: It authorizes a federal report regarding invasive aquatic species and a multiagency effort to slow the spread of Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basis and tributaries, including support to state and local governments Also, the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service will have the authority to determine how to provide such assistance, whether through offering grant funds to states or through in-kind assistance The WRRDA contains $40 million in funding for invasive species control measures As lawyer for state government, Zoeller previously voiced concern that options identified by a recent U.S Army Corps of Engineers study report to prevent the northward spread of Asian carp from the Chicago waterways and shipping canal into the Great Lakes were too limiting, and overlooked Indiana's waterways where the carp already have invaded, such as the Wabash River Zoeller attended the Army Corps' public comment meetings on its study report options Jan in Chicago and Feb 11 in Portage, Ind He had proposed that in addition to the eight options the Corps identified to control carp, that Congress consider a ninth option: Use some of the funding already enacted or eventually approved to establish grants for the Great Lakes states to undertake programs to determine how to push the highly mobile Asian carp back downstream to be potentially contained or removed One idea is to encourage agricultural demand for processed carp so their numbers could be reduced through commercial fishing "From firsthand observation I have seen how the Asian carp have negatively impacted the use and enjoyment of the Wabash River, and we need to intensify efforts to contain these invasive species before they more damage to the sensitive river ecosystem Indiana did not cause the carp infestation and should not bear the full brunt of the cost I appreciate how Congress in a bipartisan way has listened to these concerns and responded to the need by authorizing federal efforts to assist states in carp control, and I encourage the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service to follow through vigorously and use its authority to offer grant support to states," Zoeller said Two species of the non-native Asian carp have infested the Mississippi River basin since escaping from fish hatcheries in the South in the 1970s, spreading upstream toward the Great Lakes By consuming nutrients in the water, the voracious Asian carp crowd out native fish for space and resources The bighead carp can grow to four feet long and 90 pounds, while the silver carp swarm and jump out of the water in large numbers at the sound of boat motors and can injure passing boaters and water skiers Having filed an amicus brief on behalf of Indiana in the U.S Supreme Court in 2010 regarding an Asian carp-control dispute in the Great Lakes, Zoeller since then has sought to raise public awareness of the environmental issue Zoeller commended the efforts of Indiana native John Goss, director of the federal government's Asian Carp Coordinating Committee, part of the White House Council on Environmental Quality In mid-July 2013, Zoeller toured part of the length of the Wabash River by speedboat accompanied on the first leg of the trip by Goss - and encountered populations of Asian carp at two locations During that tour and inspection, the Attorney General and Director Goss met with local elected officials and conservation groups concerned about the long-term economic impact to their communities if the invasive fish continue to disrupt the river ecosystem On June 4, Attorney General Zoeller will chair a panel discussion with other state AGs on Asian carp and other aquatic invasive species during the National Association of Attorney Generals (NAAG) annual conference in Michigan Passage of the Water Infrastructure Bill Will Help Fight Invasive Carp in Minnesota Waters Stop Carp Coalition, May 22, 2014 “The Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) passed the U.S Senate today, as well as the House of Representatives earlier this week With both chambers passing the critical water bill this week, the next step is to send the final bill to President Obama so he can officially sign the WRRDA bill into law This bill will provide new tools to use in the fight against invasive carp in Minnesota’s waterways and throughout the Midwest “Key provisions in the WRRDA bill call for the closure of the Upper St Anthony Falls Lock and Dam in Minneapolis within one year of the bill’s enactment and create a federal multi-agency task force that will better coordinate efforts to combat the threat of invasive carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins To learn more about these provisions, please visit here “We urge the U.S Army Corps to ensure swift action in carrying out the lock closure mandate Closing the lock will allow us to focus our efforts on strategies that will protect waters further downstream, including the St Croix and Minnesota River basins We must protect the rest of Minnesota’s waters from invasive carp before they establish a foothold and cause irreparable harm to the rivers, lakes and streams that help support our multi-billion dollar recreation and tourism industry “We thank the Minnesota delegation for their leadership to include in the WRRDA bill these critical new tools to help combat the threat of invasive carp We look forward to working with our federal and state leaders on other initiatives that will continue to protect our waterways from the threat of invasive carp in Minnesota Please visit www.stopcarp.org to learn more about how you can help us in this invasive species fight Genetic Analysis Reveals Fish Eggs Found in Upper Mississippi River are not Asian Carp U.S Department of the Interior, U.S Geological Survey, May 22, 2014 Scientists have extracted DNA from fish eggs found in northern sections of the Upper Mississippi River and have determined that the eggs and larvae are not from Asian carp Genetic analysis instead shows that the fish eggs collected in the summer of 2013 likely belong to a native North American species in the same family as carp All Asian carp species are considered invasive species and belong to the cyprinid fish family To confirm visual identification of the eggs’ species, scientists from the U.S Geological Survey genetically tested 41 of the 65 eggs and larvae that were collected from the Upper Mississippi River (Pool and Pool 11) in Wisconsin and Iowa DNA sequences successfully obtained from 17 eggs revealed that they were similar to those of other cyprinid fishes and did not come from Asian carp The one exception was an egg collected from Pool 19 in southern Iowa, which had been visually identified as an Asian carp, and was later genetically confirmed by the USGS as a grass carp, one of the four Asian carp species “What we have learned from this research is that non-Asian carp cyprinid eggs in the northern portions of the Upper Mississippi can closely resemble Asian carp eggs in size and shape,” said Leon Carl, USGS Midwest Region Director “These findings underscore the importance of using genetic testing to confirm the results of visual identification.” Researchers were surprised to learn that the large eggs from Pools and 11 belonged to other species in the cyprinid family rather than to Asian carp species Such findings are contrary to previously published work that had established that non-Asian carp cyprinids indigenous to the Midwest have considerably smaller eggs compared to the invasive carp that were the focus of the study Detailed visual analysis of the eggs’ size and shape earlier this year indicated that they were consistent with the eggs of Asian carp species and led scientists to believe that invasive carp may have successfully spawned in this northern portion of the Upper Mississippi Given the seriousness of the Asian carp spread northward, USGS scientists alerted partners and the general public about that potential in March and decided to pursue genetic testing to confirm the visual findings Scientists emphasized that the recent genetic data will modify their application of visual identification methods to distinguish fish eggs and larvae collected in the Upper Mississippi River The difficulty USGS scientists had in genetically testing the eggs suggests that researchers and managers studying or monitoring Asian carp reproduction in North America should consider separately preserving, for genetic analysis, a subset of collected embryos to confirm visual identification USGS researchers will continue efforts to gain a better understanding of how egg size, location of eggs within the river and flow conditions may help to identify those habitats important to reproduction of native and non-native cyprinids including Asian carp Understanding habitat requirements will assist in the development of methods to control invasive Asian carp Articles: Are Asian carp in your minnow bucket? DNR asks anglers to check Grand Rapids Press, Cory Olsen, May 29, 2014 GRAND RAPIDS, MI The next time you reach into your minnow bucket to thread a shiner into a hook, take a second look Are you holding a juvenile Asian carp? The Michigan DNR is asking anglers to keep an eye on their bait in an effort to keep the invasive species out of Michigan waters "As an agency we're doing what we can to prevent adult asian carp from getting into the Great Lakes, specifically big head and silver carp," Michigan DNR biologist Todd Grischke said "I don't think a lot of people are tuned into what they can as an angler when it comes to looking at the bait they buy." Grischke went on to explain in a detailed video what anglers can to help identify the common minnow species they use and compare them to big head and silver Asian carp minnows Michigan anglers are likely to see gizzard shad, emerald shiner, spot-tail shiner and golden shiners as well as others but the Asian carp have some pretty specific markings and characteristics, Grischke said "If you look at an Asian carp mouth it almost looks like they're frowning, it's a down-turned mouth and that's something that's not common in most of our species," Grischke said They also have very tiny scales Their eyes are larger and set on midline of their body or below, and they have a noticeable keel, where their bodies are straight then turn up at an angle to their tail Terry Brenner, owner of Brenner's Bait and Auto in Comstock Park, said he always encourages anglers to dump their unused bait in the trash, not in the water, but said there are other precautions to take as well "Don't dump your bait in the lake because you never know what you've got in it," Brenner said "Natural things are going to transfer things around, not just anglers The water you have in your boat when you go from one lake to another, ducks flying around with eggs on their feet because they're up in the shallows walking around It all happens." If you look at an Asian carp mouth it almost looks like they're frowning Todd Grischke, Michigan DNR Brenner said they get quite a bit of bait from suppliers, but they're licensed to catch as much as they can themselves "Everything we catch and sell locally we catch above the dams because that reduces the chances of collecting bad ones," Brenner said "We're using 100 percent from farms right now because of the weather we've had but will try to get out and get some sand shiners soon." Minnow sales have dropped continually over the years in the Saugatuck area where Lakeshore Tackle and Firearms is located, owner Aaron Sybesma said, but that's more due to geography than anything else "It's a commitment to go out and perch fish down here because it's such a long trip down the channel, most guys run out of Holland now," Sybesma said "The perch fishing is pretty decent down here but the guys that it use spikes mostly now I think they look at it as something they can stick in the fridge as opposed to trying to keep minnows alive." Sybesma said he's getting his first shipment of minnows next week and will carry mostly fatheads "We've never had too much issue with our minnows We put a lot of trust in the wholesalers for what they're bringing us," Sybesma said "I don't know how often (the DNR) checks those guys out but we anticipate what we're getting is a good product." Grischke is asking anglers to one of two things if they find a minnow that looks suspicious "As an angler, if you come across a baitfish that looks odd or different and that you think may be an Asian carp, we'd ask you to discard that fish in the trash," Grischke said "Disposing of it in the water that you're fishing may lead to introducing it to that water body Or contact a Department of Natural Resources representative and we'll come out and positively identify the minnow for you." Brenner said he'd like to see the invasive species kept out of Michigan waters but he's realistic about it "I think the big thing is to teach anglers how to cook the Asian carp so they taste real good," Brenner said "I doubt they'd have that big of an impact on the big lake." Klobuchar, Ellison Give Update on Closing St Anthony Falls Lock ABC News, Jennie Olson, May 27, 2014 U.S Sen Amy Klobuchar on Tuesday gave an update on the fight against invasive species and their movement through the Upper St Anthony Falls Lock In a provision in the final water infrastructure bill passed by Congress, officials would be able to close the locks within a year Some wildlife experts say closing it would prevent the invasive Carp from swimming further into the river The provision, authored by Klobuchar and Rep Keith Ellison, has bipartisan support from Minnesota legislators It has also been endorsed by Sen Al Franken and Reps Erik Paulsen, Tim Walz and Rick Nolan The lock, built in 1963, is situated on the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis At 49 feet, the dam is one of the highest on the Mississippi River, according to the National Parks Service Klobuchar was joined by Ellison at the locks Tuesday morning to talk about the Congressional action Research Finds Soybean-Asian Carp Feed Blend More Sustainable for Aquaculture Industry The Intelligencer, May 28, 2014 Combining soybean meal with fish meal made from invasive Asian carp produces a more nutritious, sustainable and economical option for feeding some farm-raised fish, according to recent Southern Illinois University (SIU) research Both lab and on-farm feeding trial research, funded by the Illinois soybean checkoff, show species like hybrid striped bass and largemouth bass can effectively digest higher amounts of soybean meal when blended with meal derived from Asian carp “The research may solve several challenges for Midwestern fisheries and the aquaculture industry,” says Jesse Trushenski, associate professor at SIU’s Center for Fisheries Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences in Carbondale, Illinois “The fish diets we studied use meal from Asian carp, an invasive fish that is spreading and disrupting ecosystems in the Mississippi River Basin Blending carp meal and soybean meal allowed us to use larger amounts of soybean meal And, these diets offer a local alternative to marine-based fish meal.” Aquaculture, an expanding, protein-hungry industry, needs to develop alternate feed sources, according to Trushenski The growing scarcity of wild anchovies and sardines increases the costs of marine-based fish meal and impacts ocean ecosystems Soybean meal is a proven, renewable alternative, but using just soybean meal in place of fish meal affects the growth and health of some carnivorous species “Previous SIU research established Asian carp meal as equal to or better than marine-based fish meal in aquaculture diets, and helped set standards for using soybean meal in aquaculture,” Trushenski explains “We took our understanding of protein for carnivorous fish feed a step further by demonstrating synergies between local protein sources – soybeans and invasive fish.” The research trial formulations used 25 percent soybean meal and 18 percent Asian carp meal, proteins readily available in the Midwest A new carp rendering plant in Grafton, Illinois, will boost the availability of Asian carp meal, and demonstrates the ripple effect this solution can have on rural economies “Cost-effective carp meal is good news for soybean meal demand in aquaculture,” says Duane Dahlman, soybean farmer and Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) director from Marengo, Illinois “This SIU research proves that the two ingredients can be used together in a nutritious fish feed blend for key species “Using Asian carp benefits commercial fishing and carp meal production creates jobs,” Dahlman continues “Plus, feeding local soybean meal and carp meal can improve profitability for fisheries and farmers All these industries are based in rural areas that benefit from income, jobs and strengthened tax bases.” The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) represents more than 45,000 soybean farmers in Illinois through the state soybean checkoff and membership efforts The checkoff funds market development, soybean production and profitability research, promotion, issues management and analysis, communications and education Membership and advocacy efforts support Illinois soybean farmer interests in local areas, Springfield and Washington, D.C ISA programs are designed to ensure Illinois soy is the highest quality, most dependable, sustainable and competitive in the global marketplace For more information, visit the website http://www.ilsoy.org Summary report does not point out risk of Asian carp in Canadian waters Manitoulin Expositor, Tom Sasvarion, May 23, 2014 CHICAGO—While the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has now posted a summary of comments made by the public on the Great Lakes Mississippi Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) report, no action on the options provided has been taken, leaving all the Great Lakes in jeopardy of being invaded by Asian carp “I read the summary article and had known the statistics regarding the public’s comments on the Great Lakes Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) report,” stated Mary Muter of the Sierra Club of Ontario and Restore Our Water International (ROWI) The USACE posted comments submitted and recorded for the administrative record during the public comment period The GLMRIS report outlines eight potential plans within the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) to address the transfer of aquatic nuisance species, such as Asian carp, between the two barriers “Emphasis was placed on the public meetings from Traverse City, Michigan and down to New Orleans to obtain comments from people,” said Ms Muter, quoting from the article “It doesn’t really mention (USACE) consultation with the Great Lakes St Lawrence Cities group, and nothing in the report mentions the threat Asian carp pose for Canadian waters.” “Personally, I care less about the people of Mississippi about Asian carp posing a threat because they (Asian carp) are already present there,” said Ms Muter “My major concern is that something is done so that they don’t pose a risk for Canadian waters on the Great Lakes.” “As you know we also pushed for a meeting with USACE to be held in Toronto, but this isn’t commented on in the summary either,” said Ms Muter “Four public meetings were held (a couple of years ago) on water levels along Georgian Bay (including Manitoulin Island) where they had crowds of 300, at least, with the highest (attendance number) being 600 If they held public meetings around Georgian Bay on the issue of Asian carp I’m sure these attendance figures would be similar and maybe even exceed the numbers of the previous meetings.” Dave Wethington, GLMRIS program manager, said in the USACE release that the document is intended to provide a synopsis of the public dialogue following the release of the GLMRIS report, including opinions regarding possible future preventive actions “The comments submitted reflect passion about preserving valuable natural resources and the vitality of our shared waterways.” The report points out more than 1,600 comments were submitted from more than 1,800 individuals, organizations, state and local government agencies from 43 states, and the Canadian provinces of Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia It does not include input that was provided through letter writing campaigns More than half of the individual comments came from Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and Indiana Among the general themes from individual respondents, more than 98 percent of the commenters expressed support for the need to control aquatic nuisance species; 40 percent favoured an alternative that involved some type of physical separation and 35 percent wanted an alternative that maintained current uses of the CAWS, predominantly navigation Most of the commenters did not indicate a specific plan Physical separation plans were mentioned most often at 12 percent The alternatives presented in the GLMRIS report range from continuing current efforts like the operation of electric barriers in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, to hybrids of technologies and physical barriers to a complete hydrologic separation of the two basins with physical barriers Costs of projected construction plans could run as high as $18 billion Although the report is not a decision document, it includes an evaluation matrix of the alternatives to provide as much detail as possible for decision makers Sarah Gross, spokeswoman for the USACE Chicago district, said the summary shows the complexities inherent in the study and that no clear consensus has been reached The USACE took note of the organized signature campaigns of two environmental groups: the Sierra Club petition which drew more than 2,300 signatures and a Clean Wisconsin petition signed by more than 5,000 people, both advocating for the physical separation of Chicago’s waterways from Lake Michigan Ms Gross said the comments will provide Congress, “with a snapshot of the region’s sentiment reading the various alternative control plans.” She said that until consensus is reached on a plan, the USACE will continue to operate electric barriers in waterways and track carp populations “To prevent Asian carp from reaching Canadian waters may require changes in shipping models, using marine railways, which can be built and separate the water bodies and it wouldn’t cost billions, but millions,” asserted Ms Muter “The fishing industry is a $7 billion dollar a year industry so it makes economic and environmental sense to something like this.” Governor urges Kansans to help stop spread of nonnative aquatic species Washburn Review, Kara Protasio, May 28, 2014 As summer time quickly approaches and the temperatures are rising, Kansans who enjoy the outdoors may soon be headed to the lake or river for some fishing However, Kansans should be aware of the nonnative fish that threaten Kansas’s lakes and rivers Aquatic nuisance species are animals and plants that are not native to Kansas ANS can threaten lake and river ecology, harm native or desirable species and interfere with Kansas’s economy ANS are transported by boats and fishing equipment by unsuspecting people to previously uninfested bodies of water Three ANS that have started to invade Kansas are Asian carp, zebra mussels and white perch Gov Sam Brownback urges everyone who visits a body of water in any state to take precautions to avoid spreading ANS to other waters, especially in Kansas “Zebra mussels, Asian carp and white perch are already established in our state,” said Brownback “They and other unwanted aquatic species pose serious environmental and economic threats, not only to Kansas waters, but also those of other states Unwary travelers can spread these species between states.” According to the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism's website, Asian carps, zebra mussels and white perch are threatening waterways and the fish populations of Kansas’s bodies of water Asian carp can eat up to 40 percent of their body weight each day, which causes the native fish to compete for food and threatens the diversity and quality of other aquatic life The carp have been found in the Kansas River traveling up near Lawrence, Kan Asian carp can grow to more than 100 pounds and can physically harm boaters or swimmers by jumping out of the water when disturbed Zebra mussels are dime-sized with sharp shells that can hurt swimmers that step on them The mussels attach to anything under the water and can damage fishing and boating equipment Zebra mussels eat plankton, food for baitfish, larval sport fish and native mussels, which can make the water susceptible to dangerous algae blooms They also can colonize as high as million mussels per square meter and cause problems for power plants and municipal water suppliers with their constant reproducing White perch are native to the Atlantic coast of North America They were introduced to Kansas reservoirs by accident in shipments of stock fish These perch are one of the reasons responsible for the walleye and white bass populations decline They can quickly overpopulate and can out-compete other sport fish species for food and space Along with stopping ANS’s from inhabiting Kansas lakes and rivers, aquarium pets also need to be prevented from becoming news species to Kansas bodies of water Last year three tropical fish were found reported in Kansas An arowana was found at Lake Shawnee and a tilapia at Mill Creek in Topeka, Kan A pacu was also found at Stone Lake in Great Bend, Kan Chinese and Japanese snails, which are popular with aquariums and water gardens have also been spotted in Kansas waters and are now reproducing quickly According to ProtectKSWaters.org, there are ways to prevent nonnative fish from entering Kansas waters There are three main things that Kansans can to stop the spread of ANS The first is to clean, drain and dry boats and equipment after every use in every lake or river The second way is to “not move live fish between bodies of water or up streams,” according to KDWPT website The last preventive measure is to not dump bait in the water or drainage ditches Bait should be discarded on dry land or in approved receptacle “These species don’t respect political boundaries, and they occur in public and private water bodies of all sizes,” said Jessica Howell, coordinator of Kansas aquatic nuisance species program “Whatever your destination, it’s important to follow the local laws and regulations concerning aquatic invaders.” According to the current Kansas regulations, no person may possess any live fish upon departure from any designated ANS water Wild-caught baitfish shall not be transported upstream across any dam or barrier that prohibits the normal passage of fish If bait is captured on a lake, it can be use it in that lake Each person who purchases live baitfish from a commercial bait dealer shall possess the receipt while fishing with the live baitfish These regulations were made by KDWPT to prevent further spread of dangerous, nonnative aquatic species Could there be an up side to Asian carp? Interlocken Radio, Kate Gardner, May 22, 2014 Asian carp have a notoriously bad reputation When you hear the words "Asian carp," chances are that nothing good will come to mind We know they're big, ugly, lightning-fast, voracious eaters, and a highly invasive species And there are great fears as to what could happen if they decide to make the Great Lakes home Duane Chapman is a research fish biologist for the U.S Geological Survey He leads their Asian carp research Chapman is among scientists who say there has been an up side to all the studies they've been doing since the Asian carp came onto our radar screens He joined today us on Stateside For interview go to: http://interlochenpublicradio.org/post/could-there-be-side-asian-carp Reasons behind carp die-off still a mystery Murray Ledger, Austin Ramsey, Wednesday, May 28, 2014 7:00 am Officials with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources still don’t know what killed almost half a million Asian carp on the Cumberland River tailwaters in late April, but speculation has arisen out of developing theories The fish kill, which involved a 30-mile stretch of the Cumberland from the Barkley Dam north to the confluence with the Ohio River, is the largest of its kind in U.S history Western District Fisheries Biologist Paul Rister said, in total, about 300,000 Asian silver carp died in about a week’s time in late April By Wednesday of that week, Rister said reports were coming in that portions of the river were nearly impassible due to clogs of large and swollen dead fish at the river’s surface Later that week, Rister and his colleagues had assumed the massive die-off involving only one species of fish was due to a viral infection or pathogen that swept the population in that stretch of river during a stressful spawn season, but Rister said reports of even more fish washing ashore along the Paducah riverfront on the Ohio River along with clean lab data have left researchers baffled Once the KDFWR was certain the cause of the initial die-off had passed in the Cumberland tailwaters, the U.S Corps of engineers opened flood gates and on the Barkley Dam to push the fish downstream and let nature run its course But Rister said the fish on Paducah’s riverfront may not have been related to whatever killed the Asian carp north of Grand Rivers “There were some dead along Paducah and some in at the Clarks River boat ramp,” Rister said “The bodies were heavily decomposed, but there are a lot of bowfishermen in the area We just couldn’t see holes in them.” Presently, Rister said, it’s guesses like that which are leading his search for answers When the hundreds of thousands of dead fish were found, he sent testing samples to disease centers at Kentucky State University and Purdue University in Indiana Rister said he was hoping for evidence of lactococcosis, a brain pathogen that has often been the culprit behind smaller kills of Asian carp The species of fish is not native to Kentucky – as the name implies The carp have been more of a problem than anything else over the past few years, and Rister said a pathogen like that could lead to harnessing some kind of eradication technique Neither viruses nor bacteria were found, though Instead, researchers found higher levels of oxygen in the fish’s gills, which is an indicator of gas bubble disease “We’ve seen these kind of fish kills at the Kentucky Dam, he said “Whenever the spill gates open in the summer time when water is warmer, it takes less air to super-saturate, so that water comes down and compresses the air in the water below But when those kills happen, it was right there in the tailwaters and it species.” Plus, Rister said, the Barkley Dam channels water underneath the water level, while the Kentucky Dam lets it spill In essence, gas bubble disease shouldn’t even be a factor there – especially not for 30 miles of river The only definite evidence Rister has is the time of year Asian carp spawn in early spring The stress of that, along with backed waters in the Ohio River may have pushed a large population of the carp into one small portion of river Still, he said, stress alone can’t kill 300,000 fish The mystery is still up in the air – or down in the water – and it’s led to a lot of speculation Local newspapers, TV and radio stations, along with a few national publications, have picked up the story One headline in The Scientist Magazine reads, “Something is Killing Asian Carp; Half a million invasive silver carp are dead in a Kentucky river, and nobody knows why.” Rister said he’s been working with the KDFWR for 27 years now He’s seen all kinds of fish kills in all kinds of species, but usually answers are out there This situation, he said, is certainly unique “There just hasn’t been the smoking gun,” he said “It hasn’t been found Sure, there are some indications that could have led up to the fish kill If and when we ever know, it will be a combination of things that worked out at the same time.” Aquatic invasive species center gets new director, Peter Sorensen will now work as a full-time researcher Minnesota Daily, Lyra Fontaine, May 28, 2014 As Asian carp move closer into state waters, the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center is racing to find ways to stop them With the push to increase research efforts to keep the invasive fish at bay, the center’s founder, Peter Sorensen, was moved from his post as director to become a full-time researcher earlier this month The position change came a day after the center, which is located on the University of Minnesota’s St Paul campus, received funding for an upcoming project to create Asian carp barriers along the Iowa border Sue Galatowitsch, a restoration ecology professor, replaced Sorensen as the center’s director The change in leadership was meant to remove administrative duties from Sorensen’s workload, allowing him to focus solely on researching methods for controlling invasive species like Asian carp, said Brian Buhr, dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences “The idea was to reposition directors to focus our resources directly at the problem,” Buhr said Sorensen, a fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology professor, could not be reached for comment in this story Before Galatowitsch’s appointment as director, she had only been involved in small, administrative projects for the center But her experience heading the Minnesota Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology and her expertise in invasive plants made her an ideal candidate to succeed Sorensen, Buhr said And because summer fieldwork depends on warm water temperatures and the center has projects due for construction in July, the push for a change in leadership was time-sensitive “The need to shift [directors] had to happen soon, or we lose a year of fieldwork,” Galatowitsch said The rapid spread of invasive carp northward along the Mississippi River has intensified the need for research If left unprotected from species like Asian carp, zebra mussels and curly leaf pondweed, lake and river systems could be “turned upside down” and become overrun with non-native species, said the center’s associate director, Becca Nash, “Peter is doing critical work,” Nash said “We thought about where he is needed the most.” Because Asian carp eggs were found just below the Mississippi River’s Lock and Dam near the Minnesota-Iowa border last year, installing underwater speakers — a $854,000 project funded by the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund that’s aimed to be completed by July — is a priority for the research center, Nash said “It’s a race against time,” she said Center to receive state funds The University’s Laboratory Improvement Fund also received $8.7 million from the state’s bonding bill signed by Gov Mark Dayton earlier this month Some of those dollars will go toward renovating the Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center’s laboratories, said Rep Alice Hausman, DFL-St Paul, one of the bill’s authors Galatowitsch said the laboratory is currently “in bad shape” and will benefit from an upgrade to its security and water treatment systems “[It’s] absolutely essential to bring the facility up to a standard that is able to support high-quality science,” she said The renovations, which will begin in winter, are “badly needed,” Nash said “It will help launch our research to a new level,” she said Carp war produces a victory with closing of Minneapolis lock Fergus Falls Journal, Don Davis, Tuesday, May 27, 2014 MINNEAPOLIS — Fighting a war means taking victories where they come, like Minnesota’s attempt to stop invasive carp from getting a foothold in the state’s waters A few dozen Minnesotans gathered Tuesday along the banks of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, near a lock what will be closed within a year When the lock closes, it will be much harder for Asian carp to make their way upstream and into most northern Minnesota waters The group celebrated a congressional bill President Barack Obama says he will sign soon that includes a rare provision to close a Corps of Engineers lock “We need to protect our waterways and that means closing these locks,” Klobuchar, D-Minn., said, with the concrete lock structure looming behind her across the river However, she and other officials said, they were just celebrating a victory in one battle, not the entire war For instance, they said, the Minnesota and St Croix rivers still remain unprotected and without a lock like at St Anthony Falls in downtown Minneapolis it will be much tougher to keep invasive carp out of those two rivers “The work is not done,” U.S Rep Keith Ellison, D-Minn., said State Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Landwehr said that he never thought Congress would approve the lock closing “This is the single most important step we can take to prevent migration into northern Minnesota,” Landwehr said The carp invasion began years ago when the fish imported from Asia accidentally got loose into southern United States waters Since then, they have been swimming northward The danger is that the carp, some of which can jump out of the water, eat so much that native species are left with little A poster near where Klobuchar and others talked showed a 110-pound, 4-foot-8 carp from a Missouri lake It is not just saving Minnesota native species that inspires the battle It also can save money Minnesota has a tourism industry that attracts more than $12 billion annually, with fishing and boating a third of that Fishing is “part of the Minnesota brand,” said Vice President Abby Pieper of Madden’s resort near Brainerd Madden’s resort, with 1,000 acres of peninsula, depends on native fish species, she said People using boats and kayaks depend on safe water, she added Pieper said people calling the resort are not asking about invasive carp because, she said, they have confidence authorities will win the war Klobuchar and Landwehr emphasized the need to continue research about how to stop the carp once and for all While the St Croix River system that touches the east part of the state is wide open to carp, Landwehr said that geography would make it harder for Asian carp to infest Minnesota River tributaries, although the river itself could harbor the fish When talking about the Mississippi, Klobuchar said some people think “we are closing the river down.” That is not so, she said, because the river will continue to flow over St Anthony Falls, but Asian carp and other fish are not likely to swim upstream The closed lock, which could reopen if needed, essentially returns the falls to how they were before then-Sen Hubert Humphrey convinced Congress to build the lock about 50 years ago Just two businesses still use the river upstream from the lock, and state and federal officials are working with them to find other transportation options Owners of tour boats and kayakers who used the lock have voluntarily stopped using it The congressional bill closing the lock also contains provisions to help prevent more floods and rebuilt from past floods Klobuchar said communities getting money include Fargo-Moorhead and Roseau Money to dredge Duluth harbor also is in the bill Can U.S reduce invasive species by eating them? Wisconsin Gazette (AP), May 26, 2014 It seems like a simple proposition: American lakes, rivers and offshore waters are filling up with destructive fish and crustaceans originally from other parts of the world, many of them potential sources of food So why not control these invasive populations by getting people to eat them? The idea has gained momentum recently from the lionfish, which invaded the Gulf of Mexico but was successfully marketed to restaurants and today appears to be in decline But businesses and scientists have struggled to repeat this apparent triumph with other species Some, such as Asian carp, are not appetizing to Americans Others, like feral hogs, reproduce too quickly to make a dent And then there's the question of whether turning them into sought-after cuisine undermines the larger goal of eliminating them "Eating invasive species is not a silver bullet," said Laura Huffman, the Nature Conservancy's director in Texas But it can still be "a way to get people engaged in the topic and in the solution." The lionfish, a striped saltwater species with a flowing mane of venomous spines, is native to the IndoPacific Ocean and was first spotted in parts of the Gulf and off the East Coast a little more than 10 years ago The skilled predators damage reefs and devour native fish, and they are eaten only by sharks - or larger lionfish People soon learned that beneath the lionfish's spiky skin lies a buttery, flaky meat that is perfect for ceviche, taco filler or as an alternative to lobster After a few years of intense fishing and brisk fillet sales, the population is dropping But similar efforts targeting feral hogs, Asian carp and the Himalayan blackberry have been far less successful Damage from invasive species extends beyond the environment A Cornell University study concluded that they caused more than $120 billion in economic harm annually Feral hogs cost Texas alone about $52 million in agricultural damage every year, according to a study by Texas A&M University Asian carp were introduced to the United States about 30 years ago Now they have infested dozens of waterways, including the Mississippi The Army Corps of Engineers is weighing several options to try to keep the voracious eaters out of the Great Lakes, where they could threaten other marine life and the fishing industry In China, the carp are a delicacy and even threatened in the Yangtze River But they have attracted little interest among U.S consumers, and the few Americans who make a living on carp export most of their catch "The fish are good eating if they're healthy, which they're not always," said Duane Chapman, a research fish biologist with the U.S Geological Survey in Columbia, Missouri, noting this is an issue in the Missouri River "Here the fish are pretty much not edible because they're so skinny." In Chicago, a group started to feed the fish to the homeless, an attempt to deal with hunger and help combat the invasive fish problem A southern Illinois company had hoped to start packaging frozen Asian carp And Kentucky organized a commercial fishing tournament to encourage anglers to go after them But none of those efforts was enough to stir demand for the creatures Another obstacle is concern that a successful carp industry could derail the original goal of getting rid of the fish "We'd all be better off in terms of economics if we could sell our native fish," Chapman said The lionfish and the giant tiger prawn, a crustacean with a massive appetite that can grow to be a foot long, proved to be more palatable, Chapman said The tiger prawn has been found in the northern Gulf of Mexico, where scientists fear it could harm the multimillion-dollar crab, shrimp and oyster markets Like the lionfish, this prawn has been successfully turned into gourmet food, because it is similar to shrimp, Huffman said Similar practicalities can affect invasive plants The Himalayan blackberry is known for crowding out other shrubs and reducing the size of pastures Although it is delicious, it's also thorny and requires timeconsuming hand picking that makes large-scale harvesting difficult Feral hogs can also be tasty, but they reproduce so quickly that hunting doesn't make a dent in the population Jean-Philippe Gaston, chef at Haven and Cove Restaurant in Houston, started serving lionfish because he wanted to help reduce its population in the Gulf Now the taste alone keeps it on the menu "It's light and airy and fluffy," said Gaston, who especially likes to use lionfish in ceviche and other rawfish dishes because it blends well with spices and marinades "People are scared of fishy fish This one in particular is very mild, very easy going on the palette." But lionfish are hard to catch, and the dwindling population means Gaston and other restaurateurs have not been able to get any for weeks For now, the fish are individually speared and can be sold for about $16 a pound, said David Johnson, founder and owner of Traditional Fisheries, one of the few U.S lionfish suppliers Yet Johnson said he can't keep up with demand, especially since many Mexican restaurants replace the crustacean with lionfish during lobster's offseason In fact, an event at the Texas State Aquarium had to be cancelled last month when organizers couldn't find enough lionfish for the 100-person dinner So Johnson, who lives in Wayzata, Minnesota, is designing a "smart trap" that would allow fishermen to catch lionfish en masse without netting other species He hopes the traps will be in use by year's end "Locally, we've proven that it does work," Johnson said of the effort to turn lionfish into a delectable dish "In Cozumel, for example, we're having trouble finding lionfish because they've fished so many." ... Could there be an up side to Asian carp? Interlocken Radio, Kate Gardner, May 22, 2014 Asian carp have a notoriously bad reputation When you hear the words "Asian carp, " chances are that nothing... non-native cyprinids including Asian carp Understanding habitat requirements will assist in the development of methods to control invasive Asian carp Articles: Are Asian carp in your minnow bucket?... used 25 percent soybean meal and 18 percent Asian carp meal, proteins readily available in the Midwest A new carp rendering plant in Grafton, Illinois, will boost the availability of Asian carp