Silver carp north of CR dam?

[Dylan33]

From 'CCO

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota officials say tests have detected signs of Asian carp north of the Coon Rapids dam on the Mississippi River, the last major physical barrier to their spread northward.

Department of Natural Resources spokesman Chris Niskanen confirms that sensitive tests have detected DNA from silver carp in the water above the dam, which is upstream from Minneapolis. DNR officials have scheduled a teleconference for 1 p.m. Thursday to release further details.

Environmental DNA testing previously found indications some silver carp are in the Mississippi downstream from the Ford Dam in Minneapolis and in the St. Croix River between Minnesota and Wisconsin. But DNR has said the tests don’t reveal the possible number of fish present, how big they are and whether they are breeding.

[Dylan33]

So, what are these tests that the DNR has been conducting?

[Chode2235]

D'oh!

[Dylan33]

From the MN DNR- more details...

Tests indicate presence of eDNA from invasive silver carp above Coon Rapids Dam in Mississippi River

(Released December 8, 2011)

The latest round of eDNA testing for Asian carp in the Mississippi River has yielded unexpected results, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Nineteen of the 48 water tests near the Coon Rapids Dam have tested positive for silver carp DNA, and three of the positive results are from above the dam. The highly sensitive tests are designed to detect DNA in the environment that comes from the mucus or excrement of invasive Asian carp. Although testing was done to detect DNA of two Asian carp species – bighead and silver – all positive results were for the leaping silver carp.

The Coon Rapids Dam, located upstream of the river’s lock and dam system, has been a significant fish barrier since it was upgraded in the 1970s, preventing a number of native species such as white bass from migrating upstream. DNR fisheries biologists are surprised by the positive eDNA results.

“We are investigating the likelihood of false positives or other sources of Asian carp DNA in the river,” said Tim Schlagenhaft, Mississippi River manager for the DNR. “A study being done in the Chicago area is providing insight into other potential sources of Asian carp DNA, where they have also been getting positive eDNA samples but have been unable to document the presence of live fish. The results of that study will help determine other potential sources of DNA in our waters. Until we can prove the DNA is from other sources, the risk is too high to assume live fish are not present.”

In recent years, the dam’s effectiveness as a fish barrier has figured prominently in the DNR’s strategy for keeping invasive Asian carp out of the Mississippi River north of the Twin Cities. The dam is about to undergo $16 million in repairs and upgrades in an effort to further improve its effectiveness as an Asian carp barrier. DNR officials said the improvements are still necessary to slow the upstream spread of Asian carp in the Mississippi River.

“The positive test results don’t change the fundamental goal of the state’s Asian carp action plan,” said DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr. “We must research and implement our available options to prevent or slow the movement of Asian carp upstream in our river systems, and to manage and control their populations should they become established.”

So far, most of the eDNA tests done on Twin Cities metro area rivers have come back positive for silver carp, but extensive netting efforts in the St. Croix and other parts of the Mississippi River this summer and fall have not yielded any of the elusive fish.

The netting results and ongoing commercial fishing in the Mississippi River further downstream suggest a very low population of invasive carp, said Schlagenhaft, so there is still time to implement strategies to slow their movements and keep population levels low.

Gov. Mark Dayton will hold his third Asian Carp summit Dec. 20 to discuss the state’s proposed actions on Asian carp.

The eDNA testing has been conducted by the Asian Carp Task Force, a consortium of local, state and federal agencies, along with local environmental groups, examining Asian carp risks and policies. When eDNA is detected, the group’s protocol is to deploy netting operations to look for Asian carp.

The DNR said it will hire a commercial fisherman to look for Asian carp below and above Coon Rapids Dam, as it has at other sites where the carp DNA has been detected.

The eDNA samples were collected last September. Test results are still pending for water samples collected in the Minnesota River and above the St. Croix Falls Dam on the St. Croix River.

Here are the test results for the St. Croix River and various sites on the Mississippi River. All positives were for Silver carp, there were no Bighead carp samples testing positive:

• St. Croix River below St. Croix Falls – 22 out of 50 samples.

• Mississippi River below Ford Dam – 14 out of 52 samples.

• Mississippi River below Hastings Dam – 19 out of 62 samples.

• Mississippi River above Coon Rapids dam – 3 out of 19 samples.

• Mississippi River below the Coon Rapids dam – 16 out of 29 samples.

Bighead and silver carp are voracious eaters, capable of eating 5 to 20 percent of their body weight each day. Asian carp feed on algae and other microscopic organisms, often outcompeting for food with native fish. Scientists believe the fish could severely disrupt the aquatic ecosystems of Minnesota waters

[EBass]

Could be false positives. I sure hope they aren't up here.

[Stick in Mud]

Yeah, let's hope. They get in the Miss over that dam and all the lakes we care about--Mille Lacs, Winnie, Bemidji, Cass--are in jeopardy. Terrible to think about...

[Hory]

Unfortunately, it is only a matter of time. My hope is that the Asian carp can't reproduce and dominate a cold-water ecosystem like they have other river systems in the South.

[OnAFly]

According to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission they are well suited to cold water.

[scott b]

Impossible barrier. Sabotage? Home grown hydro terrorists? One can only imagine that the guy heading the study is making a lump sum after "he" dropped them in there in the first place. (Sarcasm people!) The river will never be the same as our fellow posters have already confirmed sightings at the Ford Dam. "Leaping from the water. I know what I saw." Can't believe that they made it past the dam on their own.

[Dylan33]

It is possible for fish to jump the dam in the spring when the water is high...

[Ice Shack Baby]

I'll let you judge for yourself:

[Riverratpete]

Good luck stopping them..just another in the long line of "Invasive Species" that have been introduced here. Think of Pheasants, Brown Trout, Smelt, Salmon in the Great lakes, zebra mussels, eurasion milfoil,..these Carp also I believe will balance out after awhile..someones going to make a load of money scaring people...now all were doing is rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

[Hory]

My prediction is that over time, these fish will carve out a niche in the ecosystem...one that compromises the spawning, habitat,and plant life that native species compete for. Other carp do much the same thing, in they root up the bottom and consume eggs of other native species. Many people enjoy fishing for carp, and value them as a recreational resource. I for one will continue to dispose of ALL carp that I ever catch, including these newcomers. I encourage others to do so as well. Hopefully when they make it here, their populations are limited. I can only hope that efforts taken by the government such as the CR dam will limit their spread to the north.

[Dylan33]

My prediction is that over time, these fish will carve out a niche in the ecosystem...one that compromises the spawning, habitat,and plant life that native species compete for. Other carp do much the same thing, in they root up the bottom and consume eggs of other native species. Many people enjoy fishing for carp, and value them as a recreational resource. I for one will continue to dispose of ALL carp that I ever catch, including these newcomers. I encourage others to do so as well. Hopefully when they make it here, their populations are limited. I can only hope that efforts taken by the government such as the CR dam will limit their spread to the north.

How are you disposing of the carp you catch? Maybe I am wrong, but if you are catching carp and just throwing them away, couldn't that warrant a ticket?

[Hory]

After a day on the river, if I snag a few carp...they make great fertilizer in the garden. I rarely catch more than a couple while pitching jigs. And since the landing is about 1/4 mile from the house, it really isn't a big deal to "dispose" of them legally.

[bASS_BLASTER]

If there are Asian Carps at the CR dam, this could change the County's annual carp event.

[Dylan33]

After a day on the river, if I snag a few carp...they make great fertilizer in the garden. I rarely catch more than a couple while pitching jigs. And since the landing is about 1/4 mile from the house, it really isn't a big deal to "dispose" of them legally.

okay, No disrespect intended. I didn't mean to accuse you of doing anything wrong. Your original post seemed to speak pretty harshly carp. I just envisioned the "olden days" of people catching carp and just throwing them on shore and in garbage cans to "dispose" of them. They do make good fertilizer.

[Stick in Mud]

I wish those were the "olden days." Every year I find carp rotting on shore....in all sorts of places....in numerous rivers. Why people think this is a good idea is a mystery to me.

[chad austin]

My Father In Law works at the most northern river port in Minneapolis and we were talking about this issue the other day. He was telling me that there is a group that is seeking legislation to have the most northern lock completely shut down to ALL river traffic including barges coming up river to deliver Coal, Concrete, Raw materials such as metal coils ect.

One of the main pushers of this move is one of the owners daughters of the place my Father In Law works for. He is close to retirement and figures he will be done working by the time anything is done, but like I told him, I really think this issue may force him into retirement(I think he would be OK with that too).

Is anybody else aware of this push to get the lock permanently "locked"?

[delcecchi]

My Father In Law works at the most northern river port in Minneapolis and we were talking about this issue the other day. He was telling me that there is a group that is seeking legislation to have the most northern lock completely shut down to ALL river traffic including barges coming up river to deliver Coal, Concrete, Raw materials such as metal coils ect.

One of the main pushers of this move is one of the owners daughters of the place my Father In Law works for. He is close to retirement and figures he will be done working by the time anything is done, but like I told him, I really think this issue may force him into retirement(I think he would be OK with that too).

Is anybody else aware of this push to get the lock permanently "locked"?

I have heard this suggestion too. Got any better way to keep those carp from going all the way to Leech Lake?

[itchmesir]

if you think they are gonna close down a lock.. ha.. keep on dreaming.. no way anyone involved with this idea besides biologists.. are gonna go along with it... barges are big business.. no way they'd give that up

[delcecchi]

if you think they are gonna close down a lock.. ha.. keep on dreaming.. no way anyone involved with this idea besides biologists.. are gonna go along with it... barges are big business.. no way they'd give that up

I know. Sad isn't it. When the asian carp are in the great lakes from the river in Chicago, and the whole mississippi drainage via the twin cities, how will our descendents think of us?

[jentz]

Impossible barrier. Sabotage? Home grown hydro terrorists? One can only imagine that the guy heading the study is making a lump sum after "he" dropped them in there in the first place. (Sarcasm people!) The river will never be the same as our fellow posters have already confirmed sightings at the Ford Dam. "Leaping from the water. I know what I saw." Can't believe that they made it past the dam on their own.

Sarcasm?? The snake head was and is being imported as a food fish Illegally!It was also found to be released as a good omen of some sort and maybe some kind of medicinal purpose.Could be the carp are also as a favorite table fare.Omen ??