Around MN: Asian carp a boon?

Posted at 10:22 AM on August 12, 2011 by Michael Olson (1 Comments)
Filed under: Around MN

You can almost smell the fear of Asian carp in Minnesota when you are having conversations with anglers and conservationists. The news that the St. Croix River is testing positive for the presence of Asian carp raises concerns even more.

Stephanie Hemphill's FAQ on the invasive species spells out why the fear is justified:

Why are Asian carp harmful?

Unsuspecting boaters up and down the Mississippi River have been injured when Asian carp, excited by the boat's motor, jump high in the air and sometimes land in the boat.

But the carp are causing even more problems underwater. They consume massive amounts of plankton, the organism at the center of underwater ecosystems.

"These things are robbing everything else that depends on the productivity of the water," said Phil Moy, who studies Asian carp at the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute. "The tiniest fish, the minnows that then feed larger fish that then feed us, all rely on plankton. And here we have a great big fish, and a lot of them, taking the food from everyone else."

Asian carp can eventually dominate some water systems, squeezing out natives and favorite sport fish.

Dennis Anderson: What's needed is big thinking towards invasive species (Star Tribune).

Minnesota is focused on figuring out how to keep the fish out of our rivers, lakes and streams. But for some who've already lost that battle the fish has become something positive.

Bolstered by government support, the Asian carp harvest has leapt thirtyfold in the past decade, creating a new industry, attracting fishermen and entrepreneurs, and feeding people all over the world (New York Times).

Scientists are still debating to what degree an infestation of the Great Lakes would hurt the existing $7 billion fishing industry. It's also hard to project what it would mean for tourism.

In the meantime the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee, a group of federal and local officials trying to combat the spread of the fish is considering a larger harvest on the Illinois River, where according to the Times Asian carp outnumber native fish 8 to 10 in some portions of the river.

The group hopes that an increased harvest of the fish will slow the spread to Lake Michigan and create more time for a permanent solution.

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Comments (1)

Over the last year and a half, the Corp of Engineers have been working on a $650,000 "feasability" study to place a fish passageway through Lock and Dam #3 near Red Wing, MN. PLUS according to the Corps website a goal was to have another one in place by 2025 at the Hasting Lock and Dam.

Until just recently the cost along with other information was listed on the Corps website. As of last week all links to those web pages listed them as "unavailable".

The cost to build this passageway was felt to be prohibitive on the WI side of the river. $22. million according to the missing Corps website.

End of story right?

According to the latest stakeholders email, alternative areas are being considered. While the Corps, The Natures Conservancy and the WI DNR push for building this fish "super highway", MN is going into high gear to put up road blocks.

I think we all agree that we can not stop them, but do we have to keep tossing money into the river to help them along? After all, we don't hear complaining about the fishing on our 80 miles of the Mississippi.

Subject: LD 3 Fish Passage Definite Project Report Status (UNCLASSIFIED)

Sent: Friday, July 15, 2011 2:48 PM

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

LD 3 Fish Passage Stakeholders,

I apologize for the lack of communication of where we are with the above
project. We have been looking at alternative fish way channels that are less
expensive that the current channel thru the Wisconsin embankments.

1. As you know the current Preliminary Draft Report showed an increase in
Project Cost for just the fish way channel which is now in excess of $19M.
Most of the cost is associated with imported cofferdam fill/removal and the
channel borrow removal as well.

2. The in-house team has been looking at two other possible less expensive
fish way channel locations on the lock side thru the island. One uses the
Auxiliary lock chamber (as suggested by Value Engineering team) and a second
channel alternative is located between the auxiliary lock and the dam.
Cost estimates are being generated to see if
these two alternative channels are less expensive than the Wisconsin
embankment channel to construct and still meet the original goals and
objectives.

3. Costs should be complete in about two weeks.

Tom Novak

Tel: 651.290.5524
Cell: 612.201.6390
Fax: 651.290.5258
eMail: tom.novak@usace.army.mil

Posted by Brian Klawitter | August 14, 2011 7:39 AM

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