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In an effort to keep invasive carp populations in check, the Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District (PLSLWD) has recently stocked 3,400 bluegill fish in three wetlands connected to Spring Lake and Upper Prior Lake. Bluegills are voracious eaters with an appetite for carp eggs, and they were stocked in connected wetlands where carp have been known to spawn.
Common carp are a non-native species that can lower water quality as a result of their bottom feeding habits which stir up the muck in the lake bottom and uproot beneficial plants. Stocking bluegills will help reduce the reproductive success of the carp and keep their numbers down in Spring and Upper Prior Lakes, contributing to cleaner, clearer water for the community to enjoy.
These stocking efforts were made possible by generous contributions from the Prior Lake Association (PLA), Spring Lake Association (SLA) and the Prior Lake Rotary Club. Members from the lake associations (see photos) were on hand during the stocking events to assist with the efforts, helping to both mark the bluegills for future surveys and to transport the fish to the wetlands, bucket by bucket.
Wesley Steffan and Kelly Charles, SLA Board members said, “We are excited that our additional funding supported goals of the PLSLWD and the Vision the SLA has for Spring Lake [to] flourish in water quality, environmental impact, natural habitat for wildlife and recreational use.”
Bluegill stocking (see photo) forms just one part of the Watershed District’s larger carp management program which uses a number of control methods in concert to reduce the carp populations. These methods include tracking carp locations and populations, blocking carp from their spawning areas, and removing carp by netting, electrofishing, trapping, and other methods.
Adam Proehl, PLA Board President noted, “We appreciate the close working relationship the Prior Lake Association has with the watershed district and the efforts they continue to make regarding water quality and controlling the carp population.”
The Watershed District will also be stocking walleyes in Spring and Prior Lakes this fall in coordination with the DNR. These efforts will also be supported by the generous donations by PLA, SLA and Prior Lake Rotary Club.
For more information on the District’s carp management program, visit our carp management project page.
View Full Article bluegills, carp management, fish stockingThe District is honored to have been awarded the Program of the Year at the 2020 Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts’ (MAWD) annual conference earlier this month!
The carp certainly kept staff very busy in 2020. From tagging and tracking carp to carp seining and new removal techniques, it’s been a busy year. Check out some of the carp management and see some photos of work the District has done in 2020 in this cool StoryMap here.
Shown above are District and WSB staff (our carp consultant) Mary Newman (WSB), Maggie Karschnia (PLSLWD), Tony Havranek (WSB), Jordan Wein (WSB) and Jeff Anderson (PLSLWD) at a carp seine in 2020.
Since 2015, the District has undertaken a comprehensive effort to reduce common carp in Prior Lake and Spring Lake, creating and implementing an Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPM) to reduce internal phosphorus loading in the lakes which are impaired for excess nutrients including phosphorus.
Besides using traditional techniques of estimating carp biomass and carp seines, the District developed its own traps; herded carp underwater to trapping locations; trained citizens to locate and bait carp; instituted innovative netting techniques and used underwater and stationary cameras to locate carp and improve haul success.
“This is an iterative process, but so far carp removal efforts have resulted in substantial carp biomass removal and progress has been made on meeting the goals,” said Maggie Karschnia, Water Resources Project Manager.
To watch a video of a carp seining event, learn more about the methods used to manage carp, or to find out how residents and lake enthusiasts can help, check out the District’s carp management page here and the Carp Volunteer page here.
View Full Article Best Program, MAWD, award, carp managementThe carp have kept the District very busy in 2020! Check out this StoryMap to see what all we’ve been doing. More information on the District’s common carp management program visit the Carp Management page on our website.
As with many living creatures, carp move around throughout the year. Where do they go and how do we find them? Check out our Journey of a Carp StoryMap!
View Full Article 2020, carp, carp locations, carp management, carp tracking, common carpSign up to help with our carp program!
We are looking for volunteers to assist with several projects:
Training is provided and no experience is necessary. Materials are supplied.
For more information, visit the carp volunteer page and click on each project for more information.
To volunteer: fill out the sign-up form here.
View Full Article carp, carp baiting, carp management, carp tracking, carp volunteers, volunteer, volunteering