Eric Leis, La Crosse Fish Health Center, holds a bighead carp during the 6th annual Carp Corral . - FWS photo

Heidi Keuler, LaCrosse FRO, holds a silver carp that just jumped into the boat during the 6th annual Carp Corral. - FWS photo

Over 40 silver carp leap out of the water behind the Service boat, during the 6th annual Carp Corral . - FWS photo

Approximately 80 silver carp leap out of the water behind Heidi Keuler, during the 6th Annual Carp Corral. - FWS photo

Illinois’ sunny skies and warm temperatures greeted La Crosse FRO biologists including Heidi Keuler, Louise Mauldin, Ann Runstrom, Pam Thiel, Dave Wedan, and Scott Yess, during the 2007 Annual Goby Round-Up and Asian Carp Corral. 

The 12^th annual Goby Round up and 6^th annual Carp Corral took place, June 11 to 1. 

A total of 14 crews monitored over 180 miles of the Illinois Waterway from Blue Island to Havana.  The crews consisted of 50 individuals from federal agencies (FWS, USGS, and COE), state agencies (IL DNR, INHS, and IL/IN Sea Grant), aquariums (Shedd Aquarium and Discovery World), the Cook County Forest Preserve, the City of Chicago, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Field Museum of Natural History, and The Nature Conservancy. 

Objectives of the survey were to locate the downstream leading edge and relative abundance of round goby and determine the relative abundance and upstream distribution of the invasive silver and bighead carp.  In addition, round goby, bighead, silver, grass, and common carp were collected as part of the Service’s Wild Fish Health Survey.

Since 2002, an electrical fish barrier in the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal near Romeoville, Illinois, has been in operation to prevent and slow the spread of nonindigenous aquatic species.  Originally the pilot barrier was intended to prevent the round goby from advancing from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River.  Now biologists and fishermen hope the barrier will be effective at preventing Asian carp from reaching Lake Michigan and the rest of the Great Lakes.  However, the barrier’s electrodes are starting to wear out due to corrosion.

A new barrier has been constructed just downstream from the first barrier that is able to repel small fish more effectively than the pilot barrier.  The new barrier will also have a longer lifespan.  Currently, the new barrier is being tested for commercial barge and recreational boater safety before it is fully operational.

Results indicate round goby were not found any farther downstream than where they were collected in July of 2004 by the INHS, just below the Peoria Lock and Dam (nearly 170 miles from Lake Michigan and half the distance to the Mississippi River).  In addition, abundance of the round goby seemed to decrease from last year in Dave Wedan’s stretch in Joliet downstream from the barrier.

During this year’s surveillance, a bighead carp was collected at River Mile 281.5.  Previously, the most upstream record of a bighead was from a 2002 collection at River Mile 275.  This now places bighead carp about 15 miles below the electrical barrier and 45 miles from Lake Michigan.   A total of three bighead carp were collected by our monitoring crew in the Dresden Island Pool.  A bow fisherman shot two bigheads that were verified by IL DNR the week before our surveillance efforts.  This indicates that the number of bighead carp is probably increasing in the Dresden Island Pool.  Abundance of the bighead and silver carp are increasing in other pools as well.  Eric Leis from the La Crosse Fish Health Center (FHC) has worked in the Peoria Pool (or the stretch of the river from Starved Rock State Park to Illinois River Mile 223) for the past four years.  He has observed a significant increase in the number of Asian carp netted.  During the 4-day sampling period in 2006, 128 bighead and silver carp were collected.  And this year, 236 bighead and silver carp were collected.  In addition, 60 “flying” carp jumped in the boat.

Although it seems as though the populations of Asian carp are increasing, the encouraging news is that they have not been collected above the Brandon Road Lock and Dam.

Carp samples were checked for bacterial and viral pathogens including Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) and Spring Viremia of Carp Virus (SVCV).  In 2003, SVCV was found in common carp collected in the Calumet Sag Channel.  Although it poses no threat to humans, it is highly contagious to carp, goldfish, koi, and minnows and could cause locally significant mortalities in these fish populations.  The results from this year’s sampling are not yet available.

The Goby Round-up and Carp Corral garnered abundant media interest, due in no small part to the outreach efforts of Shedd Aquarium. The public is becoming more aware of the impact aquatic nuisance species can have on the Great Lakes and Mississippi River ecosystems.  National ABC covered the story and it was aired on Good Morning America, and Chicago, New York City, and La Crosse affiliates, as well as many other stations across the country.  FOX’s Chicago affiliate filmed our operations and incorporated it into a special on aquatic nuisance species and also did a post-event interview for a newscast.  CBS-Chicago also reported on our field activities.  Additionally, the event was covered by many newspapers including the Washington Post, Daily Southtown, Joliet Herald News, Wilmington Free Press, Morris Daily Herald, La Salle News Tribune, and Mason County Democrat.  Furthermore, there was coverage on WBBM Radio in Chicago, Illinois Public Radio, and the Illinois Radio Network.

La Crosse FRO thanks all of its many wonderful partners for their continued support.  We couldn’t have had such success without them.  Many of the partners have been with the Goby Round-up from the very beginning.  Thanks again for rounding up the gobies and corralling the carp!