Minnesota DNR removing invasive carp near La Crosse
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will lead an intensive invasive carp removal effort next month in the Mississippi River near La Crosse, it announced Thursday.
The modified unified method combines netting and herding techniques to drive concentrate invasive carp from a large area of water into a small zone for removal. The DNR will focus on Pool 8 of the Mississippi River beginning April 5.
This is the first time the MUM method has been used in Minnesota or Wisconsin waters and the first time it has been used anywhere as an early detection and rapid response technique. The DNR is conducting this work in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“Thanks to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, we continue to break ground in the effort against invasive carp in our waters,” said Christine Goepfert, associate director of the National Parks Conservation Association and co-lead of the Stop Carp Coalition. “This field exercise to reduce carp in the Mississippi River is a positive step forward. This effort will help protect waters upstream, including the national park waters of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.”
This thorough search and removal effort will last for seven to 10 days. Progressive areas of Pool 8 will be closed for one to three days during this time, temporarily suspending commercial fishing and recreational use of portions of Pool 8. The operation will pause on Saturdays and Sundays, due to typically higher weekend boat traffic.
The DNR and other agencies will report the results when the operation and follow-up analyses are complete.
Invasive carp captures must be reported to the DNR immediately. Call 651-587-2781 or email invasivecarp.dnr@state.mn.us. Take a photo and transport the carp to the nearest DNR fisheries office or arrange for it to be picked up by a DNR official.
More information about invasive carp is available on the DNR invasive carp webpage.
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