Invasive Asian carp may move up Ohio river

Man, 68, drowns at Caesar Creek Lake
12:49 a.m.
Water rescues prompt warning from health officials
11:42 p.m.
Beach Waterpark sued for failure to deliver
11:37 p.m.
Raleigh Trammell’s defense opens in felony trial
11:37 p.m.
UD to move satellite campus to Dublin
11:32 p.m.
> More headlines

In this undated file photo, the invasive species silver carp, a variety of the Asian carp, is pictured by the Illinois River in central Illinois.

Marlin Levison/AP In this undated file photo, the invasive species silver carp, a variety of the Asian carp, is pictured by the Illinois River in central Illinois.

By Steve Bennish, Staff Writer Updated 9:18 AM Friday, July 2, 2010

The dreaded Asian carp, known for devastating other fish species and threatening a Great Lakes invasion, is still rare in the upper reaches of the Ohio River, although they are abundant down river from Louisville.

There’s as yet no physical barrier to prevent their movement up river and state officials are watching their movements closely as debate heats up about how to keep them out of Lake Michigan — and having access to all the Great Lakes.

Ohio Department of Natural Resources legislative liaison Trish Lanahan said Thursday, July 1, that the carp’s migration north could virtually wipe out other river fish species. The carp could also destroy the Lake Erie fishery, home to a billion-dollar fishing industry. It’s estimated to be a $10.75 billion destination stop.

“They are such voracious eaters they wipe out food stock for other fish we want — sport fish that create diversity,” she said. A couple of very large adults have been found in the Ohio stretch of the Ohio River, but no breeding populations have been detected, she said. The carp have shown up more commonly in the lower Ohio River bordering Illinois and Indiana, she said.

Last week, officials announced that an Asian carp had been found for the first time beyond electric barriers meant to keep it out of the Great Lakes. Commercial fishermen caught a 3-foot-long, 20-pound carp in Lake Calumet on Chicago’s South Side, six miles from Lake Michigan. A flood could carry the fish into the lake system.

Senators from Michigan and Illinois have proposed a plan to study permanently separating waterways linking the Mississippi River basin and the Great Lakes. Reports also say a spawning population of Asian carp was found in the Wabash River. Fears are that the Wabash could flood into the Maumee River in Indiana that flows into Lake Erie.

“We’re being outmaneuvered by a fish and can’t afford to play catch up,” said Joel Brammeier, president and CEO of the Alliance for the Great Lakes. “We need leadership to anticipate, align and activate on where the carp are going to be — not where they’ve already been.”

Share this article