Grass Carp in Lake Erie

[realist]

Actually, the Asian Carp were first imported into the US under a Federal Wildlife Agency permit issued to Catfish farms along the Mississippi River. They entered the river system when the Miss. flooded over its banks ( a fairly regular occurrence) and joined with the catfish ponds located nearby.

The Feds are responsible for this, along with the introduction of other non-indigeneous species .

[Rufus]

What is most concerning to me is that some defective human being could release Asian carp into the Lakes. What's to prevent some jerk from capturing some live carp on the Illinois river, hop into his car and drive to an obscure Lake Michigan beach, and let them free?!? Answer is nothing. I agree...it's not a question of if Asian carp will infest the Great Lakes...rather the question is when.

[southsideriverrat]

Ironically Maumee Bay State Park has grass carp stocked in some of their ponds to control the seaweed. These carp have been in these ponds for quite a few years now. These ponds are very close to Lake Erie.

Just to state the obvious...the grass carp has been in the Great Lakes & watershed for likely well over a hundred years. They are a long established non-native species to which everyone has grown accustomed.

The Bighead and Silver carp species are the new intruders which are so worriesome

[Guest in Toledo]

To add to toledoboatphotographer’s comment, carp were imported and introduced into Lake Erie, at metro Toledo, for both business enterprise and the amusement of early 1900 resort guests. The golden carp kept in a Point Place pond for the resort guests escaped into Lake Erie from severe flooding. The 1937 picture is for the dock, or inlet, to the commercial carp ponds in a place we know as Morin Point at Lake Erie. The escaped carp into Lake Erie from these enterprises have been minimal to boating, sport fishing, and recreational use of the Lake Erie.

[Guest]

I have been saying for years that the Corps needed to look at Lake Erie Not Lake Michigan. The Cal Sag has an electric barrier that prevents the fish from coming north but the tributaries to Lake Erie have nothing. Instead of spending money on studies they need to put a barrier on the rivers leading to Lake Erie.

[toledoboatphotographer]

Ironically Maumee Bay State Park has grass carp stocked in some of their ponds to control the seaweed. These carp have been in these ponds for quite a few years now. These ponds are very close to Lake Erie.

[MilwBob]

I don't think it was ever a matter of would carp make it to the lakes as a matter of when.

[Timerover51]

It look like the Chicago River is not the only possible way Asian Carp can get into the Great Lakes. The following article shows that Grass Carp have possibly made it into Lake Erie through the Sandusky River in Ohio.

http://www.ohio.com/news/federal-study- ... e-1.440559