How Did Asian Carp Get in Lake Calumet?

Invasive bighead carp
Credit: USGS

Scientists from Southern Illinois University report the Asian carp found in Lake Calumet are most likely the result of a cultural release.

Human introduction is one of over twenty ways aquatic species may be introduced to new environments.

The scientists released their findings after conducting tests on the six year old fish caught in June.

Lake Calumet is the largest body of water in Chicago. Once a shallow natural lake, the waterway has been heavily modified by man.

Despite human influence, the lake and surrounding area sustains fish and  wildlife. The Lake Calumet basin has been designated an Important Bird Area of Illinois.

Invasive Asian Carp, a collection of four distinct fish species, represent a serious, but manageable threat to the Mississippi and Great Lakes Region.

Introduced in the 1970s by southern catfish farmers, Asian Carp traveled north through U.S. waterways to their current location in the Illinois River.

To cope with the further spread of these invasive species of carp, regulators installed electric barriers to prevent further progression.

Further preventative measures being considered include lock closures which would cause disruption of commercial traffic through the northern most locks on the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS).

For more information on the negative effects of Chicago Area Waterway System lock closures, visit: www.unlockourjobs.org