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New Brighton, MN ~ Ramsey County- Home
- Water Quality
- Carp Control
Updated October 2018 An over abundance of carp can be problematic for lakes. The Common Carp is an invasive fish brought here during the 1880's from Europe. Their impact is as follows:
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Long Lake currently has a lot of carp. The Long Lake Targeted Watershed Project includes projects related to carp management and implementation of this plan started in 2015 and is currently underway. Please reference details in the March 2017 Carp Management Goals and Current Findings report provided by RCWD along with the associated presentation by Matt Kocian on YouTube to the right. This video is about 40 minutes long and contains a wealth of information about Carp in Long Lake and the plan for mitigation.
In September 2017, Box Nets where installed in both the north and south basins of Long Lake. They are being tested as an alternative to winter seining (netting) as a tool for removing adult carp. Signs have been ordered to place on the nets to keep people informed.
Winter seining isn't the most reliable form of removal as the netting can get snagged on the bottom of the lake allowing for easy escape.
RCWD is testing an electronic barrier/guidance system just upstream of Long Lake (in the basin upstream from the train bridge). This system is being evaluated as a means to repel migrating carp, and/or guide them into traps for removal. So far, results look promising, but the real test will come in the spring of 2018 as the carp move upstream. More information can be found in these links:
- Minnesota is watching as the Rice Creek Watershed District tests a new way to remove carp
- Sucking Unwanted Fish Out of Minnesota's Lakes and Rivers May Soon Be a Reality
- Researchers successfully install electric fish guidance system to remove carp during spawning migrations
- Banet_Fieberg_and_Sorensen_2021.pdf - Migration, Homing, and spatial ecology of carp in interconnected lakes. This is a research effort that was focused on migration patterns in Rice Creek chain of lakes.
In June 2018, Carp Solutions provided their three year findings report (Final_3 Year Report_June 26_2018.pdf) titled Developing and Testing a Strategy to Control Common Carp in Long Lake, New Brighton, MN. RCWD is in the process of developing a long term plan based on this work by end of year. We'll send out communication once this is in place.
Big thanks to Matt Kocian and the RCWD team for their leadership and help. This project is breaking new ground and if successful this approach may be used for other lakes across the State.