MN DNR East Metro Rivers Telemetry Study Progress

East Metro Rivers Telemetry Project Study 4 Job 923 Progress Report 2013

Special thanks to JOEL K. STIRAS, MN DNR FISHERIES SPECIALIST

INTRODUCTION
Fish passage barriers are being considered in multiple rivers in Minnesota to prevent upstream migration from an expanding Asian carp population. The current and most imminent proposal is for a barrier to be installed in the Mississippi River below Lock and Dam #1 (Ford Dam) to prevent upstream fish migration through the locks, thereby protecting the Upper Mississippi River, its tributaries, and many lakes of high recreational value in Minnesota. At this time, it is not known what type of barrier will be installed to prevent fish passage. The preferred option is an electrical barrier, as they are viewed as the most effective type of fish barrier (besides an impassable dam.) Hydro-acoustic bubble barriers are also being considered. Existing research has indicated that an electric barrier would repel all species of fish, while a hydro-acoustic barrier could be more specific at repelling Asian carp. However, this would likely be the largest hydro-acoustic barrier ever installed and electric barriers are viewed as more dependable. In addition, a hydro-acoustic barrier installed to repel Asian carp would also repel catfish (Claire Madson, Ovivo USA, LLC, personal communication, 2011).

To determine the effectiveness of a fish barrier, whether it is electric, hydro-acoustic, or some other type, a study to evaluate fish movements and passage through Lock and Dam #1 was developed to assess fish passage prior to barrier installation. It is important to understand how existing fish populations navigate in the river system and if a man-made barrier is installed, no what type of barrier it is, we need to know if the barrier would negatively impact the native fish populations. Different outcomes could be expected depending on the type of barrier installed. In addition, fish movements were studied outside of the immediate vicinity of Lock and Dam #1 to assess their movements in the large rivers of the East Metro Fisheries management area, including other reaches of the Mississippi River, the St. Croix River, and the lower portion of the Minnesota River, which is managed by the West Metro Fisheries office.

Using acoustic transmitters in various riverine fish species can be a very efficient way to track and measure fish movements. Most universities, state, and federal agencies conducting Asian carp fish telemetry studies in riverine environments have used and/or currently use Vemco acoustic equipment (Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada). Vemco equipment was preferred as large numbers of fish can have transmitters on the same frequency, which allows for mobile tracking as well as tracking by deployed remote receivers. The deployed receivers can be placed in key riverine passage areas and in suspected important habitat areas (such as backwaters) to best quantify fish movements. In addition, other studies further downstream that are using the same equipment are implanting transmitters into Asian carp. Should an Asian carp with a transmitter from those projects travel upstream to our study area, we would be able to detect and identify that fish, and potentially track it for targeted removal. Maintaining multiple deployed acoustic receivers to detect fish that may travel large distances in a river as well as mobile tracking to define more specific habitat selection by implanted fish would allow us to learn a great deal about our local riverine fish species, their use of the lock and dam system in the Mississippi River, as well allow us to detect Asian carp implanted by other universities and agencies (DeGrandchamp et al. 2008).

Fish species chosen were species that could be directly impacted by a barrier to prevent lock passage; were species that could be impacted by Asian carp expansion; and were species that are good surrogates to Asian carp. These fish species included, smallmouth buffalo, common carp, freshwater drum, paddlefish, flathead catfish, shovelnose sturgeon, lake sturgeon, and white bass. Most fish species were to receive larger transmitters with up to 10 years in battery life. Smaller transmitters were needed for white bass and had an estimated battery life of 1.45 years. A total of 150 transmitters were to be implanted in 2013. Sixty transmitters were to be implanted into fish in Pool 1 of the Mississippi River, 60 transmitters were for fish in Pool 2 of the Mississippi River, and 30 were for fish in the St. Croix River.

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DNR NEWS — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 15, 2014

DNR partnership expands invasive carp monitoring and detection

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC), will begin comprehensive monitoring and detection of bighead, black, grass, and silver carp in Minnesota waters this year. Currently, small numbers of bighead, grass, and silver carp are present in Minnesota.

The goal of monitoring is to better understand the current status of invasive carp in the waters of Minnesota where habitat may allow them to establish self-sustaining populations. Detecting invasive carp in Minnesota waters is challenging because their numbers are low and they are difficult to catch using traditional sampling equipment.

The DNR employs a variety of techniques to gather data about invasive carp, including: commercial fishing contracts, targeted field sampling, eDNA (genetic surveillance), and telemetry. Detecting individual fish and observing changes in overall population, helps inform management efforts and identify ways to prevent the spread of invasive carp.

“These efforts are an important element of the Minnesota invasive carp action plan, because invasive carp species are not yet established in Minnesota,” said Nick Frohnauer, DNR invasive fish coordinator. “Expanding our knowledge of their presence and population dynamics is important to establish timelines and direct deterrence measures.”
Previous monitoring efforts for these invasive carp were focused on the Mississippi River from Hastings to Coon Rapids, St. Croix River to Taylor’s Falls, and the mouth of the Minnesota River. These efforts, combined with additional data from Iowa and Illinois, indicate that for the Mississippi River, the leading edge of established populations of bighead and silver carp is in northern Iowa. As a result, the DNR and partner agencies plan to:

Expand sampling into Mississippi River Pools 5a, 6, and 8 (in southeastern Minnesota).
Conduct detection surveys of invasive carp on the Minnesota River while also gathering baseline data on native aquatic communities.
Maintain sampling stations established on southwestern Minnesota rivers and streams to detect if invasive carp expand into Minnesota via the Missouri River.
Continue collaborating with MAISRC on collecting water samples from Lock and Dam 1, Lock and Dam 5, and Taylor’s Falls for future analysis.

The DNR is also working on or supporting additional projects to deter the expansion of invasive carp into Minnesota, including: St. Anthony Falls, Lock and Dam 1, Mississippi River Lock and Dams 2, 5, and 8 (MAISRC research locations), and southwestern Minnesota.

For more information, visit ” target=”_blank”>http://www.mndnr.gov/AIS.