Utah Carp Removal Results

[TubeDude]

[#0000FF][url "http://www.sltrib.com/home/2855320-155/utah-lake-carp-census-gauges-whether"]HERE IS A LINK[/url] to an article in the Salt Lake Tribune this morning. It tells about the carp removal program and what new studies are showing...or not.
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[wall3y3]

Does anybody know what the original native fish species in Utah lake were? After reading the article I was kind of curious. I can find references that say there were thirteen and some say fourteen original species but none of them say what they were. I know 4 of them (Bonneville cutthroat, Utah Lake Sculpin, Utah Sucker, and the June Sucker) but not the rest.
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[albinotrout]

Well it doesn't say too much.
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[wiperhunter2]

"The data show a significant decline in density of carp from year to year. We did not see a related increase in the other species over the first three years," said Kevin Landom, a USU lab manager who worked on DWR's carp-netting boats for the first three years of the study.

Could have said more but it sounds like at least there is a decline in overall carp numbers.
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[FishMcFisherson]

The "eye test" certainly doesn't show a decline. Meh, the government blows money on much more worthless ventures.
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[Therapist]

Don't worry, it gets better with the construction of the Provo River Delta project. This will divert the Provo River out of the last couple of miles at the lake, out into the fields to the North West of the river. The plan is to reconstruct a delta environment for the suckers to use as a nursery and refuge. All part of the Sucker recovery program, operative word, "sucker"..

This article says that some of the rooted vegetation is taking hold, really, where??

To answer the question on the native Utah Lake species, Utah Chub were present also. I have never heard that there were 13 native species. If there were that many, I imagine that most of them were small minnow species that were eaten when the carp were introduced and habitat destroyed. Mt. White Fish were also present, Utah Lake Cutthroat, Redside Shiners, several species of Dace and Sculpin that are native to Utah.

I personally would lump the Mt. Sucker and June Sucker together as the same species. I am still a doubting Thomas when it comes to the Junie being a separate species.

[scartinez]

I can't see things getting any better with the water getting as low as it does. It's a cyclical lake. Ups and downs with water levels. I'm sure the carp are loving it right now with the low water.

Why not drain it even more for a couple years, let some vegetation grow back into the deeper portions of the lake. Dredge some new areas. Then fill it. That'll work lol.
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[rippinlipps]

After reading that article, I want the government to pay me 20 cents a pound also. When out bowfishing, I can get kill a few hundred pounds a weekend. Then I watch them sink. I personally don't see any decrease in numbers or size of the carp. It's all a big waste of money. They could drain the lake and kill what's there, but the carp would be back in full numbers the following year. Let natural selection continue and save our money.
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[TubeDude]

[quote wall3y3]Does anybody know what the original native fish species in Utah lake were? After reading the article I was kind of curious. I can find references that say there were thirteen and some say fourteen original species but none of them say what they were. I know 4 of them (Bonneville cutthroat, Utah Lake Sculpin, Utah Sucker, and the June Sucker) but not the rest.[/quote]

[#0000FF]Here are a couple of things I have collected on Utah Lake species. [/#0000FF]
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[TubeDude]

[quote wiperhunter2]

"The data show a significant decline in density of carp from year to year. We did not see a related increase in the other species over the first three years," said Kevin Landom, a USU lab manager who worked on DWR's carp-netting boats for the first three years of the study.

Could have said more but it sounds like at least there is a decline in overall carp numbers.[/quote]

[#0000FF]It is all subjective. Whoever you talk to has a different idea or opinion. Even those doing the netting and surveys are subject to getting skewed information.

The June Sucker Program folks take whatever info they can use to justify their programs...like the Provo River Delta thing...and pump it up in their reports. Then the carp seiners say and do whatever they have to in order to keep getting paid by the feds for netting carp they can't sell elsewhere. DWR gets out periodically and hits a predetermined number of spots with the seiners and tries to determine whether or not the sky is falling...or if it was just debris from a passing airplane.

As an angler and a longtime Utah Lake eekologist...and as a half-fast biologist...I have my own opinions.

June Suckers? Who needs 'em? They served their purpose...feeding the starving pioneers. But progress has marched past them and they are not essential...anywhere. Never good to lose a species. But what the heck? We gonna go back and retroactively save the T-rex? It chaps my hide when I see human beings going without medical care...or food...while obscene sums of fed money go into killing carp.

Carp numbers? Yeah, my personal observations coincide with the report. There are fewer carp and bigger carp. I catch and shoot my fair share of carpkind every year on Utah Lake. And I can make the observation that there are fewer carp in most areas. I can also say that the average carp I see and/or kill is somewhat bigger and healthier than those from about 5 years ago. Not sure what the program has done to reduce the total biomass of carp but it has put a noticeable dent in the numbers.

One of the big monkey wrenches in the whole equation right now is the third year of low water levels. That adversely affects just about every species EXCEPT carp. A good example is the white bass. This year is the worst I have seen for a long time in terms of white bass numbers. There was a poor spawn AGAIN this year...as evidenced by the lack of spawners up in the tributaries...and by the very low numbers of baby white bass showing up inside harbors. In "normal" years there are hordes of whitettes boiling all over the harbors by this time of year. Can't even count on catching a few for bait at all the usual places. Gonna be grim for the walleyes under the ice this year. Probably be a lot of predators starve this winter like they did in the last drought winter of 2004-2005.

BUT...the carp don't care. They can spawn in a teacup full of water. Back in about 1930 there was a super drought that left Utah Lake averaging about 1 foot deep. Most other species died out but carp numbers exploded. Hmmmmm?
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