Carp in Utah Lake

[cat_man]

Looks like I was able to answer my own request from the other day:


Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 12:00 AM [url "http://www.harktheherald.com/print.php?sid=57413"][/url] | [url "http://www.harktheherald.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Recommend_Us&file=index&req=FriendSend&sid=57413"][/url]

Federal biologists counting carp in Utah Lake

Caleb Warnock DAILY HERALD


Getting rid of carp in Utah Lake begins with finding out how many there are.
Federal biologists have been netting thousands of carp in Utah Lake for the past week, hoping to get enough statistical data about their numbers to form an estimate of the lakewide population. [url "http://heraldextra.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=display_ads&file=index&func=display_ad&ad=00266821"][/url][url "http://adserver.harktheherald.com/adclick.php?n=a1d19a67"][/url]
It is the second year carp here have been counted by scientists, said Reed Harris of the June Sucker Recovery Program. A similar study last year showed their could be 7.5 million carp in the lake, but more information was needed.
"We've been doing some intense studies to determine the population in the lake," he said. "We're trying to develop a model of how many we might have to take out each year in order to get rid of carp in Utah Lake."
The sampling could prove that carp are so numerous that it would be physically impossible to rid the lake of them, he said. Or it could show that scientists would need to remove a certain number of the fish a year for a certain number of years.
There is already a privately owned fishing company that has been harvesting carp in the lake for decades to sell to pet food manufacturers and others. Despite that harvest, carp numbers continue to increase.
Until carp are removed from the lake, June sucker, one of the world's most endangered fish, and native only to Utah Lake, is unlikely to make a recovery, Harris said.
If all of the fish in Utah Lake were weighed together, 90 percent of that weight would be carp, he said.
"Not only are they competitive with all the other fish species, but they destroy any plants that used to be in the lake," he said. "They stir up the bottom, they make the lake more turbid, they make the environment suitable basically to only themselves, so other fish can't live there."
If the study shows carp are too numerous to be removed by netting them over several years, experts could try diking and draining portions of the lake or even poisoning the fish, but those would be last resorts, he said.
Restoring Utah Lake's ecosystem to where June sucker thrive again would also benefit other species and people who use the lake, he said.
Experts would like to start removing carp from Utah Lake as early as next year. The effort could cost tens of millions of dollars.
"This is about trying to make Utah Lake a better place not just for June sucker but also for people," he said.
In the 1800s, Utah Lake was home to at least six native species of fish.
Today, the June sucker and the Utah sucker are the only two remaining.
The June sucker occurs naturally nowhere else in the world. After a decade of study, experts believe there are as few as 300 adult wild June suckers left.
In 1986, the federal government named the June sucker an endangered species, allowing its habitat to be protected by law. Soon thereafter, nine water-user and wildlife groups with interest in Deer Creek Reservoir formed a 40-year, $40 million plan to save the fish, called the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program.

[i] Caleb Warnock can be reached at 756-7669 ext. 19 or cwarnock@heraldextra.com.[/i]This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D1.
[signature]

[svpdgcar]

[#505000]As much as I hate the carp and would like to see then cease to exsist as a species, I have been pondering this for a few weeks now and have some concerns. [/#505000]

[#505000]I know in a lot of walleye waters there seems to be a boom bust cycle as the walleye eat themselves out of house and home for periods of time. I've never seen or heard of this in Utah Lake. Is this because of a very large carp fry population?? Can the white bass and other speices provide enough walleye forage to prevent the boom bust cycle without dropping dramatic numbers of other game fish?? [/#505000] [#505000]Maybe the carp aren't so bad after all.[/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]Just a thought. What do you all think?[/#505000]
[signature]

[PrinceFisher]

First of all, let me say that I'm not an expert, but I believe the following statements are worth repeating:

[size 1]"Not only are [the carp] competitive with all the other fish species, but they destroy any plants that used to be in the lake," he said. "They stir up the bottom, they make the lake more turbid, they make the environment suitable basically to only themselves, so other fish can't live there."[/size]

I don't believe that if the carp are removed from Utah Lake that it will become a crystal clear lake like the high-alpine gems in the High Uintas; however, from all that I've read, I do believe that many things will improve, not the least of which being the survival of new vegetation around the lake, which in turn will provide better habitat and structure for other species of fish.

Your concerns for the beloved walleye are valid, but there are so many other species whose young would benefit from better vegetation around the lake that I don't doubt that the 'eyes would still have a lot to eat.

That's just my opinion.
[signature]

[cat_man]

Hey that's very sophisticated of you to be thinking ecologically like that Gary! True, the carp babies are definitely chow for all the predator species in Utah Lake for part of the year. From when they hatch until they are too big too eat (they grow up to 8 to 10 inches in a single year I believe), they are chow for walleye, white bass, catfish and bullhead (bass too I guess). By about October I think they are too big for all but the largest walleye and catfish to eat. It would be interesting to see what happened if that large chunk of their food supply were to be removed. Maybe the other species would get a stronger hold and be able to provide enough forage, or maybe some red shiners or other baitfish would take off and fill the gap. I don't think we'll need to worry too much though -- they'll never completely irradicate the carp, maybe severely reduce their numbers, but never completely get rid of 'em.
[signature]

[fish4fish]

Look at yuba though, carp fry grow quite fast, before too long the fry are too big for the predators, thats why you get the large carp numbers.

IMHO, the walleye dont boom and bust more because of the white bass, crappie, largie, and muddie fry then anything else, oy yeah and goverment funded feeding programs (june sucker fry planting)
[signature]

[PrinceFisher]

One more thing, I was walking through Sportsman's the other day, and at the archery counter a salesman was showing off a recurve bow that was set up for fishing. It had a large spool wrapped with fishing line secured to its front, and the arrow that went with it had spring-supported metal gaffs protruding outward near the broadhead to secure the fish once it was arrowed.

On one particular day earlier this year while I was crappie and walleye fishing at Lincoln Beach with my sons, I couldn't believe the number of spawning carp flopping around nearly everywhere on the shorelines. I would have had a field day with that recurve fishing bow.

I believe that we as sportsmen could help with the removal of the carp in various ways if the UDWR enlisted our help. I'm not just talking about shooting them with bows, either.
[signature]

[svpdgcar]

[#505000]One thing that I've pondered but I doubt it would be practical, would be a bounty system similar to what they did with wolves in the early part of last century. Say you get a nickle for every carp head (or full body if you wanted to eliminate the potential for rotting carcasses around the lake) you bring into a DWR office. I would imagine you would get a large number of youth and maybe even some adults spending some serious time looking to make a few extra bucks. This would be especially sucessful during the carp spawn when they roll on the shore lines. It would cost some bucks but you would get a lot of the slimy bastards especially during the spawn preventing them from laying eggs. [/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]At 7 million carp at $.05 a head the program would only cost the DWR $350,000. Heck make it $0.25 a head and it's still under 2 million.[/#505000] [#505000]At $0.25 a head I think I could spend a little time doing some serious carp hunting. [][/#505000]

[#505000]Heck I've been thinking about scoring a recurve bow for carp hunting, I never thought to check the pawn shops Pat. That's a great idea!![/#505000]
[signature]

[FlyingFish]

Get a bunch of people for a Carp derby.
First Carp.
Biggest Carp.
Most Carp.
Who can burry a dead Carp the quickest.
etc.

Another reason to fish with friends.

(That, and I can try to steal svpdgcar's lucky hat [oops promised I wouldnt do that])
[signature]

[svpdgcar]

[#505000]Looks like I'm going to have to keep the lucky hat in a bank safety deposit bx between trips!!! [][/#505000]

[#505000]Well I'm going to break it out tonight/tomorrow and go pester some fish. I'm going to have to hire a hat security contingent it looks like!! [/#505000]
[signature]

[FlyingFish]

Where you headed?
Im going to try to pull a fast one on the family and scoot out myself. A friend of mine pointed me to a good spot on U lake for some Whities.
Where?? you ask.
Ill tell you tomorrow - If I get out.
[signature]

[svpdgcar]

[#505000]I'm headed to Utah Lake. Likely Lincoln Beach I just can't decide if I want to go tonight anf night fish or in the morning.[/#505000]
[signature]

[tlspyder13]

Your right 65# is pretty heavy for carp. On compound bows you can lower the poundage by loosening the bolts that hold the limbs on. Turn each bolt the same to keep your bow balanced though. If it looks like they are uneven already try to balance out the difference and have some fun. Should be able to crank it down to 45# or 50#. More then enough to go through a carp but save your arm a little.
[signature]

[Shrimpboy]

If they are able to successfully take care of the carp, then a lack of forage for the walleye should be the least of your concerns. If they still can't get the numbers of june suckers that they want then which species do you think will be the next target? It might be harder to get an anti-eye PR campain going, but I bet they would try.

Personally, I think their only real option will be to dike off a small section of the lake, poison it, and manage it purely for the june sucker. When and if the june suckers are able to overpopulate, then their natural enemy, the Bonneville Cutt could be introduced. However, I don't really know anything because I don't have an advanced degree in biology.
[signature]