Officials from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the detection of silver carp, an invasive fish species, in western Wisconsin’s lower Chippewa River and lower Black River.
In May 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) collected 134 water samples from the lower Chippewa River but found no signs of invasive carp. However, reports from anglers in July of jumping fish prompted further investigation. DNR staff confirmed sightings of silver carp at the Dells Dam in Eau Claire, with data indicating their presence on several occasions in late July and August.
The DNR suspects that the carp may have migrated upstream due to high water levels on the Mississippi River during June and July. There are concerns that tributaries, such as the Red Cedar River and the Eau Claire River, could also harbor these invasive species, as they lack barriers preventing fish movement.
Currently, no invasive carp have been reported in the lower Black River, thanks to the dam in Black River Falls acting as a barrier. The USFWS is resampling the Chippewa River, and officials urge community members to report any suspected sightings of invasive carp to local aquatic invasive species staff or fisheries biologists.
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