The timeline below highlights some key moments and milestones related to invasive carp in Minnesota and the state's efforts to manage invasive carp, which include silver, bighead, grass, and black carp. For more information, read our Invasive Carp web page.
January 2024
Update of Minnesota Invasive Carp Action Plan is released. The plan details Minnesota’s approach to prevention and management of invasive bighead, black, grass, and silver carp, with the key purpose to slow the spread of invasive carp, minimize their impact, and reduce the likelihood of invasive carp reproducing in Minnesota waters.
2023
Update of Minnesota Invasive Carp Action Plan, currently ongoing:
- Will use structured decision-making process to recommend management actions for the update
- Inclusive and transparent process with stakeholders and experts
November-December 2023
The DNR, working with partners, removed a total of 408 invasive carp from Pool 6 of the Mississippi River near Trempealeau, Wisconsin. This was the largest capture of invasive carp in Minnesota to date. The capture was made possible by tracking tagged invasive carp, which led agency staff and contracted commercial fishers to them for removal. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tracking data led DNR to increase surveillance in this area. At DNR's request, Wisconsin DNR crews surveyed Pool 6 for tagged invasive carp. They located a group of tagged invasive carp, pinpointing a site for Minnesota DNR to deploy commercial seining. Increased reports of invasive carp and data from tagged fish indicate that fish were moving in the Mississippi River in spring 2023 during the extended springtime flooding. It is likely that the high-water conditions allowed invasive carp and other fish to move upstream past open dams.
July 2023
DNR receives an appropriation for $1.7 million for invasive carp prevention and management. Planned activities include funding a study on modifying dam operations to prevent upstream movement, completing a 65% design of a deterrent for Lock and Dam 5, adding additional staff to increase tagging and targeted commercial fishing, purchasing field equipment, and investigating methods for selective fish passage that could pass native fish while removing invasive carp.
April-May 2023
High water prompts dams to open on the Mississippi River. Evidence from captures, tracked fish, and jumping observed below dams suggests that this event facilitated movement of invasive carp into Minnesota.
2022
FluEgg modeling of lower St. Croix completed. This model uses hydrology and river morphology to predict if eggs and larvae could survive in the St. Croix, if a spawning event were to occur.
- MNDNR contracted USGS for this project
- Report: The role of hydraulic and geomorphic complexity in predicting invasive carp spawning potential
April 2021
First Modified-Unified Method (MUM) event conducted in Pool 8.
- 31 silver carp removed in this inaugural MUM event
- MUMs conducted each spring and fall as conditions allow since April 2021
- DNR is testing new methods at each event, to try to develop a method that is effective and efficient at capturing invasive carp in low-density populations
- Partnership with USGS, USFWS, Wisconsin DNR, NPS, Wild Rivers Conservancy
December 2020
Invasive Carp Data Dive
- DNR conducted a review of the status of invasive carp in Minnesota and the current science.
- This event improved coordination among programs that work on or adjacent to invasive carp prevention efforts.
March 2020
51 invasive carp captured in Pool 8 by commercial fisher
- Largest single capture to date
- DNR responded with increased commercial fishing in Pool 8
- DNR tagged five silver carp to identify preferred habitats
April-May 2019
High water prompts dam gates to open on the Mississippi River. Research suggests that these “open water” periods are often a time when invasive carp move upstream.
March 2019
Final report completed on study of fish passage at Locks and Dams 2 and 8
- Minnesota DNR contracted University of Minnesota for this project
- Report: Integrating detection, deterrents, and operations at Upper Mississippi River navigation lock and dams
December 2018
Final report completed on study of feasibility of deterrent at Lock and Dam 5
- Minnesota DNR contracted University of Minnesota-Duluth for this project
- Report recommended against an acoustic deterrent at Lock and Dam 5
- Feasibility Study: Using acoustic deterrents
August 2018
Final report completed on study of Minnesota River. Report details hydrology of the Minnesota River to identify opportunities for management | Minnesota River Final Report
- Minnesota DNR contracted Minnesota State University-Mankato for this project
2017
First invasive carp tagged by Minnesota DNR.
- Tagged fish was a bighead carp captured in the St. Croix River just downstream of Stillwater, Minnesota
- Tagging invasive carp required an amendment to state regulations
- Tracking data from this fish has been used to remove 7 other invasive carp to date
- Minnesota DNR continues to tag and track additional invasive carp
2016
Minnesota DNR Windom Area Fisheries Office completes installation of five deterrents and barriers to invasive carp movement in Little Sioux River watershed in southwest Minnesota | Report
2015
Upper Mississippi River Basin states receive first U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grants for invasive carp.
June 2015
Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock permanently closed to prevent invasive carp movement:
- Prevents movement of invasive carp from Minneapolis to Mississippi headwaters
- Federal legislation was passed to close this lock.
- St. Anthony Falls was historically a barrier to fish movement, so this does not alter natural divisions between pools of the Mississippi River.
December 2014
Minnesota Invasive Carp Action Plan updated to include additional monitoring, prevention, and response actions. The updated plan was developed by a work group that included state and federal agencies, local governments, the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and other stakeholders.
July 2012
Minnesota Invasive Carp Monitoring and Response program begins. The invasive carp program monitors the status of invasive carp in Minnesota and conducts targeted removal and response actions by:
- Working with contacted commercial fishers
- Conducting sampling for all life stages of invasive carp
- Monitoring the commercial catch and public reports
- Tagging and tracking invasive carp to identify movement patterns that can be exploited for capture
- Evaluating and implementing new management strategies
July 2012
First Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources-Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (LCCMR-ENRTF) funding for invasive carp. These funds support staffing, equipment, and travel expenses for our invasive carp crew. They are also used to contract commercial fishers for invasive carp removal.
April 2012
First invasive fish consultant hired by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to lead the state’s invasive fish prevention and control efforts.
2011
Minnesota Invasive Carp Action Plan created. The Action Plan lays out a step-wise approach to assess and minimize the threat posed by bighead, black, grass, and silver carp. Plan elements include: 1) early detection and monitoring of susceptible waters; 2) prevention and deterrence; 3) response preparation; 4) management and control; and 5) outreach and communication.
