Updated April 2014
Asian Carp Distribution in North America
K. Baerwaldt1, A. Benson 2, K. Irons 3
1 US Fish and Wildlife Service; Kelly_Baerwaldt@[Link]
2 US Geological Survey; abenson@[Link]
3 Illinois Department of Natural Resources; [Link]@[Link]
Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), silver carp (H. molitrix), black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus)
and grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), are together referred to as Asian carp. These fish are highly
invasive and threaten the integrity of native fish species and ecosystems as their spread progresses
throughout the Mississippi River Basin of North America. Of immediate concern is the threat that two of
these species (bighead carp and silver carp) pose to the Great Lakes. Due to the proximity of large
populations of bighead and silver carp in the middle and lower segments of the Illinois River, the upper
Illinois River (Waterway) and the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) have been under intensive
monitoring. Since 2009, this effort has been overseen by the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee
(ACRCC). In addition, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has constructed a series of electric barriers
on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal outside Chicago, Illinois, in hopes of preventing the further spread
of aquatic invasive species such as Asian carp between the Mississippi River Basin and the Great Lakes.
The first barrier began providing electricity to the water in 2002 and to date, only one bighead carp has
been found above the barrier in the waterway (Lake Calumet, June 2010). The presence of the less talked
about black carp and grass carp is also concerning, and effects on the ecology of lake and river
environments has the attention of scientists and managers. The USACE, in consultation with federal, state,
and local stakeholders, is conducting the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study, which
evaluates options and technologies available to prevent the transfer of aquatic invasive species (Asian carp
and other species) between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins via aquatic pathways. Other
efforts of the ACRCC can be found at [Link]. This report is to share succinctly the efforts of
biologists across the U.S. to graphically document the current knowledge of Asian carp populations.
To adequately assess the distribution of Asian carp species, an Asian Carp Questionnaire was distributed
via email to biologists at many federal, state, academic, private consulting, and non-governmental
organizations to solicit input and current data/knowledge on the presence of Asian carp (bighead carp,
silver carp, and grass carp) at all life stages in their waterways through 2012. A total of 81 respondents
from 22 states contributed to these efforts. In addition, a large source of information was data compiled by
the ACRCC’s Monitoring and Response Work Group which includes data from 2010 in detail for the CAWS,
and some studies also covered a majority of the Illinois Waterway. Lastly, the U.S. Geological Survey’s
Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, a clearinghouse for distribution information on Asian carp as
well as many other species, was accessed for additional locations. Data from these sources are compiled in
the maps below. Basins where carp are present are represented on the maps by Hydrologic Units
([Link] Attachment 1 also shows the questionnaire and response table, as
well as a map representation of the responses.
The intent is to continually update these maps as data becomes available, and to have them serve as
reference documents for biologists, managers, and decision makers working with Asian carp in North
America.
Suggested citation: Baerwaldt, K., A. Benson, and K. Irons. 2013. Asian Carp Distribution in North America. Report to
the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee, April 2013. (updated April 2014)
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Updated April 2014
Map 1. Distribution of both bighead and silver carp in the Mississippi River, Ohio River, and Great Lakes in
North America. The green shaded areas indicate adult presence of at least one individual fish in each
delineated watershed. The areas in red indicate young-of-year (YOY) capture locations or where eggs have
been collected, indicating natural reproduction. In Lake Erie from 1995 to 2000, three adult bighead carp
have been captured in the western basin by commercial fishermen. Two of which were in the waters off
Sandusky, Ohio, and the third was captured on the Canadian side opposite Sandusky.
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Updated April 2014
Map 2. Distribution of both bighead and silver carp in the Mississippi River, Ohio River, and Great Lakes in
North America with the addition of capture locations of black and grass carp individuals. Grass carp are
known to have established populations in the central Mississippi River Basin and in the Texas Gulf Coast
drainage. The reproductive status of wild-caught black carp is unknown. Note: shading is consistent as that
in Map 1. In Lake Erie from 1995 to 2000, three adult bighead carp have been captured in the western
basin by commercial fishermen. Two of which were in the waters off Sandusky, Ohio, and the third was
captured on the Canadian side opposite Sandusky.
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Updated April 2014
Map 3 depicts the Chicago Area locations for bighead and silver carp individual captures. The green shaded
areas indicate adult presence of at least one individual fish in each delineated watershed. The areas in red
indicate young-of-year (YOY) capture locations or where eggs have been collected, indicating natural
reproduction. Fish captured in isolated ponds without access to CAWS or Illinois Waterway are depicted
by the yellow boxes.
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Updated April 2014
Appendix 1. Questionnaire, Responses by state, Respondent table
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Updated April 2014
6
Updated April 2014
Respondent Name, title Respondent Agency
Duane Chapman Research Fish Biologist,
USGS
Columbia, MO
Hal Schramm Research Biologist and Leader,
USGS
Mississippi State, MS
Michael A. Goehle, Aquatic Invasive Species
USFWS
Coordinator, Amherst, NY
Bobby Wilson, Chief of Fisheries, ANS rep on MRBP Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
John Biagi, Chief of Fisheries Georgia DNR
Ron Brooks, Fisheries Division Director KY Dept of Fish and Wildlife Resources
Mike Smith, ANS Coordinator South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks
Steven Schainost, Rivers and Streams Program Manager Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Mark Flammang, District Fisheries Management
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Biologist
Doug Keller, Aquatic Habitat Coordinator Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources
John Dettmers, Senior Fishery Biologist Great Lakes Fishery Commission
John Navarro, Program Administrator Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources
Byron Karns, Biologist, Aquatic Invasive Species St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, National Park
Program Coordinator Service
John Anfinson, Chief Mississippi National River and
National Park Service
Recreation Area
Andy Bartels, LTRM fish specialist for Pool 8 Field
Wisconsin Dept of Natural Resources
Station
Ron Benjamin, MICRA Chair Wisconsin Dept of Natural Resources
Beth Bear, Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Paul Sleeper, Fisheries Management Biologist Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Curtis Tackett Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
David Britton U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Brent Bristow Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Doug Carney, Rivers Biologist Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
David Clapp, Research Station Manager Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Brian Gunderman, Senior Fisheries Management
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Biologist
Tim Edison, Large River Ecologist Illinois Natural History Survey
Bryan Hayes, Fisheries Management Biologist Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Wayne Herndon, District management biologist Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
Shawn Hirst, Fisheries Biologist Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
Jeff Thomas, Biological Programs Manager Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission
Frank Jernejcic, Fishery Biologist West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
Mike Mounce, District Fisheries Biologist Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Nerissa Michaels, Large River Fisheries Ecologist Illinois Natural History Survey
Steve Robillard, biologist Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Patrick H. Short, Mississippi River Fisheries Biologist Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Gary Sobotka, Fisheries Biologist Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Dan Sallee, Fisheries Biologist Illinois Department of Natural Resources
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Updated April 2014
Rob Klumb - Project Leader USFWS
Keith Meals, Conservation Resources Management
Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
Biologist
Jerry Brown, Fisheries Biologist Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
Larry Bull, District Fisheries Biologist Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
Stephen Brown- Coastal Region Fisheries Biologist Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
Jan Hoover, Research Fishery Biologist USACE ERDC
Nathan Aycock, Conservation Resource Biologist Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
Dave Tunink, Assist. Admin. Fisheries Management
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Section
Tim Schlagenhaft, DNR Mississippi River Coordinator Minnesota Dept of Natural Resources
Joe Ridings, LTRMP fish component lead Missouri Department of Conservation
Mark Boone, Big River Specialist Missouri Department of Conservation
Mike Clancy, Regional Fish Manager New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Dave Terre, Chief, Management and Research Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Inland Fisheries
Dan Kirby; Natural Resource Biologist Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Jana Hirst Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Blake Ruebush, Large River Fisheries Ecologist Illinois River Biological Station
Levi Solomon, Large River Fisheries Ecologist Illinois River Biological Station
Jeremiah J Haas, Principal Aquatic Biologist Exelon, Quad Cities Nuclear Station
Brennan Caputo, Natural Resource Coordinator
Mike McClelland, Natural Resource Specialist
Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
David Wyffels, Natural Resource Specialist
Tristan Widloe, Natural Resource Coordinator
Robyn Draheim, AIS Coordinator USFWS, Portland State University
Joshua Fisher, Invasive Species Biologist USFWS Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Service
Rob Miller, Fisheries Biologist Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
Randy Sauer, Stream Specialist Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
Wes Bouska, Fisheries Researcher SIUC Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center
Jody David Inland Fish Division Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries
Bobby Reed Inland Fisheries Senior Technical Advisor Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries