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June 16, 2023

Title: Movers and Shakers: Invasive and Native Fish Passage at Large River Navigation Locks and Dams

Speaker: Andrea Fritts, Research Fish Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

Date: June 23 at 2:00 pm Eastern

A smiling woman stands holding a large silver fish.  She is wearing brown pants, green tshirt and a neon green vest.
USGS scientist Andres Fritts holding a telemetered invasive bighead carp on the Mississippi River near Keokuk, Iowa.

Summary:  Movement and dispersal of migratory fish species are important life history characteristics that can be impeded by navigation dams. Navigation locks and dams can create barriers to movement and habitat fragmentation that are detrimental to dispersal and survival of native fish species. These same structures can also act as effective and economical barriers for controlling the spread of invasive species in fragmented rivers. Various fish deterrent technologies have been proposed at locks and dams in the Mississippi River Basin to further reduce silver carp and bighead carp upstream movement and range expansion. Evaluating movement pathways of native and invasive fish species at navigation locks and dams (i.e., passage through dam gates versus lock chamber) before, during, and after deterrents or fishways have been installed is essential for assessing the effects of these management actions. This talk will present highlights from our research program that uses fish acoustic telemetry (i.e., transmitters in fish and a passive acoustic receiver array) to evaluate invasive carp and native paddlefish passage at large river locks and dams. This information can be used to develop strategies for deterrent use and placement to slow the spread of invasive carp while potentially limiting effects on native fish species.

 

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