May 25: The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (RCC) wrapped up a the sampling and data collection operation on the Little Calumet River in South Chicago on Tuesday (May 25). Fisheries biologists from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and other supporting agencies collected just over 100,000 pounds of fish during the week long operation. Over 40 species of fish were collected though no Bighead or Silver Asian carps were found.
RCC co‐chair John Rogner said, "We will now look at the entire body of evidence collected thus far, including eDNA sampling results and all of our conventional sampling with nets and electrofishing gear to see if we can draw ay further conclusions about the risk of invasion and establishment of Asian carp in Lake Michigan through the Chicago Area Wateway System." The safety zone restrictions established on the Calumet River and Little Calumet River between mile marker 321.5 and 326.5 have been lifted by the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port. IDNR fisheries said it will restock the area with a variety of sport fish species in the future. Over 250 people from more than 20 local, state and federal agencies contributed to the sampling and data collection efforts.
Access a release from RCC (click here). Access photographs and b‐roll footage from the operation (click here). Access further information on the Asian Carp RCC and Asian carp control efforts (click here).
