Understanding invasive carp movement and their use of riverine habitats is a clear knowledge GAP in optimizing future control and management options

This Project Grant award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (CFDA 15.608 - Fish and Aquatic Conservation - Aquatic Invasive Species) provides $277,534 to the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission to study the movement and habitat use of invasive carp species in Nebraska's interior rivers. The project will use telemetry techniques to assess the migration patterns and core habitat areas of silver and bighead carp, with the goal of informing future control and management strategies. The University of Nebraska at Lincoln will serve as the sub-awardee, conducting the research and analysis activities. This effort aims to expand the knowledge base on how invasive carp move through Nebraska's waterways, which can help identify targeted locations for removal or deterrence measures to slow the spread of these aquatic invasive species. The award period runs from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2027.

Past research has identified fish collections, edna, and other locational data that have indicated potential range expansions by invasive carp in some of nebraska s interior rivers. However, the mechanisms that facilitate this movement, ideal habitat locations, etc. Have not been evaluated or identified. Several locations within the lower platte river basin have been identified with elevated abundances of silver carp and bighead carp, but the residency patterns of these individuals (static or transient) remain unknown. This project will use telemetry techniques to assess invasive carp movements, migrations, and identify core use areas to determine when, how, and where invasive carp move throughout nebraska waters. This study will further the knowledge needed to implement control or management measures by locating habitats or river reaches that hold invasive carp. These locations may then be used for targeted removal, movement barriers, etc. In an attempt to slow the spread of invasive carp across the platte river basin. All funds will be subawarded to university of nebraska at lincoln.