Grass carp (ctenopharyngodon idella), a non-native herbivorous fish species, has the potential to alter the great lakes ecosystem by consuming large amounts of native aquatic vegetation

This Project Grant award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (CFDA 15.662) will support the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in implementing the Lake Erie Committee Grass Carp Response Plan. The $657,766.99 award, effective May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026, will fund a Michigan DNR grass carp field crew to support collaborative efforts to monitor, detect, and remove grass carp from Lake Erie and its tributaries. This work is critical to addressing the threat of this invasive species establishing in the Great Lakes ecosystem and altering native aquatic vegetation. The project builds on prior efforts that have already resulted in the removal of over 1,000 grass carp from Lake Erie, while also conducting research to better understand grass carp life history, movement patterns, and the effectiveness of removal strategies. The Michigan DNR will work closely with regional partners including state natural resource agencies, universities, and the U.S. Geological Survey to implement this comprehensive grass carp management plan for the Lake Erie basin.

The concern of grass carp establishing in the great lakes was elevated following the confirmation of reproductively viable grass carp in lake erie in 2012 and finding of eggs in 2015. Since that time, early life history surveys have documented evidence of grass carp spawning in the sandusky, maumee, and huron rivers, lake erie tributaries in ohio. A structured decision making process was initiated to strategically address regional concerns and knowledge gaps for grass carp in lake erie, which led to the development of the lake erie committee grass carp response plan. Implementation of the plan is a coordinated effort among michigan department of natural resources, ohio department of natural resources, U.S. Fish and wildlife service, U.S. Geological survey, university of toledo, university of buffalo, michigan state university, and other regional partners. To date, over 1,000 grass carp have been removed from lake erie and research has helped address critical uncertainties surrounding grass carp life history and effectiveness of removal strategies. As part of the response plan, partner collaborations have continued to analyze captured individuals to determine reproductive status, natal origin, growth dynamics, and movement patterns. In addition, partnerships with commercial and recreational fishers have increased targeted sampling efforts. A new response plan was developed by the lake erie committee, covering work from 2024-2028. This project will support the michigan component of the plan implementation by funding a michigan department of natural resources grass carp field crew.