HLWD meeting on carp is Monday

Talk about it

HERON LAKE — Carp constantly root around the bottom of whatever lake or river they live in, stirring up pollutants, encouraging algae growth and making water murky. The non-native carp also wreak havoc on local ecosystems and edge out the game fish Midwesterners love to eat.

Fishermen, landowners and lake-lovers can find out how to fight back at the Heron Lake Watershed District’s presentation, “Controlling Common Carp,” from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Heron Lake Community Center.

“This meeting is for anybody who cares about the lakes,” said Melanie Luinenburg, education coordinator with the Heron Lake Watershed District. “We’ve been getting responses and interest on this meeting from local sportsmen all the way up to professional people who work for the Department of Natural Resources.”

Carp were deliberately introduced to America in the late 1800s as a food fish, but because of their destructive habits are considered an invasive species detrimental to sport fish, waterfowl and other native species.

The first speaker of the evening will be Jay Rendall, the prevention coordinator of the invasive species program for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Rendall will introduce the topic of invasive species in general and, in particular, aquatic species that could affect waters in southwest Minnesota.

Keynote speaker Przemek Bajer, a research associate at the University of Minnesota, will zero in on carp in particular.

Bajer will discuss the University’s ongoing research about the behavior and life history of the carp, which is necessary to carp control and management efforts.

“It’s a pretty big deal to have both of these speakers coming down for us,” Luinenburg said. “They’re both highly respected in their fields and sought-after as speakers.”

“Controlling Common Carp” is the eighth in a series of “What’s It To Me?!?” public education meetings the Heron Lake Watershed District has offered, in partnership with the DNR, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Nature Conservancy and the North Heron Lake Game Producers Association.

“I hope that we have really good attendance, because education is one of the key things we have to do as a watershed district,” said Jan Voit, district administrator of the Heron Lake Watershed District. “If we don’t create awareness of the problems that we have, we can’t fix the problem.”

For more information, please contact the HLWD office at hlwd@roundlk.net or call (507) 793-2462.

Tags: news, hlwd, carp