Protecting Upper Mississippi River from Invasive Carp
Invasive carp pose a threat to the ecology, economy, and natural resources of Minnesota. This proposal will include design, installation, and assessment of invasive carp deterrent and removal technologies at Lock and Dam 5 (LD5) on the Mississippi River and test new methods to support and enhance effectiveness of a lock deterrent. This LD5 invasive carp prevention and management program will be further developed in collaboration with partners, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and will include evaluation of the program's effectiveness.
This project will be accomplished in phases (see also timeline attached to Accomplishment Plan):
Phase 1 - Interagency project team plan
DNR and partners including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), create an interagency project team and detailed project timeline, including benchmarks for completion. DNR project manager will facilitate planning with partners in activity 1 and 2.
Phase 2a - Scoping
Analyze options for an invasive carp deterrent in the lock at Lock and Dam 5 (LD5) and technologies to support the future effectiveness of the deterrent. Sound-based invasive carp deterrents currently include the underwater acoustic deterrent system (uADS) temporarily installed at Lock and Dam 19 on the Mississippi River, and the BioAcoustic Fish Fence (BAFF) being tested at Barkley Lock and Dam on the Cumberland River in Kentucky. Certain flow and sound conditions are required for operation of either type of acoustic deterrent. The lock approach will need to be assessed for constraints such as flow, depth, sound interference, and the available space for installation of a deterrent to determine which deterrent would be most appropriate at LD5. Scoping will also include operations and maintenance planning, to estimate ongoing operations and maintenance costs for the deterrent, plan for roles and responsibilities for operations and maintenance. Develop a plan for removal of the deterrent system and related structures, and restoration of LD5.
Phase 2b - Design
The interagency team scoping report will be used to inform a request for proposals for a contract with architectural and engineering firm(s) to complete design of deterrent at Lock and Dam 5 sufficient to inform permitting activity. The lock deterrent will be designed to work in concert with other technologies and methods critical for deterrence to be effective at LD5. DNR project manager will continue to coordinate partners with the engineering firm to ensure design is appropriate to permitting, navigation, and natural resource needs. Scoping phase will also determine permits and environmental review that will be necessary.
Phase 3 - Permitting
Permitting for the lock deterrent will begin as Phase 2b nears completion. Information will be gathered during Phase 2a to prepare for permitting. Permitting of other technologies may follow.
Phase 4 - Installation
Installation of the lock deterrent by June 30, 2029.
DNR and partners will provide regular updates to the Council in conjunction with LSOHC.
$12,000,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to fund activities to protect the Upper Mississippi River from invasive carp. Activities within this appropriation include agreements with federal partners, such as the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to design, construct, and begin the operation and maintenance of a structural deterrent for invasive carp at Lock and Dam No. 5 on the Mississippi River to protect Minnesota's aquatic habitat through an adaptive management approach. Deterrent design must be fully completed within two years of the date of this appropriation. Deterrent installation must be completed by June 30, 2029. Funds not spent or obligated for design installation and operation of the deterrent may be used for testing technologies to support the future effectiveness of the deterrent. A detailed accomplishment plan must be submitted to and approved by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council prior to release of funds. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2029.
Outcome for this project will be installation of a lock deterrent for invasive carp at Lock and Dam No. 5; depending on availability of funds not spent or obligated for design, installation, and operation of the deterrent, technologies to support the effectiveness of the deterrent will have outcomes including further reducing invasive carp passage at LD5, measuring and evaluating the effectiveness of the deterrent at reducing passage of invasive carp and reducing impacts of invasive carp