Carp Removal – Main Lake
You may have noticed some commotion this past weekend in the shallow portions of some coves on the Main Lake. The fish thrashing on the surface of the water are carp engaging in their spawning ritual. The Fishing and Ecology Committees have been monitoring water temperatures and observing the lake for this event. We have been planning our first-ever carp population assessment to determine whether carp have been overcrowding this lake. An overabundance of carp can be detrimental to other fish species and the quality of water in our lake. Carp compete for some of the same resources that other fish need to thrive. In addition, carp are bottom feeders and can stir up nutrients that have settled on the lake bottom, which can promote algae blooms.
Carp will be removed from the lake to assess their size and numbers. The removal operation is planned for this Thursday and Friday, May 18th and 19th. A crew from SUNY Cobleskill Fisheries and Wildlife Department will arrive on Thursday with their electroshocking boat. The crew will work Thursday afternoon and evening, as well as Friday morning. The boat will enter the coves where the carp gather near the surface and begin to shock the carp to temporarily stun them. If other fish are in the cove, they may be stunned as well, but they will not be netted into the boat. Other fish will awaken from the stun and swim off. Several Club members have volunteered their time and boats to assist with ferrying the fish to shore, allowing the electroshocking boat to continue its work.
The carp will be placed into a containment area containing clove (the spice) which humanely causes the carp to expire. We are in communication with Space Farms Zoo and the Lakota Wolf Preserve to come to get carp to be used as food for their animals.
Please do not approach the electroshocking boat during the operation. In addition, expect to see the boat operating in the dark on Thursday night. If you are interested in volunteering to assist in this project, email ecology@hlcc.org.
Mike O’Neill
Ecology Committee Chair
