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They video said that the goverment wants to take out 75% to 80% of the carp out of the lake. That is great. Do they have a plan to keep the carp population from exploding again so they don't have to do this again in 10 years? Also, has any one seen a difference in the lake since they started this project a while ago?
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[cool][#0000ff]The goal is to reduce the carp numbers to a "tipping point"...where the abundant predators like walleyes, catfish and white bass will eat enough of the carp fry each year to more or less maintain a constant population of carp. In most of Utah's carp habitats there is already a "balance" in which all species survive but none take over and dominate a lake like the carp have in Utah Lake.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The plan will probably work...until the next great drought...when the lake will drop to super low levels and all species besides carp will either die out or be greatly reduced. Carp survive and thrive even in shallow, muddy, poorly oxygenated waters so they make it through the tough times just fine and have a roaring head start when the waters rise up enough for the other species to resume speed.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There have been several cycles in the past where there was no more than a couple of feet of water remaining in the deepest parts of Utah Lake. One of those was around 1930...long after the last cutthroat had croaked. That was probably the beginning of the current gross overabundance of carp in the lake. In spite of heavy commercial harvest of carp through the years they have remained abundant and problematic. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Has there been any noticeable affect yet? Not by me or any of the Utah Lake regulars I know. In fact, my personal observation has been that the average size of the carp in the lake has decreased and their overall size and girth seems to indicate a reduction due to the overcrowding and increased competition for available food resources. Still bajillions of the ugly beasts all around the lake. But, hard to make a quantitative analysis on a lake that large with that many "targets".[/#0000ff]
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Of note might be that the current carp removal is being done with a heavy one-time federal subsidy. If memory serves, it was somewhere in the $2 million range.
With what's going on at the Fed level and the morning news about huge cuts at the State, I suspect carp aren't a priority. So I wouldn't look to "the government" for a long term solution.
In my opinion, It will take a financially viable solution for local use (compost or nitrogen source as a mix with something like chopped phragmites) to provide for longer term carp reduction.
Carp are the toughest beasties in that lake and will (no maybe about it) remain there in high numbers.
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The percentage of the biomass of UL that is carp as stated by that video is 90%...WOW...90% of the energy of the lake taken by carp. could you imagine if your car had a 90% parasitic loss? You wouldn't be driving very far on a tank of gas hahaha. I hope this program is a success, but I won't hold my breath. That drought in the 30's that you mentioned is what is said to have killed off all of the Utah Lake Sculpin, which is now believed to be extinct. The last one was found in 1928....
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Interesting.
I remember as a kid, and before all the development begun on that west side, we would fish on the bank over there and just slay the carp and catfish.
I hope this idea of 'carp removal' will indeed but a 'dent' in the population. For as long as I can remember: carp rule in UL. It would be nice to see another species claim that title.
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While 90% seems a high number anyone that frequents the lake and sees the pods of carp, especially in the spring it is a believable number. They are so destructive to the habitat that other fish need to survive not to mention the competition for food. I have in recent years adopted Tube Dudes carp release philosophy so I can say in some small way I can contribute to the carp removal program.....Hmm wonder if I am eligible for a check from the feds???[sly]
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"Hmm wonder if I am eligible for a check from the feds???[sly]"
[cool][#0000ff]Yeah, right. Your check is in the mail...along with my lottery check.[/#0000ff]
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