Fish Barrier/Asian Carp

Electric Fish Barrier 2020 Update

Electric Fish Barrier 2020 Update

Asian Carp continue to be a concern for the Iowa Great Lakes Association. As we look ahead to Spring 2021 and the potential for flooding, the electric fish barrier at Lower Gar works to keep these nuisance fish out of our Okoboji chain of lakes....

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Invasive Species Education

Invasive Species Education

Community Development Manager, Jen Johnson-Ross, spent an entire day working with Spirit Lake 4th grade students discussing invasive species. This great group of kids learned about zebra mussels, curly leaf pondweed and Asian carp.

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Spring 2017 Environmental Update

Spring 2017 Environmental Update

Iowa Great Lakes Association Environmental Update Spring 2017 Zebra Mussels Zebra mussel populations continue to expand in the Iowa Great Lakes. The populations is expected to continue to increase in the coming years before reaching a limit and moderating. The biggest...

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Electric Fish Barrier Video

Electric Fish Barrier Video

The electric fish barrier located at Lower Gar near Milford has prevented Asian Carp from entering our chain of lakes. This invasive species have spread through flooding and other means throughout the years, and pose a definite threat to not only our ecosystem, yet to water recreation due to their ability to jump out of the water.

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Celebrating success of fish barrier

Iowa Great lakes Association’s Bill Van Orsdel & Phil Petersen present an example of the Big Head Carp to Mike Hawkins - DNR Spirit Lake Biologist - commemorating the successful installation of the Lower Gar $1,000,000 Electric Fish Barrier which has prevented any...

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$1 million carp barrier having impact in Iowa Great Lakes, officials say

Three years after two Asian carp were netted in East Lake Okoboji, officials believe they stopped the voracious aquatic invaders.

The invasive species swam into the lakes during flooding in 2011. One species, silver carp, poses a safety hazard due to its propensity for leaping from the water when startled.

Officials believe a $1 million electronic fish barrier should be enough to keep more Asian carp from entering the lake system and threatening the $300 million tourism industry. Officials believe the fish can’t reproduce in still lake waters, so keeping more carp from swimming in will protect the lakes from being overrun.

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Hawkins recognized for excellence

IOWA FISHERIES BIOLOGIST RECOGNIZED BY PEERS FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE FIELD Iowa fisheries biologist Mike Hawkins has been awarded the Fisheries Biologist of the Year by the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies for his work in lake restoration, watershed...

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Electric fish barrier operating

Introductory Notes: Many people have asked the question why wasn't the electric fish barrier turned on? The reason is there is only a few inches of water on the deck right now and with the electricity turned on the fish are immobilized and can't get off the wide deck...

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Presence of Zebra Mussels to impact gillnetting operations

Presence of Zebra Mussels to impact gillnetting operations

EXPLORE OKOBOJI - APRIL 11,2013 The discovery of zebra mussels in some of the Iowa Great Lakes is changing how the Iowa Department of Natural Resources conducts its annual gillnetting operations. Kim Bogenschutz coordinates the aquatic invasive species program for the...

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Electric Fish Barrier Ready to Protect Iowa Great Lakes

Electric Fish Barrier Ready to Protect Iowa Great Lakes

Posted: 02/26/2013 SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa - The electric fish barrier that will keep Asian carp from entering the Iowa Great Lakes through the Lower Gar Lake outlet is in place and operational. All that remains to be completed for the nearly $1 million project is final...

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