Performance of a Carbon Dioxide Injection System at a Navigation Lock to Control the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species

Thomas J Zolper,P Ryan Jackson,David L Smith,Aaron R Cupp

doi:10.1061/(asce)ee.1943-7870.0001987

Abstract

Performance of a Carbon Dioxide Injection System at a Navigation Lock to Control the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species

Highlights

Invasive carps, including silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead carp (H. nobilis), have migrated throughout the Mississippi River Basin since the 1970s and are expanding into other large rivers basins in the United States
On the development of other fish deterrents that could be implemented at lock structures to reduce upstream migration of invasive carps while maintaining a fully operational waterway
Supplementing existing control methods and further developing additional methods would be beneficial in deterring upstream movements of invasive carps

Summary

Introduction

Invasive carps, including silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead carp (H. nobilis), have migrated throughout the Mississippi River Basin since the 1970s and are expanding into other large rivers basins in the United States. Lock and dam structures positioned throughout these interconnected waterways have been identified as key management locations to limit or block the upstream migration of invasive carps toward the Great Lakes. Permanent lock closure was one possible solution to block fish passage, but this approach was not considered a viable option to many stakeholders due to the negative economic consequences of limiting waterway access (Schwieterman 2010, 2015). Researchers and resource managers have focused on the development of other fish deterrents that could be implemented at lock structures to reduce upstream migration of invasive carps while maintaining a fully operational waterway. Invasive carp deterrent systems such as underwater acoustics and electric barriers have shown promise under various scenarios (Cooper et al 2021; Jones et al 2021; Noatch and Suski 2012). Supplementing existing control methods and further developing additional methods would be beneficial in deterring upstream movements of invasive carps

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