LAKE ERIE FISHERIESeDNA, BALLVILLE DAM, POPULATION UPDATES

Jeff TysonLake Erie Program Administrator

ODNR, Division of Wildlife

Asian Carp Strategies

Asian Carp Strategies – Asian Carp Tactical Plan Bighead/Silver carp Grass carp

Ballville Dam

Population/Fisheries

Bighead/Silver Carp

Prevention of introduction Four connections in Ohio

Present in Ohio River Muskingum River

Movement through bait/ other transport

Surveillance Existing assessments (DOW) eDNA (USFWS/DOW)

Detection action Response exercise When/where/how

Detection Action

Grass Carp

Different risks than Bighead/ Silver carp Impact habitat structure/vegetation Certified triploids allowed

Present in the system since 1980s (infrequent) Assumed triploid Began testing in 2012

Some diploids Some evidence of natural

reproduction Testing of sources (shipments) Response exercise – to get

further demographics/movement

Ballville Dam

Asian Carp Strategies – Asian Carp Tactical Plan Bighead/Silver carp Grass carp

Ballville Dam

Population/Fisheries

Ballville Dam

Large dam on Sandusky River Outlived useful life Owned by City of

Fremont

Ecological restoration potential

Process/timeline

Ballville Dam

Significant ecological impacts

Funding Removal (OEPA/ODW)

Cost - $6.3 million Available - $7.8 million

Rehabilitation Cost - >$10 million Available - ???

Plan – Environmental Impact Statement

Ballville DamPlan

Staged removal

Minimize impacts downstream

Re-establish vegetation upstream

Minimize flooding impacts

More research

Timeline

Population Status

Asian Carp Strategies – Asian Carp Tactical Plan Bighead/Silver carp Grass carp

Ballville Dam

Population/Fisheries

Population StatusWalleye

Walleye stocks 2003 year-class Moderate hatches

(‘07, ‘10, ‘13) Age-2+ - similar

to 2013

Walleye fishery Good

performance Likely ~ 1 million

harvest

Population StatusYellow Perch

Yellow Perch stocks West stocks down Central stocks robust Age-3+ - down, but

moderate to good recruits in all basins coming in

Yellow Perch fishery Sport - good

performance, particularly east

Commercial – allocation nearly harvested

Questions?

Ohio Division of Wildlife 1-800-Wildlife Lake Erie Fisheries – 419-625-8062 Jeff Tyson – jeff.tyson@dnr.state.oh.us