The document examines whether conditions in Lake Erie and the Maumee River are suitable for spawning of Asian carp. Thermal modeling shows that water temperatures meet the thresholds for spawning. Analysis of flow data finds that most years have at least one flood event that provides sufficient water velocity and drift distance in the Maumee River for spawning to occur. Therefore, conditions appear favorable for Asian carp spawning in the Maumee River and Lake Erie.

1. Suitability of the Maumee River for spawning of
bigheaded carp (Hypophthalmichthys spp.)
Patrick M. Kocovsky Duane Chapman
USGS Great Lakes Science Center USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center
Sandusky, OH Columbia, MO
Photo: Steve Morse, University of Missouri

2. Asian Carps in North America
• Imported in 1970s for aquaculture and sewage treatment
• Escapees in Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers by mid 1970s
• Reproducing populations throughout lower Mississippi drainage
http://nas2.er.usgs.gov/viewer/omap.aspx?SpeciesID=549

3. Asian Carps Invading the Great Lakes – CSSC
http://www.lrc.usace.army.mil/AsianCarp/BarriersFactSheet.pdf • eDNA beyond barrier
– Jerde et al.
- One bighead carp
captured in canal
system above
barrier
- One bighead carp
captured just below
barrier

4. Asian Carps Invading the Great Lakes – Eagle Marsh
- links Wabash and Maumee
basins near Ft. Wayne, IN
- Barrier fence erected to
block passage during floods

5. Asian Carps Invading the Great Lakes – Grand Lake St. Mary’s
- Roush dam on
To Wabash To Maumee
Wabash prevents
unassisted passage
-Spawning behavior
observed near dam

6. Asian Carp Invading the Great Lakes
http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/collectioninfo.aspx?SpeciesID=551
Capture locations of bighead carp
Lake Erie
N
Maumee
River
0 100 200 300 km
Question: Do conditions favorable for spawning of Asian carp
exist in Lake Erie and the Maumee River?

7. Methods
•Examined literature from native and introduced populations to
determine spawning requirements:
1) Minimum accumulated heat
- maturation – 2,685 ADD
- onset of spawning – 655 ADD15, 919 ADD15
2) Flood event
- typical cue for spawning
3) Sufficient drift distance
- function of velocity and water temperature
Examination period: 1990-2009

8. Methods
Minimum accumulated heat:
Calculated total degree days (sum of mean daily temperatures)
to determine when and if thermal requirements met from
Leamington, ON municipal water intake (lake)
Flood events:
Examined USGS flow data (water.usgs.gov)
- identified all flood events with minimum velocity 0.7 m/s
- determined dates, event duration, peak velocity
Drift distance:
Calculated total length of passable river
- Passable = dams have passage structure or head lower
than flood stage
- Predicted stream temperature from thermal model
- Predicted velocity from discharge

9. Photo: Patrick M. Kocovsky, USGS
Grand Rapids Dam
RKM 54
From USGS Water Resources:
4-14-2011
Q =167 m3/s (provisional)
V ≈ 0.92 m/s
Stage ≈1.09 m
Descending limb
Photo: Patrick M. Kocovsky, USGS
4-21-2011
Q = 954 m3/s (provisional)
V ≈ 1.7 m/s
Stage ≈ 2.7 m
Ascending limb
Median daily Q=360 m3/s

10. Methods
Drift distance:
Calculated required length of stream (D, km) given incubation
time and velocity:
D = 3600VI/1000 = 3.6VI
where: V=velocity m/s
I=incubation time, h
3600=s/hr
1000=m/km
If D < maximum length of passable river, event suitable
for spawning

11. Thermal requirements
6000
Cumulative degree-days (oC)
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010
Year
• Minimum for time series 3,974 - 48% higher than minimum
Western Lake Erie is thermally suitable for maturation

12. Thermal requirements
• Thresholds for spawning:
onset of spawning 655 DD>15 degrees
reached on average 23 June ± 7 d
mass spawning 919 DD>15 degrees
reached on average 5 July ± 7 d
Thresholds reached in early summer, similar to timing in native
and invaded habitats

13. Temperature model
Mean temperature: 23.4
Time to hatch: 31 h

14. 1000 1990 1000 1995
Flood events 800
600
800
600
400 400
200 200
- 44 flood events after 0
1-May 31-May 1-Jul 1-Aug
0
1-Sep 1-May 31-May 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep
threshold for onset of 1000
1991
1000
1996
800 800
spawning (655 DD) 600 600
400 400
200 200
2.2/yr 0 0
1-May 31-May 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep 1-May 31-May 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep
1000 1000
1992 1997
Discharge (m 3/s)
800 800
- 27 flood events after 600 600
threshold for onset of mass 400 400
200 200
spawning (919 DD) 0 0
1-May 31-May 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep 1-May 31-May 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep
1000 1000
1993 1998
>1/yr 800
600
800
600
400 400
200 200
0 0
1-May 31-May 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep 1-May 31-May 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep
1000 1000
1994 1999
800 800
600 600
400 400
200 200
0 0
1-May 31-May 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep 1-May 31-May 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep

15. 1000 2000 1000 2005
Flood events 800
600
800
600
400 400
85% of years had at least one 200 200
0 0
flood event after thermal 1-May 31-May 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep 1-May 31-May 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep
1000 1000
threshold for spawning 800
2001
800
2006
achieved 600
400
600
400
200 200
0 0
65% had multiple events 1-May 31-May 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep 1-May 31-May 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep
1000 1000
2002 2007
Discharge (m 3/s)
800 800
80% had at least one flood 600 600
400 400
event after thermal threshold 200 200
for mass spawning achieved 0
1-May 31-May 1-Jul 1-Aug
0
1-Sep 1-May 31-May 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep
1000 1000
2003 2008
800 800
45% had multiple events 600 600
400 400
200 200
Most years had at 0 0
1-May 31-May 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep 1-May 31-May 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep
least one flood event suitable 1000
2004
1000
2009
800 800
for spawning 600 600
400 400
200 200
0 0
1-May 31-May 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep 1-May 31-May 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep

16. Drift distance
3
Velocity (m/s)
2
y = 0.1513x0.353
1 R² = 0.9799
0
0 1000 2000 3000
Discharge (m3/s)
Passable distance: 209 km
Highest V on 23 August 2007: 2.1 m/s
D = 3.6VI = 3.6*2.1*31 = 234.4 > 209 = V too fast
2nd highest V on 10 July 2003: 1.85 m/s
D = 3.6VI = 3.6*1.85*31 = 206.5 < 209 = V sufficient
Length of open river suffices for nearly all floods

17. Conclusions
•Maumee River is thermally and hydrographically suitable for
spawning of bigheaded carp
- no major impediments and suitable drift conditions
- Maumee Bay excellent rearing environment
• NOT known:
- locations and suitability of spawning microhabitats
e.g., nature of flow (turbulent, laminar)
• Additional research needed to identify potential spawning
locations or to determine entire length is suitable for
development of mitigation options
•Method is being applied to six other major tributaries:
Sandusky, Portage, Huron, Vermilion, Black, Grand (OH)

18. Acknowledgements
• Gary Dunmore, Ontario Clean Water Agency
•Keith Banachowski and Rodney Tornes, Ohio Department of
Natural Resources
• Andrea Stoneman, Delaware State University
• Jim McKenna, USGS
•USGS Great Lakes Science Center and Columbia
Environmental Research Center