Assessment of Vulnerability of Minnesota Watersheds to Invasion By Asian Carp

Minnesota is on the leading edge of the Asian carp invasion front in the Mississippi River basin. This group of invasive species has the potential to have detrimental effects to the native fish community as well as recreational use of affected waterbodies. As a strategy to address the invasion is developed, a first step was to identify which watersheds are most vulnerable, identify key locations that are likely to act as barriers, as well as key locations where barrier enhancement could be considered. Potential barriers were identified from multiple databases of dam structures as well as local knowledge of natural barriers, and rated for their ability to block upstream migration based on likely upstream/downstream head differential at various flows. Upstream watersheds were then classified based on the highest protection rating downstream. The barrier database has other potential uses, such as locating key sites where fish passage projects could benefit native species.