All of the main water sources for Salt Creek WMA, Public Shooting Grounds WMA, Harold Crane WMA, Ogden Bay WMA, Howard Slough WMA, and Farmington Bay WMA have carp that make it downstream into the WMA's. Carp foraging activities make the water turbid which decreases pond weed productivity in the impoundments on the areas. Each year it is determined which area or impoundments within an area are the most in need of carp control and then the project is conducted.

Project objectives include decreasing carp populations while increasing available forage for waterfowl. The important forage that thrives in carp free waters is a submergent aquatic vegetation called Sago pondweed. Sago is a very important food source to all waterfowl, as well as many species of wading and shorebirds.

Threats may include employee exposure to pesticide. All employee's applying rotenone are certified as non-commercial/commercial pesticide applicators. If rotenone treatment is not completed, impoundments will produce less pondweed as carp populations increase.

Carp control is related to management plan objectives as follows: Our management plans require us to maintain suitable habitat for waterfowl populations. This project relates to the WAP in the following ways: Objective #1 for Invasive Plant Species -- Non-native Locations/habitats that currently do not have non-native plant problems remain free from the introduction and spread of invasive non-native plants. Actions to achieve objective: 2.2.2 Survey, inventory established, and new populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.3 Eradicate established populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.4 Contain established populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.9 Avoid establishment of new invasive/problematic species through education, planning, management, and/or regulation. Develop public information and educational programs aimed at encouraging attitudes and behaviors that are positive for wildlife conservation. Objective #2 for Invasive Plant Species -- Non-native Invasive plant dominance/presence is reduced or eliminated in locations or habitats where such an outcome is realistic (ecologically and economically). 2.2.2 Survey and inventory established and new populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.3 Eradicate established populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.5 Conduct mechanical control of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.6 Conduct biological control of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.7 Conduct chemical control of invasive/problematic species. 2.3.15 Conduct riparian vegetation treatments to restore characteristic riparian vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. 7.2.1 Support Utah's Watershed Restoration Initiative. Other Ecosystem Modifications for Objective #2; Land management agencies and agents develop vegetation management projects that avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts to species and habitats identified as vulnerable to these threats such as brush eradication. Habitat modification and loss is being mitigated by perennial plantings, food plots and shrub rows. Invasive and Other Problematic Species and Genes Threats from non-native and native plants, animals, pathogens/microbes, or genetic materials that have or are predicted to have harmful effects on biodiversity following their introduction, spread and/ or increase in abundance. Invasive Wildlife Species-Threat - Invasive Wildlife Species - Non-native: Invasive non-native animals are recognized as a critical threat in many of Utah's ecosystems. Objective #2 for Droughts Aquatic SGCNs and key habitats persist on the landscape, despite increasing drought conditions. Drought conditions over the past several years has made it imperative that the WMA's have properly functioning water control structures to maximize water deliveries in order to maintain key wetland habitats. Actions that this project will address include; 2.3.6 Restore aquatic habitat complexity

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Liquid Rotenone will be applied at 2-3 parts per million. Water quality will not be impacted because of the small amount used and because of the fact that the rotenone only impacts fish and invertebrates. Quantity will have no effect as impoundments will be drawn down for winter management levels.

All employee's will be certified by UDAF to safely apply rotenone. All PPE will be worn at all times while handling the pesticide.

We will determine areas of need for carp control and if rotenone treatment is possible for those areas. If so, the area will be drawn down and the amount of water will be minimal. Rotenone drips will be set up. The drips consist of plastic 30 gallon drums that have PVC pipe coming out of them. The PVC pipe have holes drilled in them that allow the water to be treated at 2-3 ppm rotenone.

We will monitor the treatment based on water clarity and SAV production.

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Future management will consist of monitoring impoundments annually for Carp presence.

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03/01/2022

03/03/2022

2022

Carp control occurred at Howard Slough Waterfowl Management Area on March 1, 2022. The area was drained the best that managers could, so that a minimal flow could be treated. 30 gallon drips were used where possible. The treatment was done at 3 parts per million. One area had to have concentrated rotenone dumped and spread out because there was no flow.

Carp control is implemented on the WMAs because carp are bottom feeders and increase turbidity in the impoundments. Increased turbidity decreases Sago pondweed production. Howard Slough WMA was experiencing turbid water and decreased Sago pondweed production, so the area drained and treated. Managers killed thousands of carp. The success rate was 99% +.

Carp screens were built and installed to keep carp from reinvading the area. We will keep the carp screens in place and this should prevent carp from entering either of the west impoundments. If the impoundments become turbid in the future, we will re-evaluate the situation and treat with rotenone if necessary.