Carp will be removed from Indian Lake
FITCHBURG, Wis. – The Department of Natural Resources will partner with the Dane County Department of Land and Water Resources and the Friends of Indian Lake County Park in a joint water quality and fishery improvement project on Indian Lake in the county’s Indian Lake County Park.
The lake has a history of winter kill, a phenomenon common to shallow lakes in which wintertime dissolved oxygen levels drop to a point that popular game fish cannot survive. The lack of predatory fish has allowed the carp population to multiply further degrading water quality through their feeding habits.
Plans call for Indian Lake to be treated through the ice with rotenone (row-ten-own) a fish toxicant. The treatment is scheduled for March 3.
Rotenone kills fish by inhibiting the use of oxygen in the cells. There will not be any negative impact on mussels, reptiles, amphibians, or aquatic plants. Rotenone breaks down naturally, and the lake will be ready for restocking in spring, 2015.
“Historically, Indian Lake has been a quality bass-bluegill fishery and this project’s goal is to restore the lake’s water quality and fishery,” said David Rowe, Department of Natural Resources fishery supervisor for the area.
“This project will remove the carp population that has caused a decline of the water quality and fishery. Once the ice comes off this spring, Dane County will stock walleye and northern pike fry to control any new carp through predation, and DNR will stock the lake with largemouth bass and bluegill to restore the natural fish community.”
An additional effect of the high carp population is a shift from a healthy aquatic plant environment to one dominated by summertime blue-green bacterial blooms. Heavy blue-green or cyanobacteria blooms pose a threat to humans, dogs and wildlife with potential toxins and contribute to rancid odors further degrading recreational use of the lake.
“The water quality should improve immediately but, it will take about two to three years after stocking to fully recover the fishery,” added Rowe. “The prospects for a successful project are good and people can look forward to a healthy lake and balanced fishery in the years to come.”