PROBLEM
Invasive species such as Asian carp can greatly disrupt U.S. ecosystems and waterborne commerce from the Mississippi basin to the Great Lakes. Optimizing electrical dispersal barrier operations to prevent passage of these invasive species requires detailed information on the pulse amplitude, frequency and duration needed to maintain an effective electrical field. Understanding Asian carp physiological tolerance and burst swim speeds when exposed to electric fields is also important for design, placement and operation of effective barrier systems. Minimizing electrical output to achieve power conservation and reduce operating costs and safety issues is also a major consideration.
PREVENTED ASIAN CARP MIGRATION INTO LAKE MICHIGAN FOR
15+YEARS
PRESERVES HEALTHY
$7 BILLION/YEAR GREAT LAKES FISHERY
SOLUTION
ERDC research uses swim tunnels and flumes to challenge live Asian carp with various combinations of electric pulse amplitude, frequency and duration under varying environmental and water quality conditions. Additional laboratory and field studies on Asian carp swim performance, leaping ability, fecundity and population dynamics improved knowledge of these invasive fish species and are useful for developing barrier design criteria and placement.
IMPACT
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ERDC research provided critical information for establishing effective operational protocols for electric barrier systems. These parameters ensure barrier effectiveness and performance while conserving energy, reducing life cycle operation and maintenance costs, improving safety, and maintaining navigation and environmental missions. The electric dispersal barriers have prevented Asian carp passage into the Great Lakes for more than 15 years, preserving and protecting valuable aquatic resources to benefit the Nation.
