The fight against an invasive fish in California’s Clear Lake

Invasive carp can cause serious damage to ecosystems. They threaten native wildlife — including the Clear Lake hitch, a culturally significant fish for the tribes who have lived along the lake and its tributaries for thousands of years. Carp also kick up sediment, unlocking nutrients from the lake bottom that fuel harmful blooms of algae. In spring of 2023, a team began an assessment of Clear Lake’s carp population to determine where to best target the fish for removal in the fall.

Produced By Tien Nguyen for Knowable Magazine

For more, read related article in Knowable Magazine:
Reviving a famously polluted California lake

[amberdawnmilner]

Thank all of yall for doing what you are to save Clearlake. I'm not sure if any of this will help, a few ideas. Maybe some sucker fish, water temp may be an issue in winter but Russia have them and may withstand the cold temp better. Fresh water sponges they help filter the water and sucker fish make a bit of waste so they might help, also they can live for a really long time and may be able to be harvested probably in the far future. I was also thinking charcoal filters water, there is a lot of charred timber from wild fires that may be able to be used to make specially designed filters for the lake maybe using hemp mesh. Another thing, that lake is older than any of us are or will ever be, I conciter it to be an Elder along as a Chief. I'm hoping as long as one person sees it that way that it is. If yall can use that for the lakes advantage please do so. I went to school with some Indians from Robinson's Rancheria under my maiden name Mikel, they may have some good ideas on how to help the lake as well. By the way let them know I called Indian war a while back, that should help them get things done.

[kimmychristensen]

I really hope you can revive Clear Lake. I have always been sad to know how polluted it is and that no one can even swim in it. I hope also that one day it can be how is was before the Carp and contaminates

[ozhunter]

Carp have been there for decades. I was there about 35 years ago and all they were pulling out were big carp

[christophergoodwin-qotg]

Carp are excellent bait for black cod (sable fish) and crabs and well as most shrimps species

[amberdawnmilner]

I'm not sure how practical or realistic this is but maybe someone can design water filters that can be attached to boats so they can clean the water as they are enjoying it, it won't help over night but eventually it may help some. Might be a part of the puzzle.

[jeromedamian]

This is why industrial development and agricultural industry and mining should not be near waterways, rivers, streems, and lakes . America needs strict regulations on riunoff . People need to understand everything you put into your water and food you eat and drink those By-products. .

[opieangst]

The blame is typically put on the run-off from our Cannabis and Wine production. We need stricter regulations on the farmers, for the better.

[kcnfv]

Maybe put the wiper in the lake to eat the carp

[billyb]

Guys, silicon billionaire programmers are desperately lacking housing and need places to go. By turning the lake into something beautiful and pristine, they will be living in Lake County and making it totally unaffordable in no time. Won't you help a homeless billionaire today? Clean up the lake. Lake County is one of the last ungentrified places on northern California just waiting to be exploited. So what are you waiting for!?

[robertkarp]

Just to be clear. Clear Lake is the largest NATURAL fresh water lake in California, not the Largest Lake in California. Lake Shasta is larger but it isn't a natural lake.

[amberdawnmilner]

I looked up water lilies, they can be a little pricey, they are all beautiful, there is one that is ultra violet I think the lake would like some of them as well. Like I said they can be a little pricey, maybe some water lilies can be finagled onto the bass tournament fees until enough are in the lake to help it.

[amberdawnmilner]

All the bass fishermen might want to help Clear Lake some also. They have nice clean and shiny boats, they should help the lakes they fish out of be the same. They might also really enjoy adding a carp tournament, no catch and release. Hopefully the bass fishermen get this message, then yall should get help from all over the world to help save Clear Lake. Thanks in advance.

[isatousarr]

Invasive fish have significantly altered the food web, outcompeting native species for resources and degrading water quality through their feeding habits. This disruption not only impacts the lake's natural ecosystem but also affects local economies reliant on fishing and tourism.

[hansel]

Wait, I’m confused by this report. Is the problem the Superfund site on the east side, the run-off of nutrients and effluent into the lake causing algal blooms on the south side (the whole lake now according to 2024 reports) or is the problem the invasive carp? A bit of a bumbling report.

[amberdawnmilner]

I looked more into the medicinal properties of water lilies, not much research has been done according to what I read on Google, however I read Egypt has been using the purple water lily for a long time, they may have more information on all of the water lilies and what they ate good to be used for and how.

[bryanmaxwell]

Lake County is economically unviable and geographically & politically insignificant. It is a dumping ground for the states mis fits on parole….and an absolute waste of Federal and State resources……However…it’s beautiful with hyper clean air. If they can get rid of the Carp, Welfare, Parole and drug addicts…revamp and revitalize Konocti Harbor Inn….Lake County would thrive…..( It won’t happen )….🥺🥺🥺🥺

[amberdawnmilner]

Another thought, in order for people to qualify to enter a bass tournament some carp should have to be caught and turned in first. I'm sure they are excited, any excuse to go fishing! So yall are welcome. 🥳

[amberdawnmilner]

I was wondering how lily pads effect the quality of water so I looked it up, the roots of water lilies help, and the pads help keep the water cool so algea won't grow as much, but too many can have a bad effect, Google has more info on it.

[amberdawnmilner]

This may be a reach, I looked up what year the carp were introduced to Clear Lake and what was happening durring that time. The carp came from European settlers, they knew what they are capable of. Concitering what was happening durring that time there is reason for me to believe the introduction of carp into Clear Lake was an act of war, that is affecting people in the area to this day, and many more days from now.

[amberdawnmilner]

My typing error just gives yall more comments, I think that a good thing for yall you tubers, the blue water lily helps relieve depression, and other things. Might be worth a try, a lot of people are struggling with a number of medical problems in that area, and all over for that matter. May the water lilies help in all the ways they are meant to. 💜😁💙