A Preliminary Assessment of Common Carp Populations in Five Kansas Impoundments

Common Carp Cyprinus carpio was introduced into the United States in the late 1800s and are now one of the most prolific species found across the world. At high densities, Common Carp can cause negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems directly and indirectly. We surveyed the shoreline of five small impoundments 27 to 56 ha (mean = 39 ha) using electrofishing (60 Hz, 25% duty cycle) to gather baseline information for Common Carp populations in Kansas. We spent 19.50 hours of total effort and collected 266 Common Carp in total across a four-month sampling period. Relative abundance estimates in our impoundments varied from 4.9 fish/hour in Chase to 19.7 fish/hour in Ottawa. Size structure (210-889 mm) and relative weights (> 90) are indicative of a low-density population. Our protocols used in this study will allow for further evaluation and increase opportunities for comparisons that will better explain variation in Common Carp populations both in Kansas and across the central United States.