ST. PAUL, Minn — Senator Foung Hawj (DFL–St. Paul) joined Representative Leon Lillie (DFL-North St. Paul), the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Stop Carp Coalition at Kelly’s Landing in St. Paul on Tuesday, Aug. 20 to highlight the $12 million investment passed by the legislature during the 2024 session to create an invasive carp deterrent system on the Mississippi River at Lock and Dam 5 near Winona, Minnesota.
“From recreation like fishing and swimming, to businesses that depend on our ecosystems, to the water we drink, our lakes and rivers are part of who we are as Minnesotans,” said Senator Hawj. “This $12 million investment will protect our waters from the threat that invasive carp pose to every aspect of our water systems. As we’ve seen in southern states, where carp have spread unchecked, they would outcompete our native fish and destroy aquatic plants, damage our water quality, and they threaten people who depend on fishing for their livelihoods.”
“This funding will help construct a well-researched carp deterrent, using data by Minnesota scientists and lessons from other states downstream. It’s an investment in the future of the Mississippi River, Lake Pepin, and the Minnesota and St. Croix Rivers for years to come.”
The $12 million investment was an appropriation from the Outdoor Heritage Fund in the Legacy Omnibus Bill authored by Senator Hawj. The DNR received the funding and is leading efforts, along with federal partners, to advance the project.
Stop Carp Coalition members include: National Parks Conservation Association (co-chair), Friends of the Mississippi River (co-chair), Conservation Minnesota, Fishing For All LLC, FM Walleyes Unlimited, Inc., Friends of Pool 2, Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance, Midwest Marina Association, Minnesota Conservation Federation, Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates, Minnesota Trout Unlimited, Mississippi Park Connection, MN-FISH, MN Division – Izaak Walton League, National Wildlife Federation, Native Fish for Tomorrow, and Wild Rivers Conservancy.
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