Researchers with the U.S. Geological Survey discovered newly hatched grass carp in the Maumee River this past summer.

Scientists have been concerned about invasive Asian carp like the grass carp spreading from rivers into larger bodies of freshwater. The Maumee drains into Lake Erie, which is connected to the rest of the Great Lakes.

The fish has been found in Lake Erie shoreline and tributaries in other life stages, such as fertilized eggs, juveniles and adults. This new discovery will aid in management decisions in the future.

“If grass carp become abundant in Lake Erie they could consume large amounts of aquatic vegetation, ultimately reducing habitat for native fish and other aquatic animals and diminishing food resources for waterbirds,” said USGS scientist Patrick Kočovský. “The Lake Erie ecosystem is a major contributor to the Great Lakes’ multi-billion dollar per year fishery.”

A sampling crew from The University of Toledo made the find in June of 2018 near the I-280 bridge and near the river mouth adjacent to Brenner’s Marina.

The USGS and The University of Toledo have previously documented grass carp spawning in the Sandusky River.