Undesirable species of fish found at Kansas lake

HAYS, Kan. (WIBW) – An undesirable species of fish is threatening the ecosystem at a western Kansas lake.

The Kansas Division of Wildlife and Parks says on Thursday, Sept. 29, that experiences from the general public of alleged intruders at Scott State Fishing Lake have been confirmed by its biologists in late August 2022.

Fisheries workers indicated that the presence of gizzard shad, Dorosoma cepedianum, within the spring-fed lake has been confirmed. It mentioned 91 gizzard shad averaged 5.7 inches in size throughout an exploratory electrofishing survey.

Primarily based on the shad sampled, KDWP mentioned workers is assured the bulk had been hatched in 2022.

“Given the comparatively excessive abundance and younger age, it’s probably that a lot of the present inhabitants was produced in Scott State Fishing Lake and never the results of immigration or stocking,” mentioned KDWP district Fisheries biologist Dave Spalsbury. ”Effectively, it wasn’t Division-led stocking, that’s.”

“Gizzard shad weren’t stocked by KDWP, so the Scott State Fishing Lake inhabitants originated by way of pure immigration throughout our excessive flow-through occasion in Could 2021, or by way of unauthorized public stocking,” added Spalsbury.

Whereas the total results of the shad institution within the lake are presently unknown, KDWP mentioned Fisheries workers are properly conscious of the detrimental results the species can have in a small lake if left unchecked.

The KDWP famous that in the course of the preliminary institution o a inhabitants, small gizzard shad can function forage for choose sportfish. Nonetheless, over time, and with continued replica, juvenile shad type into adults and change into too massive to be weak to predators.

Inevitably, the Division mentioned this results in a number of fish populations straight competing for meals and general development is stymied.

Based on KDWP, Fisheries workers are presently evaluating administration methods with hopes of defending the 115-acre lake from changing into overrun with shad.

At present, the division famous that the lake is dwelling to channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, sunfish, saugeye and the occasional rainbow trout.

For extra details about the lake, click on HERE.

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