2024 Quality Assurance Project Plan eDNA Monitoring of Bighead and Silver Carps

2024 Quality Assurance Project Plan eDNA Monitoring of Bighead and Silver Carps
edna_qapp_2024_508_signed.pdf1.89 MB

The University of Notre Dame, Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Aquatic Conservation, prepared a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in 2010. The SOP provided details regarding eDNA monitoring protocols and was given to USACE in May 2010 in compliance with Cooperative Ecosystem Study Unit agreement #W912HZ-08-2-0014, modification P00007. In December 2009, a technical and quality systems audit of the Center for Aquatic Conservation Lodge Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame was conducted by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The laboratory audit report dated 5 February 2010 was provided to USACE in addition to the eDNA monitoring protocol. These documents served as the basis for the QAPP followed by ERDC. Additionally, USACE submitted the eDNA methodology for an Independent External Peer Review (IEPR), which is a requirement to examine decision documents and supporting work products where there are public safety concerns, significant controversy, a high level of complexity, or significant economic, environmental, and social effects to the nation. Released fall of 2011, the eDNA IEPR report, conducted by objective panelists with technical expertise in genetics and population ecology, confirmed eDNA sampling and testing methodology is sound for detecting Silver and Bighead Carp eDNA but cannot indicate the source of Bighead and Silver Carp eDNA. In addition, eDNA detection results cannot provide information on the size, sex, age, or number of individuals present and cannot distinguish between pure Silver or Bighead carp and their hybrids. In 2013, FWS WGL took over eDNA monitoring activities from the USACE and made changes to the QAPP to adapt to a high throughput processing required of a large-scale monitoring program.

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Guidance
Facility
A blue sky with clouds as the sun shines on the upper Mississippi River with green bluffs in the distance.
Midwest Fisheries Center
The Midwest Fisheries Center is the region’s Fish Technology Center for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Fish Technology Centers provide leadership in science-based management of trust aquatic resources through applied research and the development of new concepts, strategies and techniques to...
Conservation Office
Onalaska,WI
PCR machine with blue strand of DNA
Whitney Genetics Laboratory
The Whitney Genetics Laboratory uses environmental DNA (eDNA) testing for early detection of invasive carp in the Chicago Area Waterway System, the Illinois, Upper Mississippi and Ohio Rivers as well as tributaries of all five Great Lakes. The lab also provides species identification via genetic...
Conservation Office
Onalaska,WI
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Alpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office
Established in 1992, the Alpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office meets Service fishery goals in Lake Huron, western Lake Erie and connecting waterways of the St. Marys River, St. Clair River and Detroit River.
Conservation Office
Alpena,MI
Ashland Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office
Established in 1972, we provide a variety of technical assistance in the areas of native species restoration, survey and assessment design, prevention, control and response to aquatic invasive species, fish passage, aquatic habitat restoration and tribal relations.
Conservation Office
Ashland,WI
A gill net set out on the river on a foggy morning
Carterville Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office
Established in 1981, the Carterville Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office (FWCO) is located in southern Illinois and serves the states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, and Kentucky. In 2015, the Carterville FWCO established a substation in the southern outskirts of the Chicago metropolitan...
Conservation Office
Carbondale,IL
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Columbia Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office
Founded in 1991, the Columbia Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office has worked on dozens of projects throughout the midwest including measuring our invasive carp catches in tons, surveying fish passage locations in the thousands and transporting more pallid sturgeon broodstock to hatcheries than...
Conservation Office
Columbia,MO
Green Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office
We work with diverse partners to conserve, restore and enhance fish and other aquatic resources for the continuing benefit of all American people. Our activities include using a science-based approach toward the restoration and rehabilitation of native fish and aquatic species in the Lake Michigan...
Conservation Office
New Franken,WI
Woman on boat with fish net in hand on Mississippi river.
La Crosse Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office
La Crosse Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office was established in 1981 and works to monitor and control the spread of invasive species such as invasive carp and round goby as well as restore threatened and endangered freshwater mussels and fish like the Topeka shiner and  inter-jurisdictional ...
Conservation Office
Onalaska,WI
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Midwest Region Headquarters
The Midwest Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin. Our regional headquarters is primarily comprised of administrative offices, law enforcement, and the offices of our regional leadership.
Administrative Office
Bloomington,MN
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A man is fishing in a boat with three young girls. The kids are excitedly pulling a fish out of the water.
The Fish and Aquatic Conservation programs work together to deliver resilient habitats, healthy fish, connected people, and strong partnerships. From habitat restoration to aquatic invasive species prevention, captive breeding to population assessment and monitoring, our programs are driven by the...
Program
Falls Church,VA
Silver Carp Jumping
Aquatic invasive species cause tremendous harm to our environment, our economy, and our health. They can drive out and eat native plants and wildlife, spread diseases, and damage infrastructure. We work to protect our waterways and the communities that depend on them from the threat of invasive...
Program
Species
A Silver carp jumping out of the water with boat wake below and a tree lined shoreline in the background

Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) are one of four nonnative fish species belonging to a group commonly referred to as “invasive carp”. Native to eastern Asia, silver carp were introduced to the United States during the 1970’s and 1980’s to private fish farms and wastewater...

FWS Focus
Species
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Animalia
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Species
Underwater photo of a bighead carp in a tank with white background

Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) are native to eastern Asia and are one of four nonnative fish referred to as “invasive carp”. These fish are large, deep bodied fish that have a large head and a large toothless mouth with a protruding lower jaw. The bighead carp eyes are far...

FWS Focus
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Kingdom
Animalia
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Species
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Midwest