Grant Funding for Carp Removal at Pinto Lake to Reduce Toxic Algal Blooms

The Watsonville City Council approved the Grant Agreement with the Coastal Conservancy to fund electrofishing of carp at Pinto Lake. The grant received from the Coastal Conservancy amount to $11,700, which will pay for the carp removal at Pinto Lake. The project should begin in April/May of this year.

A 2010-2013 study of Pinto Lake by CSUMB and UCSC showed that release of nutrients from Pinto Lake’s sediments is the primary cause of the lake’s chronic toxic algal blooms. These toxic blooms have been implicated in the death of fish, birds and southern sea otters. Studies at other lakes have shown that as much as 30% of the nutrient loadings are caused by carp, which usually feed by ingesting and expelling sediments. This makes reduction of the carp population a priority for Pinto Lake. 

The most cost-effective way to remove carp is to use electrofishing techniques. This approach is highly selective and has no significant impact on other fish, amphibian or avian species. Carp will be removed from the lake and disposed of at the City landfill, where their decomposition will result in renewable energy from the co-generation facility. The proposed electrofishing of carp at Pinto Lake supports the Coastal Conservancy’s strategic plan by implementing a project that will support recovery of the southern sea otter.

For additional information contact Robert Ketley at 768-3137.

You can read more on the algal blooms at Pinto Lake by clicking here.