Lake Hopatcong Grass Carp:

[NJSquatch]

This has been a hot topic lately. The pleasure boaters and residents along shallow coves (crescent cove, landing channel, jefferson canals, etc) are all for it. If it was left up to them they would kill every weed in the lake. The weeds (especially the invasive milfoil)do a really good job of choking up boat props and water intakes which damages the boat engine.

The Local communities have been spending a ludicrous amount of money on weed harvesting the last couple of years. Fortunately a recent bill was passed that has $500k of dedicated state funds to "enhance" the lake. Most of this money will be spent on weed harvesting which is essentially the equivalent to mowing the lawn and not a long term solution.

The Lake Hopatcong Foundation is pushing the grass carp agenda based upon the successes had at Candlewood Lake in CT.

Weeds are very important in a fishes life cycle and it is unknown what the long term impact will be on a fishery.

The reality is something needs to be done to maintain the viability of the lake as a public resource for all.

I say do a test area in the back of one of these coves to measure the impacts. The grass carp is sterile and there would have to be alot stocked to eat even a fraction of the weeds in the lake.