Biologists remove 100,000 pounds of invasive fish species from the Kansas River

TOPEKA (KSNT) – Wildlife workers in Kansas are keeping the pressure on an invasive species that has invaded one of the state’s most important rivers.

Biologists with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks continue to campaign against the presence of invasive Asian carp in the Kansas River. Over the past four years, KDWP has removed tens of thousands of pounds of these nuisance intruders from the river in an effort to slow the spread of the invasive fish.

Liam Odell, a KDWP invasive carp biologist, said biologists have successfully removed about 109,000 pounds of invasive carp from the Kansas River since removal efforts began in 2022. KDWP staff peg 2025 as the most successful year yet, with just over 36,000 pounds from the water.

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Kansas currently has three species of invasive Asian carp: silver, black, and bighead. People may be more familiar with the silvery variety which has been known to jump out of the water if provoked, while the bighead carp can grow to very large sizes. An Oklahoma angler recently broke a record with his 118-pound carp catch in April 2025.

Invasive carp can reach large sizes very quickly and compete directly with native aquatic species for food. Silver carp are also a health hazard to boaters as they often jump when disturbed, striking people trying to fish or enjoying recreational activities on the water.

Carp problems go beyond Kansas. Federal officials from the US Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced the release of nearly $19 million in funding to support numerous states, including Kansas, in the fight against invasive carp species. The cash grant is allocated to support 33 projects in 18 states related to carp removal.

Odell said KDWP’s efforts are resulting in positive changes for the state’s natural aquatic environments. He said biologists have seen changes in invasive carp populations that suggest they are declining in numbers where KDWP has focused on removing them, while also seeing a return of native species in Kansas.

“These removal efforts appear to have produced positive effects in Kansas waterways and for native species,” Odell said.

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Biologists in the past have relied on methods such as electrofishing and gill nets to catch invasive carp and remove them. Odell said KDWP has adapted to the ongoing threat by adding new equipment and removal methods.

“We now use some specialized equipment, including an electrified bulldozer trawl designed specifically for invasive carp removal,” Odell said. “This system stuns the fish using electricity, similar to standard electrofishing, while a bow-mounted push trawl collects the stunned carp as the boat moves forward. Standard electrofishing and gill nets are still used because each method is more effective at different times of the year and under different conditions.”

KDWP has also expanded the scope of its carp removal efforts. Odell said KDWP used to focus on 37 miles of the Kansas River from WaterOne Weir in Edwardsville to Bowersock Dam in Lawrence. Invasive carp are currently held in check in the lower Kansas River by Lawrence’s dam, preventing them from spreading further up the river system.

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“In 2025, the removal extended downstream to include an additional 15 miles from WaterOne Weir to the confluence with the Missouri River at Kaw Point,” Odell said.

KDWP is currently considering adding a larger and more intensive removal effort to further reduce invasive carp populations. This will be based on current, year-round eliminations that occur on a smaller scale.

“Currently used methods are effective and will continue to be used, while ongoing research into invasive carp management can inform future approaches as removal efforts in the U.S. continue to develop,” Odell said.

Odell encourages people to step up and stop the spread of invasive species in Kansas. You can learn more about how to help by visiting the KDWP website. To see a map of the waters that invasive Asian carp currently inhabit in Kansas, click here.

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