USGS invasive carp database management and integration support

Bigheaded carps (Bighead Carp and Silver Carp) tracking, monitoring, and contracted removal will continue throughout the Illinois River and Upper Mississippi River as part of an adaptive management effort to mitigate, control, and contain bigheaded carps. Other fish will also be tracked to maintain a holistic view of the transmitter distribution in the Upper Illinois River Waterway. To facilitate these actions, a need to compile and analyze invasive carp-related data from all agencies exists. Invasive carp-related data include all data sources that could inform the MRWG objectives or projects. These data, often in disparate formats, must be integrated into a common format that allows all agencies the opportunity to assess invasive carp monitoring, control, and removal efforts. Ensuring the interoperability of these datasets allows for their use in various analyzes and modeling efforts. Implementing an interoperable data management framework provides the mechanisms for end users to find and use integrated data. Integrating data for use in modeling and analysis furthers the partnership’s collective understanding of bigheaded carp life history, distribution, and movement and can be used to facilitate adaptive management actions (e.g., directing monitoring, sampling, and removal efforts, assessing invasive carp abundance to support modeling efforts, informing deployment of control actions, etc.). An effective data management strategy will streamline the data update process, providing all agencies with timely data and analyses in support of informed decision-making processes.