The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has initiated the stocking of 21,000 triploid grass carp into Lake James to control the rapid growth of hydrilla. The 6,500 acre Lake James is a hydropower impoundment owned by Duke Energy Corporation and is the upper most impoundment in the Catawba River Basin. "The fish will have plenty to eat," says Ken Manuel, head of Duke Energy’s aquatic plant management team; "our surveys indicate a lush early summer growth of hydrilla." Hydrilla was first discovered on Lake James in 1999 near the old North Fork Access Area located in the Catawba River arm of the lake. Despite annual herbicide treatments by Duke Energy Corporation to control the plant, coverage has expanded to over 350 acres with the potential to cover 1,400 acres. Recent surveys indicate that hydrilla populations have expanded to new areas down lake. The infestation is impacting public recreation and the lake’s ecology, and potentially threatens operation of municipal and industrial water intakes downstream. The stocking is a cooperative effort between North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, North Carolina Water Resources Division, and Duke Energy Corporation. The sterile grass carp were purchased from Santee Cooper (S.C. Public Service Authority). NCWRC and Duke Energy staff will monitor the effectiveness of the stocking.

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