To: Dr. Kelley Smith, Michigan DNRE

From: University of Notre Dame (UND): Christopher Jerde, David Lodge, and

Andrew Mahon; The Nature Conservancy (TNC): W. Lindsay Chadderton

Re: eDNA results of St. Joseph River sampling

Date: 19 November 2010

On 15 September 2010, the UND/TNC eDNA surveillance group collected 57 two

liter water samples near and downstream (12.1 km) of the Berrien Springs Hydro

Electric Dam (41° 56’ 39” N, 86° 19’ 43”W). The dam is the first barrier to fish

passage in the St. Joseph River upstream of Lake Michigan.

All samples collected were screened for bighead and silver carp DNA.

All samples were negative for bighead and silver carp DNA.

We have collected, but not screened, samples from the lower St. Joseph River, the

Paw Paw River, and the Galien River. We anticipate screening for these samples to

begin in early 2011.

We are grateful to the MDNRE for providing boats and crews for collection of our

Michigan samples. This project (Environmental DNA surveillance – applied early

detection, #981) is funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and

administered as a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Cc: Michael Hoff, Mike Weimer (USFWS)

Contact information:

Christopher L. Jerde, Ph.D.

Center for Aquatic Conservation

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN 46556

cjerde@nd.edu

574‐631‐2665