All samples were negative downstream (12.1 km) of the Berrien Springs Hydro Electric Dam for bighead and silver carp DNA
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
