2025 Quality Assurance Project Plan Invasive Carp eDNA Monitoring Program

2025 Quality Assurance Project Plan Invasive Carp eDNA Monitoring Program
edna_qapp_2025.pdf1.75 MB

The objective of this QAPP is to provide detailed procedures for Bighead and Silver Carp eDNA sample collection, sample processing, data analysis and interpretation, result reporting, and QA/QC procedures to ensure that data are as technically defensible, consistent, and usable as possible. The FWS Midwest and Northeast Regions will continue to maintain and update the QAPP for use in eDNA monitoring programs that allows for inclusion of any beneficial technical or strategic modifications that become apparent from past monitoring events, research, and/or relevant published literature vetted by FWS Midwest and Northeast Regions Fisheries and Aquatic Conservation (FAC) staff. Any eDNA samples collected and processed that do not follow the QAPP cannot be directly compared to FWS monitoring results. Therefore, the procedures outlined in the QAPP should be followed for eDNA monitoring and/or early detection of Silver and Bighead Carp by agencies and institutions that would like to compare their eDNA detection results to FWS results.

Author(s)
Publication date
Type of document
Plan
Facility
Sun breaking through clouds over a lake.
Alpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office
Established in 1992, the Alpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office meets Service fishery goals in Lake Huron, western Lake Erie and connecting waterways of the St. Marys River, St. Clair River and Detroit River.
Conservation Office
Alpena,MI
Ashland Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office
Established in 1972, we provide a variety of technical assistance in the areas of native species restoration, survey and assessment design, prevention, control and response to aquatic invasive species, fish passage, aquatic habitat restoration and tribal relations.
Conservation Office
Ashland,WI
A gill net set out on the river on a foggy morning
Carterville Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office
Established in 1981, the Carterville Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office (FWCO) is located in southern Illinois and serves the states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, and Kentucky. In 2015, the Carterville FWCO established a substation in the southern outskirts of the Chicago metropolitan...
Conservation Office
Carbondale,IL
an electrified trawl net boat at sunset
Columbia Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office
Founded in 1991, the Columbia Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office has worked on dozens of projects throughout the midwest including measuring our invasive carp catches in tons, surveying fish passage locations in the thousands and transporting more pallid sturgeon broodstock to hatcheries than...
Conservation Office
Columbia,MO
Green Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office
We work with diverse partners to conserve, restore and enhance fish and other aquatic resources for the continuing benefit of all American people. Our activities include using a science-based approach toward the restoration and rehabilitation of native fish and aquatic species in the Lake Michigan...
Conservation Office
New Franken,WI
Woman on boat with fish net in hand on Mississippi river.
La Crosse Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office
La Crosse Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office was established in 1981 and works to monitor and control the spread of invasive species such as invasive carp and round goby as well as restore threatened and endangered freshwater mussels and fish like the Topeka shiner and  inter-jurisdictional ...
Conservation Office
Onalaska,WI
PCR machine with blue strand of DNA
Whitney Genetics Laboratory
The Whitney Genetics Laboratory specializes in high-throughput environmental DNA processing for monitoring aquatic invasive species through its Invasive Carp eDNA Monitoring and Genetic Surveillance of Invasive Species programs. Lab staff participate in development of new scientific methods to help...
Conservation Office
Onalaska,WI
Media Usage Rights/License
Public Domain
Program
A man is fishing in a boat with three young girls. The kids are excitedly pulling a fish out of the water.
Healthy fisheries and waters are the foundation of America’s outdoor traditions and give us the freedom to fish, boat, and enjoy the benefits of outdoor recreation. The Fish and Aquatic Conservation programs work with states, tribes, and communities to provide a comprehensive approach to freshwater...
Program
Falls Church,VA
Silver Carp Jumping
Aquatic invasive species cause tremendous harm to our environment, our economy, and our health. They can drive out and eat native plants and wildlife, spread diseases, and damage infrastructure. We work to protect our waterways and the communities that depend on them from the threat of invasive...
Program
Species
A Silver carp jumping out of the water with boat wake below and a tree lined shoreline in the background

Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) are one of four nonnative fish species belonging to a group commonly referred to as “invasive carp”. Native to eastern Asia, silver carp were introduced to the United States during the 1970’s and 1980’s to private fish farms and wastewater...

FWS Focus
Species
Kingdom
Animalia
Taxonomic Rank
Species
Underwater photo of a bighead carp in a tank with white background

Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) are native to eastern Asia and are one of four nonnative fish referred to as “invasive carp”. These fish are large, deep bodied fish that have a large head and a large toothless mouth with a protruding lower jaw. The bighead carp eyes are far...

FWS Focus
Species
Kingdom
Animalia
Taxonomic Rank
Species
FWS and DOI Region(s)
Midwest
Northeast