2026 Quality Assurance Project Plan Invasive Carp eDNA Monitoring Program

2026 Quality Assurance Project Plan Invasive Carp eDNA Monitoring Program
edna-qapp-2026.pdf1.24 MB

This QAPP document was developed, and is annually updated, in order to effectively and reliably meet the goals and objectives of the Program. The goal of this document is to provide detailed procedures for Bighead and Silver carp eDNA sample collection and processing, as well as describe data generation, interpretation, and quality assurance and quality control measures to ensure data are consistent, defensible, and comparable across space and time.
Specifically, the objectives of this QAPP document are to:
• Ensure all personnel involved in sampling and processing are properly trained
• Implement standard QA/QC protocols in both field and lab settings
• Maintain secure and traceable data management systems
• Establish clear internal and external communications protocols for eDNA results
• Ensure timely and accurate dissemination of findings to stakeholders and the public.

Author(s)
Woman smiles.
Data Coordinator
Data Management ,
Fish and Aquatic Conservation
Expertise
ArcGIS Pro,
ArcGIS Online,
ArcMap,
R coding,
ArcGIS Applications,
ArcGIS Survey123,
Section 508 compliance,
Microsoft Power Automate,
Microsoft Power Apps,
Hydrologic Analysis,
ArcGIS Field Maps
Onalaska,WI
Publication date
Type of document
Plan
Facility
The front of the Midwest Regional Office building
Midwest Region Headquarters
The Midwest Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin. Our regional headquarters is primarily comprised of administrative offices, law enforcement, and the offices of our regional leadership.
Administrative Office
Bloomington,MN
People fishing on a pond in front of a large brick building. Text on building U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Northeast Region Headquarters
The Northeast Region carries out the Service mission within the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Our regional office is located in...
Administrative Office
Hadley,MA
A blue sky with clouds as the sun shines on the upper Mississippi River with green bluffs in the distance.
Midwest Fisheries Center
The Midwest Fisheries Center is the region’s Fish Technology Center for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Fish Technology Centers provide leadership in science-based management of trust aquatic resources through applied research and the development of new concepts, strategies and techniques to...
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
View from a sandy bluff overlooking a turquoise-blue lake, with clear water fading to deep blue toward the horizon. Green forested shoreline curves into the distance under a bright blue sky with a few wispy clouds, while leafy shrubs and branches frame the foreground.
The Great Lakes Aquatic Invasive Species Early Detection and Monitoring Program is part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative’s efforts to protect and restore the Great Lakes from aquatic invasive species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in collaboration with partners, leads and implements...
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