Grass carp unleashed to fight Lake Fenwick weeds

Rich Cunningham

Rich Cunningham

Kent city officials stocked Lake Fenwick with 300 grass carp on Tuesday in a new effort to combat Brazilian elodea, a noxious weed that threatens to overtake the lake.

“We hope that the fish will be able to eradicate the non-native invasive plant Brazilian elodea from the lake’s bottom leaving it healthier, improving water quality and fish habitat,” said Matt Knox, a city environmental ecologist, in an e-mail Wednesday.

The 12-inch carp were ordered from Opaline Aqua Farm LLC out of Melba, Idaho at a cost of $4,500. The city received a grant from the state Department of Ecology to pay for the carp.

The carp can grow as long as 4 feet and weigh as much as 40 pounds.

Knox emphasized that it is illegal to remove the carp from the lake because the fish are there to remove weeds. If anyone sees an angler taking carp, they can call the state Department of Fish and Wildlife enforcement number at 360-902-2926.

Over the last few years at Lake Fenwick, swimmers have become entangled in the aggressive weed. The weed also forms dense beds that reduces water quality. The weed could also spread to other lakes if a small piece gets stuck on a boat prop that later enters a different waterway, Knox said.

Lake Fenwick is the highlight of the 140-acre park located just south of Reith Road at the base of the West Hill. The lake is fairly shallow and reaches 28 feet at the deepest point in the middle.

Brazilian elodea covers about 15 acres of the 23-acre lake. Brazilian elodea used to be a common decorative plant for home aquariums in the 1980s and 1990s. It is now illegal to sell the plant in Washington because of its ability to infest lakes.

A person probably dumped goldfish from an aquarium in the lake and that’s how the weed got established, Knox said. He compared the aggressiveness of the weed in the water to how blackberry bushes grow on land.

Grass carp are the only fish that eat the weed. The city decided to try carp rather than a herbicide or bottom barrier materials to keep the plants from growing.

It will take a couple of years of carp eating the weed to notice any difference. Knox said he hopes the weed will be gone in about five years.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

t
Kent crime numbers drop dramatically in first quarter of 2025

All categories down compared to first three months of 2024; commercial burglaries drop 62%

t
Kent Police arrest man in stolen vehicle after short pursuit

Seattle man, 36, taken into custody April 14 at apartment complex near Kent-Meridian High School

t
Kent church reaches $1 million milestone for assistance program

Kent United Methodist Shared Bread Program helps people pay rent, utilities

Atena, part of a Kent Police K-9 unit, helped locate a man who reportedly fired three to five shots from his motorcycle at another vehicle April 12 in Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent Police
WSP plane, Kent K-9 unit locate man who fired shots at teen

Motorcyclist fled drive-by shooting on West Hill during April 12 incident

A house in Issaquah was damaged by fallen trees during November’s bomb cyclone. (Courtesy of King County Councilmember Sarah Perry’s office)
FEMA denies funds to WA for damage caused by 2024 ‘bomb cyclone’

Gov. Bob Ferguson says federal funds are needed to address $34 million in damage caused by the storm, and that the state will appeal.

Kentwood High School, 25800 164th Ave. SE., in Covington. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Person who made Kentwood High social media threat tracked down

‘Had no means to carry out the threat,’ according to King County Sheriff’s Office

A man places his ballot into the drop box outside Federal Way City Hall. Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing
SAVE Act could disenfranchise millions of voters

Congressman reports law could cost Washingtonians over $361 million just to register to vote.

t
Judge dismisses petitions to recall 2 Kent School Board members

Group wanted to recall Meghin Margel and Tim Clark

t
Kent Police Blotter: March 25 to April 6

Incidents include attempted bank robbery, cable wire theft, DUI arrest, parking lot robbery

Courtesy Photo, Kent Police
New 3-year contract gives Kent Police officers pay boost

Hikes of 16% and 17% in 2025 compared to 2022; beginning salary at $96,306 with annual increases

t
Kent man wanted in reported DV case now presumed to be on the run

Kent Police initially believed the man had died in fire; seek public’s help to find Avon Cobb