Lethbridge College is releasing 880 grass carp into Henderson Lake and Nicholas Sheran Lake this spring, part of a program to improve water quality and make the lakes more usable for recreation.
The carp, raised at the college's Aquaculture Centre of Excellence, consume their body weight in weeds daily, providing help with weed control. This program has been around for several years; because the fish have been sterilized to prevent reproduction, additional carp are added to the lakes every few years to maintain a healthy population.
"This Grass Carp Stocking program is ongoing and we are encouraged by the improvements in water quality in Henderson Lake since the program began," says Dave Ellis, City Parks manager.
In addition to the fish, water circulation pumps (SolarBees) have been running for a few summers as well.