Dear Mr. Harty, et al.,
I’m sending this email on behalf of Timothy Joseph, Chairman of the Watts Bar Ecology and Fishery Council (WBEFC).
Sincerely,
Janice Moody
Watts Bar Ecology and Fishery Council (WBEFC)
Secretary
Cell: 865.603.7384
To: Cole Harty, TWRA Fisheries Biologist
CC: Jason Maxedon, Executive Director TWRA
Tommy Woods, Chairman, Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission
Asian Carp Advisory Commission
Roane County Silver Carp Advisory Commission
Mr. Harty:
I was out of the country during the meeting with the HOA on the State of the Lake 5-4-23, but I watched the video. I don’t know where to begin. You are giving the public a false sense of security with your mere “speculations.” This is unprofessional and unacceptable for a fisheries biologist. Speculation is NOT how you manage an ecosystem, period. An experienced biologist/manager will base management on how to use biology to “best” prevent an impact, not on guesses/speculation and mere hopes as you are doing.
You stated that the “silver carp population is driven by migration.” Well of course it is. But then you told everyone that they aren’t like salmon, as if saying don’t worry about it. Mr. Harty, the silver carp haven’t taken over nearly the entire central U.S. because they move slowly—you know they continually move upstream as “Every” biologist knows and for you to downplay their migration because they don’t swim like salmon is irresponsible. As a biologist you should be extremely “worried” about their migration, yet you downplay it.
You stated that the leading edge is Pickwick. That is preposterous. Look up the definition of leading edge. TWRA has no authority to arbitrarily “define” leading edge to suit their plan. The population above Pickwick is large. Wilson has a large population, and you showed in your slide locations of silver carp reports/finding that they are as far upstream as Chickamauga. The leading edge is the uppermost, upstream location where silver carp are found/reported—PERIOD. Quit misleading the public with such deception and untruth.
You then go on to explain that a few fish don’t represent a risk. An educated, experienced, knowledgeable biologist would NEVER make such a reckless statement, ESPECIALLY when dealing with an “invasive” species. No biologist who understands the basics of invasive species invasions would dare make such an irresponsible declaration. I can give you a hundred examples where a “Few” individuals of an invasive species have devastated entire ecosystems.
You stated to the public you think the fish will not reproduce when you have no data or science to make such a profoundly wrong speculative statement. Tell me what is so magical about the lakes above Pickwick that silver carp won’t reproduce? No biologist would make such a declaration without the science to support it. If you studied the FluEgg model of the USGS for the upper lakes, you would have seen that conditions are indeed favorable for reproduction as shown in the document. If you merely looked at the range of flow rate and temperature requirements for spawning, you would realize that these conditions OFTEN exist in the upper lakes. As well, any knowledgeable biologist knows full well that invasive species are OFTEN successful outside the norms. You should know this. To risk the devastation of our lakes on your “speculation” they won’t reproduce is against every ecological/biological principal.
I will say with 100% assurance they WILL reproduce, and leading biologists agree with me. You go on and say that a barrier at Wilson, above your so-called leading edge is best for you can then manage the silver carp because—your words, “assuming lack of reproduction.” No competent biologist would ever “assume” that an invasive species won’t reproduce. In fact, they would do the opposite and work to control the invasive species by “assuming” successful reproduction. I suggest you take a course or two in invasive species management practices and get real silver carp experience in the field with proven experts before you tell the public what you think or speculate.
You then go on to state that TWRA wants to use, I quote you “The most effective way possible” to manage the silver carp and that funding is limited. Any biologist “knows” that the best way to manage any invasive species is to “Prevent” them from entering an ecosystem. It is in the USFWS and MICRA guidance and invasive species management guidance. Thus, If TWRA indeed wanted to use “The most effective way possible” to manage the advance of the silver carp you would follow the guidance and put the first barrier “IN FRONT” of any fish, and then move downstream to add additional barriers and population reduction, then continue downstream. By the way, I have shown TWRA and the state how to pay for this, but again they disregard everything I have provided.
The significant population of silver carp in Wilson have and are continuing to move upstream and by the time you put a barrier in Wilson Lock, they will have migrated in huge numbers past Wilson and upstream. You think only short-term. What will the population in Wilson and upstream be in the 2-4 years before a barrier is in place? You and TWRA will be wholly responsible for the silver carp devastation of the entire Upper TN River Basin Lakes because of your lack of biological, fisheries, and invasive species knowledge and ignoring long-term biology, the guidance, and the advice of experts. Your legacy could be saving the upper lakes, but your ignorance of biology and science will result in a legacy of devastation.
Stop “speculating.” Quit ignoring the USFWS and MICRA guidance that clearly tells you what to do and the advice of the most educated and experienced silver carp biologists in the nation, Jerry Rasmussen, and Dr. Peter Sorensen, and put the first barrier at Watts Bar Lock as they say. Then work downstream to mitigate the lower lakes with population removal and control with additional barriers.
Because you are with TWRA doesn’t make you an expert as much of the public believes. Only education and years of field experience will. This is in no way deflationary; it is simple fact. You haven’t yet earned the degrees or had time to gain the many years of field experience working with true experts. Jerry Rasmussen has the education and over 40-years of silver carp experience, and Dr. Peter Sorensen is one of the highest qualified silver carp population modelers and biologist in the nation. Yet TWRA ignores what they have stated. You need to listen to them and the 30 professionals who wrote the USFWS guidance, and the 50+ MICRA professionals who wrote their silver carp guidance. I simply cannot comprehend how TWRA thinks they are smarter than this large professional population of biologists.
No educated, experienced biologist would disagree that a barrier IN FRONT of the silver carp is “The most effective way possible” to save the Upper Tennessee River Basin Lakes. Your “most effective way” nails the coffin closed on our four wondrous lakes. The “millions” of voices of this four-lake region are as critical as the voices of the huge region of silver carp devastated lakes. How about listening to science and the experts for a change? I assure you that the people living on and using the silver carp occupied lakes would understand and want TWRA to prevent the devastation of our four lakes, even if it meant a delay in mitigating their lakes. If you don’t believe me, please “ask them.” Good people understand, and good people don’t want to see other lakes devastated simply because their lake is. This is indeed “TRUE” and you should understand this.
Do everything possible to prevent the silver carp from reaching our four lakes and then mitigate downstream ecosystems. This is biology 101 and simple logic. If TWRA thinks they can outsmart the invasive silver carp by managing them in place as you are attempting, well, that arrogance will be the death of our four upper lakes. And if TWRA believes they are smarter than the more than the 80 professionals I referenced, well, that is true arrogance, and I would suggest a vote of no confidence in the TWRA’s environmental management capability regarding the silver carp.
Start doing the right thing, follow the USFWS and MICRA guidance and our nation’s experts and prevent the silver carp from reaching the four upper lakes. Once again I state with 100% confidence that your existing plan to place barriers behind the silver carp will result in the devastation of the entire Tennessee River ecosystem—you WILL see this unless you do the right thing.
Professionally,
Dr. Timothy Joseph, Fisheries Biologist