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Annual Lake Allegan Carp Derby
Saturday June 12th, 2010
9:00am 5:00pm
Lake Allegan, MDNR Echo Point Boat Launch
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Contact: Shawn McKenney for more information 269-673-8965 ×3
Why attend the 2010 Annual Lake Allegan Carp Derby?
Do you enjoy fishing? Competition? Bowfishing? Fish spearing? Clean water? Boating? Then, this is the event for you!
The entire family can hook, shoot (with bow/arrow), or spear a good time at the 2010 Annual Lake Allegan Carp Derby on June 12th, 2010 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lake Allegan Echo Point boat launch. The Kalamazoo Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation Committee organizes the annual derby. 2010 sponsors include; Muzzy Bowfishing Company, AMS Bowfishing Company, D&R Sports, Gander Mountain and many others. Prizes will be awarded for the largest carp, smallest carp, most carp caught and of course a prize for the youngest and oldest participants! Come enjoy a day on the water or a day on the shore, either way you are sure have a carp-tastic time! No pre-registration or registration fee is required.
Carp populations are over abundant in Lake Allegan and many other inland lakes in Michigan. Carp populations increase turbidity (the brown stuff suspended in water) in local waters making it difficult for our native fish populations to breathe and find prey. These bottom feeders also uproot aquatic plants reducing aquatic habitat and re-suspend non-point source contaminants on the lake bottom.
In Lake Allegan, phophorus continues to be the predominant non-point source pollutant. When this phophorus is re-suspended by carp foraging the phophorus creates large algae blooms and reduces oxygen levels in the lake from the decaying vegetation it creates. This in turn reduces native fish species habitat and food sources.
The Lake Allegan/Kalamazoo River Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Committee organizes the annual carp derby every year to inform the public about local water quality concerns including phophorus and other non-point source pollution in the Kalamazoo River Watershed and the negative effects carp populations have on local water bodies. Carp, as the dominant fish in Lake Allegan, influences the internal cycling of phosphorus within the lake and river, contributing to overall water quality degradation. The derby provides an opportunity for all involved to consider carp as a biological force that affects water quality.
Download the 2010 Lake Allegan Carp Derby Flyer here!
Visit our 2010 Sponsors:
