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Bighead Carp

Invasive speciesRecorded in 11 lakes

Bighead Carp appears on state infested-waters lists for 11 surface waters. Boaters and anglers moving gear in or out of those lakes carry a clean-drain-dry obligation under state law. 11 lakes — narrow enough that aggressive containment is still on the table. Most upper-Midwest invasives that established here did so quietly over a decade before anyone noticed, so a low number today is not a guarantee for tomorrow.

The presence of Bighead Carp does not change a lake's clarity, phosphorus or algae readings, which measure the water itself, not the species living in it. Invasive presence is still worth reading alongside those numbers.

11
Lakes with records
11
Minnesota

Lakes with Bighead Carp

LakeCountyStateDepth
Round LakeJacksonMN9 ft
Little Spirit LakeJacksonMN8 ft
Clear LakeJacksonMN9 ft
Loon LakeJacksonMN8 ft
Pearl LakeJacksonMN6 ft
Indian LakeNoblesMN6 ft
Pepin LakePepinMN60 ft
Spring LakeDakotaMN17 ft
Nelson LakeGoodhueMN-
Robinson LakeWabashaMN-
Grey Cloud Slough LakeWashingtonMN-

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have bighead carp?

Bighead Carp is recorded in 11 measured lakes: 11 in Minnesota. 11 of them carry a state infested-waters listing or an established population.

Does bighead carp affect water quality?

An established invasive population can change how a lake works — altering nutrient cycling, displacing native species, and shifting water clarity. Clarity is the one to watch: filter-feeders can make water read clearer on a Secchi disk without any drop in nutrient loading, so a lake with bighead carp is worth reading alongside its clarity number rather than through it.

Invasives Found With Bighead Carp

Silver Carp

Co-occurs in 11 lakes · 11 total

Eurasian Watermilfoil

Co-occurs in 5 lakes · 792 total

Zebra Mussel

Co-occurs in 5 lakes · 609 total

Flowering Rush

Co-occurs in 4 lakes · 54 total

Grass Carp

Co-occurs in 4 lakes · 4 total

Faucet Snail

Co-occurs in 1 lake · 39 total

More on invasive species and lake health

Zebra Mussel Spread: How Many Lakes Are Affected?

Zebra mussel counts from the lakes LakeQuality tracks, the counties that show up most often, and the Clean, Drain, Dry rules that still matter.

Lake Water Quality Explained: What the Readings Mean

How nutrient and algae readings are read against EPA ecoregion condition classes, what each class means in the water, and why a clean reading is not a clearance.

What to Check Before Buying Lakefront Property

Before you buy lakefront, check the water: clarity trend, nutrient impairment, algae advisories, invasive species, and depth — a data-backed checklist.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.