Common Carp
Invasive SpeciesFound in 2 lakes
Common Carp is documented in 2 lakes across our dataset — 1 in Illinois and 1 in Indiana. Each state's natural-resources agency maintains an official "infested waters" roster that triggers boat-launch decontamination protocols. 2 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 Common Carp does not directly change a lake's LakeGrade rubric score — the grade measures the water itself, not the species inhabiting it. But invasive presence is a meaningful adjacent signal worth reading alongside the grade.
Lakes with Common Carp
| Lake | County | State | Grade | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lost Lake | Marshall | IN | D | - |
| Burnham Prairie Marsh West Lake | Cook | IL | F | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes have common carp?
Common Carp has been documented in 2 graded lakes: 1 in Illinois, 1 in Indiana.
Does common carp affect water quality?
Invasive species can significantly affect lake ecosystems. They may alter nutrient cycling, displace native species, and change water clarity. Lakes with common carp should be monitored for changes in water quality over time.
Invasives Found With Common Carp
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.