Has River use in the Mississippi River Basin changed Following the Invasion of Asian Carp?

Abstract Invasive bighead (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (H. molitrix) are two federally injurious fishes, commonly referred to as Asian carp, found in the Mississippi River Basin. We hypothesized that silver carp, in particular, may negatively influence river users due to their tendency to leap from the water when startled. We tested whether Asian carp have influenced stakeholder use in a low fish density Mississippi River city and three high fish density cities of the Illinois River between June 2010 and July 2011 using intercept surveys. Our response rate was 39 %. Our results suggest that most respondents use these rivers for recreational purposes. Boating, swimming, and aesthetic uses of the Illinois River changed between 2010 and 2011. Nearly three quarters of Illinois River town users who have observed an Asian carp jump have been hit by one. Our findings may help susceptible river towns prepare for social, cultural, and economic changes due to these invasive fishes