AUSTIN (KXAN) — The city of Austin’s Watershed Protection Department announced Friday the release of 1,955 sterile grass carp into Lake Austin. The move comes after the release 350 carp earlier this year, bringing the total number of new carp to 2,300.
The city released the new batch on Wednesday at two locations: Quinlan Park and the Loop 360 Boat Ramp beneath the Pennybacker Bridge.
The city said due to the size of the fish, nets had to be used to move the fish from the transport trucks and into the lake. Typically, a fish release involves pumping fish through a chute into the water.
The move follows a resurgence of hydrilla, an invasive aquatic plant, in the lake. Crass carp primarily eat hydrilla, which some claim is dangerous to swimmers and boaters…