April 22, 2026 3:20 a.m. 

Illegally introduced common carp were recently found in Cooper Creek Reservoir near Sutherlin.

A release from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said the agency verified an angler’s report of carp in Cooper Creek last week by electrofishing, removing 14 adult carp, most of which were pregnant females ranging in age from approximately two to eight years old.

This newly confirmed introduction concerns biologists.

The release said native to Europe and Asia, carp could make their way into calm areas of the North Umpqua and Mainstem Umpqua rivers where they could thrive. Adult females can lay 300,000 eggs in a single spawn – warmer waters can introduce more spawning events. Carp can also have ecological impacts on water bodies by degrading habitat for native fish, increasing water turbidity by uprooting plants, and altering aquatic vegetation and food webs.

Umpqua Fish District Biologist Evan Leonetti said ODFW will continue monitoring Cooper Creek by electrofishing and disposing of the carp. He has notified the Sutherlin Water District which manages the reservoir and is reaching out to others to determine next steps.

Leonetti asks anglers that catch a carp to report the location where it was caught along with the size and a photo if possible. He can be contacted at evan.leonetti@odfw.oregon.gov or by calling 440-3353. Leonetti encourages people not to put live carp back in the water. Because carp are non-game fish in Oregon, there is no harvest limit, and it is legal to dispose of the fish.