Big Bear Lake Invasive Carp Removal

The Big Bear Municipal Water District is initiating a project to remove the invasive Cyprinus carpio, or common carp, from Big Bear Lake in California to restore aquatic habitat quality and improve overall water conditions. The carp’s feeding habits disturb sediment on the lakebed, leading to turbidity, loss of native vegetation, and degradation of the ecosystem that supports native fish and wildlife. This effort aims to reverse these impacts by systematically reducing the carp population, thereby enhancing the ecological integrity of the reservoir. The primary beneficiaries are recreational users of the lake, who will experience improved water clarity and a healthier environment for fishing and other water-based activities, while downstream communities relying on water released from the reservoir will also benefit from better water quality. The project is forecasted for initiation in June 2026 and is being managed by the Big Bear Municipal Water District, with Jared Cheek, the General Manager, serving as the primary point of contact. The placement of performance is explicitly tied to Big Bear Lake, located in San Bernardino County with a zip code of 92315. While no solicitation number or NAICS code has been provided yet, the initiative reflects an environmental restoration priority aligned with local water quality goals. The project’s implementation will likely require specialized removal techniques and ecological monitoring, and all activities will focus on minimizing disruption to non-target species and the surrounding natural systems.