The National Carp Control Plan is developing a plan for the potential release of the virus known as Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 control invasive common carp, Cyprinus carpio, in Australian freshwater environments. If approved and released, major carp mortality events are likely and the degradation of carp carcasses is likely to release a considerable amount of nutrients into the water column. Of particular concern is ensuring that these nutrients do not fuel cyanobacterial blooms. Preliminary work has measured the remobilisation rate of phosphorus from decaying carp tissue. This work needs to be expanded and incorporated into prediction of phytoplankton growth in the Murray Darling System to determine how this will support algal growth.

The aim of this work is then to:

1. determine the flux rate and mass of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) from decaying carp;
2. determine the flow conditions in a range of rivers in the Murray Darling that allow temperature stratification to develop so that a flow and mixing criterion can be developed;
3. conduct a whole wetland experiment to assess DO, water quality and cyanobacteria risk.