Carp may help clear state's weed-choked lakes, including Belews

RALEIGH (Winston-Salem Journal) - State officials are hoping thousands of carp they will put in lakes will help fight weeds that are invading the shallow portions of the impoundments.

The state Division of Water Resources said it plans to put nearly 4,000 grass carp into lakes to fight hydrilla. The fish eat the weed that uses up oxygen other fish need and clog water intakes and boat propellers.

Carp will be put in several lakes Friday. The division said Belews Lake, Lake Howell in Cabarrus County and lakes Norman, Mountain Island and Wylie in Mecklenburg County will receive a total of 3,950 carp. The largest numbers will go into the largest lakes, Norman and Wylie.

Hydrilla was brought to the United States in the 1950s as an aquarium plant.