January 31: Kaptur Commends New Findings on Permanent Barriers to Invasive Asian Carp

The Great Lakes Commission and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Cities Initiative released the findings of their study on three options for creating a permanent physical barrier within the Chicago Area Waterway System, a man-made connection between Lake Michigan from the Chicago River, a tributary of the Mississippi River.

The report preempts another study by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which Congress authorized in 2007, but has experienced setbacks and is not due until 2015.

The Chicago site has come under increasing scrutiny as the most likely route for invasive Asian carp to enter the Great Lakes, threatening a $7 billion fishing industry, and one of the world's most treasured ecosystems.

Advocates for the Great Lakes, including Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur of Northern Ohio have repeatedly called for such a barrier.

"We have seen the destruction these carp have wrought on the Mississippi River system," said Kaptur. "We must do everything we can to prevent them from spreading into the Great Lakes."

"I led the effort in the House to authorize a permanent physical separation of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, complete construction of the Asian Carp Dispersal Barrier in Chicago and fund an accelerated study of physical separation. The Great Lakes Commission's findings underscore the urgency for that action," Kaptur said.

Currently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates an electrified barrier in the waterway, which is meant to repel or kill any Asian carp on their way to Lake Michigan. However, the long-term viability of the barrier has been called into question.

Congresswoman Kaptur explained, "Evidence suggests that smaller Asian carp may not be affected by the barrier. Periodic shutdowns for maintenance and repairs also provide the opportunity for invaders to make it into the Great Lakes. And we are spending millions every year to operate the electric barrier. This is not a long-term solution. Permanent, physical separation of these waters is the only solution."

Several Members of Congress, including Congresswoman Kaptur, are now urging the Army Corps of Engineers to shorten its timeframe for completing its study and beginning work on the permanent barrier in response to the findings released today.

Congresswoman Kaptur is also hosting an upcoming public forum on Asian carp at noon on February 6, 2012 at the BGSU-Firelands Campus in Huron, Ohio. Representatives from the Great Lakes Commission will be on hand to discuss their findings and answer questions. Click here to learn about the meeting.