Statement: National Wildlife Federation Supports Updated Plan to Stop Asian Carp
The invasive species is a clear and present danger to the Great Lakes sport-fishery, which is estimated to generate at least $7 billion each year in economic activity.
(November 21, 2018 – Ann Arbor, MI) — Yesterday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released its final draft plan to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. The draft chief’s report of the Brandon Road Lock and Dam includes both structural and nonstructural measures including an engineered lock fitted with an electric barrier, a bubble barrier, an acoustic barrier, and a flushing lock to stop aquatic invasive species like Asian carp, while maintaining navigation for shipping. The Brandon Road Lock and Dam is located just south of Chicago and is a critical chokepoint to help stop Asian carp from continuing to swim closer to Lake Michigan. The estimated cost of the project is $777.8 million, up from an earlier estimate of $275 million. A previous draft of the plan included water jets in place of the bubble barrier.
A summary of the final plan is available here: https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Environmental-Protection-and-Restoration/GLMRIS-BrandonRoad/.
Asian carp include species of bighead, silver, black, and grass carp. After escaping from southern United States aquaculture facilities, they have spread rapidly and have reduced native fish populations in waters connected to the Mississippi River watershed, which connects to the Great Lakes watershed through the Chicago Area Waterway System. Asian carp pose a significant threat to our economy, outdoor heritage, and way of life. In addition, the invasive species is a clear and present danger to the Great Lakes sport-fishery, which is estimated to generate at least $7 billion each year in economic activity.
Marc Smith, director of conservation partnerships for the National Wildlife Federation Great Lakes Regional Center, issued the following statement in response to the release of the updated plan:
“Across the country, Asian carp are undermining our nation’s fisheries and threaten the Great Lakes $7 billion annual sport-fishery. The Army Corps of Engineers plan to rebuild the Brandon Road Lock and Dam south of Chicago is our opportunity to put stronger measures in place to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. The plan includes a gauntlet of technologies to prevent Asian carp from moving past the lock, while maintaining navigation for shipping. The investment in this project pales in comparison to the economic risk if Asian carp invade the Great Lakes. We intend to review the updates to the plan in detail and offer official public comment later, but at first glance this looks like the plan we need to protect our waters, our fisheries, our sport-fishing economy and our way of life.”
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by National Wildlife Federation
Business Leaders Meet at Shedd Aquarium to Discuss Protecting, Restoring Vitality of Great Lakes
Oct 29th, 2019 by National Wildlife FederationGreat Lakes Business Network, Shedd Link Arms to Elevate Business Community Support for Conservation Policy to Protect Waterways from Invasive Species, Including Asian Carp
Over 200 Hunting, Fishing, Conservation Groups Support Plan to Stop Asian Carp
Feb 22nd, 2019 by National Wildlife Federation‘Without firm and swift action to stop the further movement of Asian carp and other invasive species, the future of hunting, fishing and our outdoor heritage in the Great Lakes and Mississippi River region is at risk.’
Statement: National Wildlife Federation Supports Updated Plan to Stop Asian Carp
Nov 21st, 2018 by National Wildlife FederationThe invasive species is a clear and present danger to the Great Lakes sport-fishery, which is estimated to generate at least $7 billion each year in economic activity.
I affirm the Army Corps of Engineer’s proposal to do all that it can to keep these species of Carp from breeding in the Great Lakes. I suggest that the cost of these efforts should chiefly be the responsibility of Chicago area taxpayers. This proposal protects their sanitary and ship canal, which reversed the flow of a river and which connects the Great Lakes with a tributary to the Mississippi River.
Although we cannot expect Mexico to pay for a wall that would not serve the interests of that country, we can expect the citizens of Illinois to pay for keeping Asian Carp out of the Great Lakes because the process involved in doing so could keep the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal open for business.