Fight to stop Asian carp heats up with potential temporary shipping lane closures
The race to keep the invasive Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes is heating up as regulating agencies consider temporarily closing shipping lanes.
The Army Corp. of Engineers may temporarily close locks from the Chicago shipping canal into Lake Michigan, the Detroit Free Press reported today.
Different plans have been suggested, but closures could last three to four days a week. During the closures, agencies would focus on efforts to find carp and "stun them, net them or kill them with poison."
The Army Corp. of Engineers planned to announce what it would do on its website.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Asian carp pose a large threat to the Great Lakes because of their large size, rapid rate of reproduction and the amount of food they consume.
Tina Reed covers health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. You can reach her at tinareed@annarbor.com, call her at 734-623-2535 or find her on Twitter @TreedinAA.
Comments
tdw
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 7:50 p.m.
Thats like saying the U.S. naval academy is in Marylands control because its there
David Briegel
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 12:57 p.m.
It ultimately involves all the Great Lakes States and Canada but it is Ill in control. I don't think any Pres should have to get involved.
tdw
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 12:31 p.m.
If it were Bush I have no doubt people would be screaming that all he cared about is billionire shipping owners
tdw
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 12:11 p.m.
Thing is this involves a state not states
David Briegel
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 11:40 a.m.
I believe that IF Illinois wanted to stop them the Army Corps of Eng would go along with the States! I hope those evil, Liberal environmentalists win this one!
tdw
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 11:04 a.m.
I don't think state DNR's have control over this because the Army Corps of Engineers is involved and this is a interstate waterway which puts it in the federial governments control
David Briegel
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 10:49 a.m.
Hey, JeffLib, You must be having a rough day! It is the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago that are "exercising their "States Rights". You can't have it both ways. Which way do you want it? Last I heard the environmentalists are attempting to trample on the "States Rights of Illinois". I certainly hope they are successful!! I prefer Lake Trout and Whitefish.
tdw
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 10:46 a.m.
@Brigel I tried to ommit FOX to keep it from becoming policital (which it can easily be ) but appearently it did'nt work.Carp are fun to catch but thats it they don't belong in the Great Lakes
David Briegel
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 10:14 a.m.
Why won't FOX carry this news? OK, Those carp must love our waste, garbage and pollution. btw, carp are great fighting fish! I have had some fun fishing for them because they put up such a great battle!
Jeffersonian Liberal
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 10:07 a.m.
A perfect example of what goes wrong when the federal government tramples on the constitutional rights of the states. WE are faced with an environmental and economical disaster that will be irreversible if allowed to happen. And where are the environmentalist when it really counts, no where to be found. They are probably to busy spiking trees or burning down houses they deem to large. The Liar in Chief, Obama, said that he was going to be the Great Lakes President. Instead we have the community organizer taking care of his political cronies back in Chicago, stopping the DNR from shutting down these canals. They have turned Michigan economically into a third world country and now they're going to do it environmentally. I hope you like the taste of carp.
tdw
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 9:52 a.m.
@Briegel They're not in the Great Lakes yet(?)but I highly doupt they can be stopped. This may be off topic but why can we (people) seem to be able to wipe out everything execpt for invasive species?
David Briegel
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 8:56 a.m.
I was informed that it is too late to stop the incursion. They are already here. Is that accurate? Can they still be stopped?
tdw
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 7:42 a.m.
Not to start a polictical debate here but Michigan has been asking for several weeks now to have the canal closed but the persident (Obama)has refused thus far.This info is from Mich magazines and national news ( not Fox BTW )