Press Release:
Statement: National Wildlife Federation Supports
Updated Plan to Stop Asian Carp
(November 20, 2018 – Ann Arbor, MI) -- Today, 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.
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.”
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Drew
YoungeDyke
Senior
Communications Coordinator
National
Wildlife Federation
Great
Lakes Regional Center
734-887-7119
Uniting
all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world
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