The 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Adventures

Friday, December 4, 2009

The Asian Carp -- closer to the lake than previously thought

One Asian carp was found in the area that was treated with Rotenone (a fish poison).

The connection between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River system is manmade. It is the Sanitary and Ship Canal and it was dug in the 1890s. We are able to disconnect these two water systems. Shipping commodities around the Chicago area would have to be modified a bit, but most of the shipping within the canal systems does NOT go out into the lake anyway.

Even a temporary closure of the canals would be wise in order to determine how well the electric barriers are working and how they can be optimized or augmented with other barriers.

Here is a list of the decision makers in this battle:

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

For questions about Rotenone application
Stacey Solano (217) 299-3733 stacey.solano@illinois.gov
Chris McCloud (217) 299-7128 chris.mccloud@illinois.gov

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
For questions about the electric barriers/maintenance
Lynne Whelan (312) 846-5330 lynne.e.whelan@usace.army.mil

U.S. Coast Guard
For questions about the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal closure
Lt. Dave French (216) 902-6021 David.M.French@uscg.mil

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
For questions about the impact of Asian carp on the Great Lakes
Anne Rowan (312) 353-9391 Rowan.Anne@epamail.epa.gov
Phillippa Cannon (312) 353-6218 (773) 271-3370 (cell) Cannon.Phillippa@epamail.epa.gov

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
For questions about the impact of Asian carp on the Great Lakes
Ashley P. Spratt (612) 713-5314 ashley_spratt@fws.gov




Carp on Foodista

5 comments:

  1. Thanks for highlighting this. It's so frustrating that decisions seem to be made only based upon today's expense, and only in terms of $. I have watched waves of alewives, zebra mussels, gobies,quagga mussels and mats of algae wash ashore over the years. I have watched tourists walk by in horror & ask me what's up. More good info: http://sierraclubgreatlakes.blogspot.com

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  2. Thanks, Karen, for the comment and link. The Sierra Club is a strong voice for the lakes as is the Alliance for the Great Lakes.

    http://www.greatlakes.org/Page.aspx?pid=243

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  3. Having these fish so close is really scary. I 'll be amazed if we can keep 'em out of the lakes though. I wonder what will happen then?

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