Asian Carp has attention of Great Lakes mayors

Talk about it

The possible invasion of the Asian Carp into the Great Lakes from the Chicago shipping canal has the attention of Great Lakes mayors. Ironically, they’re meeting in Chicago this week.

Closing the Chicago canal – even with its dire impact on shipping – could be discussed.

Superior Mayor Dave Ross says it has to be considered, especially since Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm is considering legal action to close the Chicago Canal. Ross says closing the canal would be a desperate attempt to keep the carp from invading the Great Lakes. But he also respects Granholm raising the question of whether the benefit of keeping the Chicago Canal open outweighs the risk to the Great Lakes.

Toronto Mayor David Miller agrees the situation is dire but believes Great Lakes mayors will unite to find a solution. He says they have to, because Asian Carp are a predator that will destroy fisheries and the biodiversity of the Great Lakes.

Great Lakes Cities Initiative Director David Ullrich says the meeting might lead to common ground with other solutions to keep the carp out.

Meanwhile, a coalition of state and federal agencies calling itself the Asian Carp Rapid Response Workgroup has finished testing a canal upstream from the Chicago Canal where carp DNA was found. They say no Asian Carp was found in the O'Brien Lock, while one Bighead Asian Carp was discovered last week in the Chicago shipping canal.

Tags: great lakes, invasive species, news, government