Final barrier erected against invasive fish

The third and final electrical barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal is about to go online, A year ahead of schedule. Final tests should be finished in the next month in this effort to stop the spread of big and heavy flying fish.

The last electrical link in the battle to keep the Asian carp out of the Great Lakes is getting its final operational test this week. The Army Corp of Engineers is overseeing the building and operation of three electrical barriers designed to shock and stun fish swimming toward Lake Michigan in the Chicago waterway.

Col. Vincent Quarles, the district commander, says as with any new construction project, they want to ensure it’s operating as designed.

“So the work this week, we’re finishing up the operational testing.”

That means making sure this third and last barrier works. After that, Quarles says they’ll take three weeks for safety testing so the new barrier isn’t a shocking experience for commercial vessels.

“We want to make sure if you have a metal rigid body such as a barge coming through, what electrical they feel from the canal. If they’re tied off in certain ways and do certain things, the risk is low.”

Quarles says construction of this last barrier is a year ahead of pace because of stimulus spending from the federal government.

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