Feb 8: As tensions rise and differences emerge between various parties involved in the Asian Carp control issue, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative announced on February 5, that maintaining unity within the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence community is essential to prevent Asian carp from establishing populations in the largest freshwater resource in the world. The Cities Initiative Board of Directors has adopted a "Statement of Unity" that sets out key steps that need to be taken to protect the resource.
Cities Initiative Chairman George Heartwell, Mayor of Grand Rapids, MI, said, "This is a matter of utmost urgency and we need a united sense of purpose among the government partners and the stakeholder community that the Asian carp must be stopped dead in their tracks. There is no tomorrow when it comes to solving this problem."
The Cities Initiative outlines key steps in the short, mid, and long term that need to be taken. They said, "In the short term in 2010, much more comprehensive surveillance and monitoring is essential immediately to know where the Asian carp are, how many of them are there, and where they are going. With that information available, the authorities can make much better decisions about what type of actions are necessary for what numbers of fish in what locations. While this is being done, continued operation of the electronic barrier at optimum levels, construction of flood protection, additional chemical treatment, and other possible steps must be taken or readily available.
"Moving from the short term to the mid- term in 2011 and 2012, there must be an expedited study for long term solutions, including separation of the Great Lakes and Mississippi watersheds in a way that prevents fish and plant life from moving between the two basins. Upon completion of those studies, there must be full and timely implementation of the solutions in 2013 and beyond, and the funding to make it happen."
David Ullrich, Executive Director of the Cities Initiative, said, "Mayors from across the basin are prepared to work with all partners to come up with the best solutions and make them a reality so the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence are protected. The quality of life and economic well being of our people are determined by the resource, and we owe it to ourselves and future generations to keep the Asian carp out."
As an example of the elevated rhetoric and hostility developing between parties in the issue, on February 5, lawmakers from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan launched an online campaign "demanding that Chicago bureaucrats and the Governor of Illinois" close two shipping locks to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. Michigan Representative Judy Nerat (D-Wallace) said, "We can't let complacent Illinois politicians and bureaucrats continue to hold the Great Lakes hostage when there is an imminent Asian carp threat at our doorstep."
In a release, Michigan State representatives issue a release saying they were launching "an aggressive online effort by sending a virtual postcard of a boat filled with Asian carp to Chicago and invited people from around the Great Lakes region to join their fight by e-mailing 'boatloads of carp' to Chicago bureaucrats like Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Executive Director Dick Lanyon and the Governor of Illinois, who are stalling action to protect Great Lakes." State Representative Mike Lahti (D-Hancock) said, "Summits are fine as far as they go, but meetings and position papers aren't enough to end this enormous threat to the Great Lakes. We need action now from the Illinois governor and the bureaucrats in charge of the Chicago locks."
Access a release from the Cities Initiative (click here). Access the "Statement of Unity" (click here). Access the Cities Initiative website for more information (click here). Access a release and link to the MI Reps. online campaign (click here).
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