John Goss Appointed As Asian Carp Director

Sep 8: The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) announced the appointment of John Goss as the Asian Carp Director. Goss joins CEQ from the Indiana Wildlife Federation, the Indiana State affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation, where he served for four years as the Executive Director. In his role, John will serve as the principal advisor to CEQ Chair Nancy Sutley on Asian carp issues, and oversee the coordination of Federal, state, and local efforts to keep Asian carp from establishing in the Great Lakes ecosystems. In his role at the Wildlife Federation, he worked with conservation, business and industry groups to support the Great Lakes Compact. Goss previously served as Director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and as Vice Chair of the Great Lakes Commission. 

    Nancy Sutley, CEQ Chair said, "With a strong background focused on natural resources, John will be an excellent addition to our team as we continue to combat the spread of Asian carp. He will help to ensure coordination among government agencies and the most effective response across all levels of government to this threat." Goss will chair the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (RCC), which is a team of Federal, state and local agencies working together to prevent Asian carp from establishing populations in the Great Lakes.  The Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework, released in February, 2010 and updated in May, 2010, unifies Federal, state and local action in an unparalleled effort to combat invasive species. 

    Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm issued a statement saying, "We have to do everything possible to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes.  As the new Asian Carp Director, John Goss clearly understands this mandate, and he will ensure that all federal agencies understand it as well. John Goss shares our passion for protecting the Great Lakes, and his skills and experience make him a great choice for this vital mission." In his role, Goss will serve as the principal advisor to Council of Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley on Asian carp issues and oversee the coordination of federal, state, and local efforts to keep Asian carp from establishing in the Great Lakes ecosystems.

 

    U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the announcement and said, "I commend the President for hearing my concerns and making the ecological and economic viability of Lake Michigan a national priority by appointing John Goss, an exceptionally qualified candidate and a longtime friend of the Great Lakes. We have to redouble our efforts and do everything in our power to stop this invasive species from entering Lake Michigan. I am confident that with this step, we have made real progress towards a well-coordinated approach that takes this invasive species very seriously."

 

    Access a release for CEQ (click here). Access a release from the Governor Granholm (click here). Access a release from Senator Durbin (click here).

Merit Hearings On Asian Carp Lawsuit Begin In Chicago

Sep 7: Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox said he was pleased that the Great Lakes will finally get their day in court, with testimony being heard for the first time in Michigan's long fight to stop the migration of Asian carp into Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes. On August 23, Judge Robert M. Dow, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, in Chicago, heard arguments regarding Michigan's motion for Preliminary Injunction. The Judge scheduled the first evidentiary hearings on the merits of Michigan's lawsuit for September 7 and 8; and an additional date of September 10. Attorneys general from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Ohio have joined Cox in his lawsuit, which was filed July 19, 2010.

    On September 7, well-known biologist Dr. David Lodge, of the University of Notre Dame lead off with testimony regarding the wide-spread presence of Asian carp eDNA at multiple locations near and in Lake Michigan. Written testimony supporting Michigan and four other states has been submitted from experts including biologist Dr. Tammy Newcomb, of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (MDNRE), who argues the threat to the Great Lakes and its waterways is urgent and will cause great damage if not stopped at Chicago, and transportation policy expert Dr. John C. Taylor, of Wayne State University, who notes that barge traffic affected by lock closure accounts for less than one percent of all freight traffic in Chicago.

    On August 31, 2010 the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians filed a motion to join the attorneys general as an additional party to the lawsuit. According to the motion, the tribe is concerned with the negative impact Asian carp could have on Great Lakes fisheries,  citing tribal fishing rights in the Great Lakes and adjoining inland waterways.  

    Dr. Lodge is a national expert on invasive species with experience pioneering the use of eDNA technology to detect Asian carp in Chicago area waterways. He explained how scientific evidence illustrates the urgent threat of Asian carp invading Great Lakes waterways and the critical need to take action. He is an independent scientist who was not hired by the State of Michigan. Previously, he was employed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assist their study of Asian carp. In February of 2010, Dr. Lodge testified before the U.S. House of Representatives.

    Michigan's request before the court calls for the temporary closure of the O'Brien and Chicago Locks and blocking other pathways in the Chicago water system, except as needed to protect public health and safety, the increased use of rotenone fish poison and the installation of nets and other physical barriers, among other actions.  The lawsuit makes clear that all of the requested action would be subject to exceptions to prevent flooding, allow access for emergency responders and any other action necessary to prevent serious threats to public health and safety.

 

    Access the latest release from the MI attorney general (click here). Access the August 23 release from the MI attorney general (click here).

IL Federal Court To Hear Asian Carp Case August 23

Aug 17: Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox announced that a Federal judge has scheduled the first hearing on the merits of Michigan's lawsuit addressing the threat of Asian carp, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Attorneys general from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Ohio have joined Cox in the lawsuit, which was filed July 19, 2010 due to what Cox calls "the Army Corps' dismal record of inaction in confronting Asian carp."  Judge Robert Dow, Jr. confirmed that the first hearing in the case will be on Monday, August 23, 2010, with two days reserved for live testimony during the week of August 30, 2010, if the Court determines it is needed.

    Cox said, "The future of our water-based economy and environment is hanging in the balance. The Great Lakes will now get their day in court." At the hearing, Judge Dow will consider Michigan's motion for Preliminary Injunction, which calls for several short-term responses to the Asian carp threat. Michigan's motion calls for the temporary closure of the O'Brien and Chicago Locks and blocking other pathways in the Chicago water system, except as needed to protect public health and safety, among other actions.  

    Cox also noted a story published by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that seriously questions the idea that a three-foot long, 20-pound mature bighead Asian carp recently found in Lake Calumet, past all barriers, was "planted" there by humans [See WIMS 8/10/10]. The story, entitled "Carp explanation may be a fish story," says that "facts are coming to light that indicate Illinois officials may have stretched their own science to sell a whopper of a fish tale." 

    Cox said the Michigan lawsuit is supported by affidavits from two experts: Dr. Tammy Newcomb of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (MDNRE) and Dr. John C. Taylor of Wayne State University. Both experts are prepared to testify, if called. The lawsuit calls for the Corps to use all available efforts to block Asian carp passage in the waterways linked to Lake Michigan. Earlier this year, Cox petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene to address the threat of Asian carp. Although the Supreme Court declined the take up the case but did not rule on the merits of the legal claims by Michigan and other Great Lakes states.

   

    Access a release from the AG (click here).

New, Updated Environment Canada Great Lakes Website

 

Aug 18: Environment Canada announced it has launched a new, updated Great Lakes website. The new site includes: Information about the state of the Great Lakes in the How are the Great Lakes Doing?; Information about Remedial Action Plans, Lakewide Management Plans, the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and the Canada-Ontario Agreement in the Restoring and Protecting the Great Lakes; and Maps, publications and science information in the Facts and Information. The new site also features a Great Lakes area within the Environment Canada Publications Database. The searchable database allows users to instantly receive PDF copies of public-friendly documents and reports that Environment Canada has participated in, including the most recent Lakewide Management Plan 2010 Reports. 

 

   Access the updated website (click here).

WI Reports No Inland Spread Of VHS Fish Virus

Aug 10: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) reports that the potentially deadly viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHS or VHSV) fish virus did not spread to any inland Wisconsin waters that were tested for the virus in 2010. None of the fish that WDNR fisheries biologist collected from nearly 70 lakes and rivers this spring tested positive for VHS. Mike Staggs, Wisconsin's fisheries director said, "We're pleased that VHS hasn't spread inland and we appreciate the efforts that anglers and boaters have made to keep Wisconsin's fish healthy. These results show that taking the prevention steps can contain the disease as well as help prevent the spread of other aquatic invasive species."

    Earlier this year, Cornell University researchers reported finding VHS in Lake Superior fish collected in summer 2009 [See WIMS 2/3/10], but no fish kills were evident in that lake in 2009 or 2010 because of VHS, and none of Wisconsin's 2010 testing suggested the virus had spread from that massive lake to inland lakes or streams. Staggs said, "The good news is we assumed VHS was in Lake Superior when we developed the prevention rules in 2007, and as result, inland lakes and rivers were protected."

    VHS can infect several dozen fish species in Wisconsin and can cause them to bleed to death; a recent Michigan State University study shows that muskellunge are most susceptible, followed by largemouth bass, yellow perch, rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, Chinook salmon, and Coho salmon. The virus was first detected in Wisconsin in May 2007, when dead fish collected from the Lake Winnebago and Lake Michigan systems were tested and were positive for the virus. Lake Michigan fish again tested positive for the virus in 2008 and 2009.

    Access a release from WDNR with links to more information (click here).

NOAA Grant To Study Green Bay Hypoxia

Aug 10: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that scientists researching the causes and effects of hypoxia in part of Lake Michigan in Green Bay, WI, have been awarded $348,037 for the first year of an anticipated four-year $1,367,300 project through NOAA's Coastal Hypoxia Research Program. Hypoxia within Green Bay has been a problem for decades, and recent evidence suggests that it may be worsening, with the potential for "dead zones" and fish kills to become both more frequent and more extensive with a changing climate.

    NOAA said that Green Bay is particularly vulnerable to hypoxia because one-third of the watershed of Lake Michigan drains into it, and it receives approximately one-third of the total amount of nutrients draining into the lake. A team of scientists from within the University of Wisconsin system (Milwaukee, Green Bay and Madison), the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will evaluate watershed sources of nutrients, lake water stratification (the layering of the water by temperature that prevents dissolved oxygen from reaching bottom waters) and summertime wind conditions to develop a predictive model of potential changes in hypoxia relative to land use change and future climate change.

    Nicole Clayton, Wisconsin department of natural resources, impaired waters and total maximum daily load coordinator said, "These results will help us identify acceptable limits for nutrient levels in the water so we can begin to reduce hypoxia in Green Bay."  Robert Magnien, Ph.D., director of NOAA's Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research said, "This project is an excellent example of NOAA's efforts to provide actionable information to managers for ecosystem based management. The complexity of linking multiple processes in the watershed with those in Great Lakes and coastal waters demand new state-of-the art ecological forecasting tools that also incorporate climate change."

    Access a release from NOAA with links to additional information (click here).

HOW Calls For $972 Million Great Lakes CSO Investment

Aug 9: The Healing Our Waters (HOW) Campaign is calling on Congress to increase their investment in wastewater infrastructure in an effort to restore the Great Lakes and create tens of thousands of jobs in the region. In five historic Great Lakes cities HOW released its report: Turning the Tide: Invest in Wastewater Infrastructure to Create Jobs and Solve the Sewage Crisis in the Great Lakes. According to a release, nearly 200 communities on the U.S. side of the lakes have antiquated combined sewer systems (CSO) that when overloaded from rain or snow untreated sewage is sent into our lakes…and drinking water. HOW said this forces beaches to close, puts public health in danger, harms wildlife and hurts tourism.

 

    Eliminating the sewage problem is key to restoring health to the Great Lakes. The report emphasizes a two part solution that would help cities separate miles of combined sewer pipes (historically called gray infrastructure) while building up natural sources of storm water absorption such as green roofs, rain gardens and installing pervious pavement (recently termed green infrastructure). HOW said the States in the Great Lakes Basin need at least $23.3 billion to fix the CSO problems which they say the region cannot afford. Compounding the problem, they say, in recent years the Federal Government has actually reduced the amount of money available on loan to the states and cities for sewerage infrastructure.

 

    The Clean Water State Revolving Fund -- a low-interest loan scheme for sewer upgrades -- declined from $1.35 billion in 1998 to $689 million in 2008. And although Congress did inject more money into sewer infrastructure last year in the American Recovering and Reinvestment Act of 2009 -- How says "it still falls far short of the need." The report highlights five cities -- Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Gary, IN, and Milwaukee -- and it examines how the cities are facing the infrastructure challenge.

    HOW is asking Congress to provide at least $2.7 billion in low interest loans this year with $972 million set aside for Great Lakes states and 20 percent prioritized for green infrastructure projects. The report says, "Eliminating combined sewage overflows needs to be an essential part of the effort to restore the Great Lakes and revive the economy." HOW said by doing nothing and allowing the status quo to continue any other effort made to return the Great Lakes to a healthy state of being will be slowed down. They also said that according to the Water Infrastructure Network for every $1 billion invested in wastewater infrastructure up to 26,669 jobs are created.

    Access a release from HOW (click here). Access a separate release and link to the complete report (click here).