Army Corps Activates New Electric Fish Barrier

Apr 7: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers activated electric fish Barrier IIB on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) near Romeoville, Ill. Barrier IIA has been placed in warm stand-by mode and will undergo scheduled maintenance within the next two months. The new barrier is set at parameters previously applied at Barrier IIA (a maximum field strength at the water surface of 2 Volts/inch, with 15 pulses per second and each pulse 6.5 milliseconds in duration). The demonstration barrier (Barrier I) remains in operation.

   Construction of Barrier IIB was largely funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, Stimulus Funding), enabling the Corps to complete it a year ahead of schedule. Col. Vincent Quarles, Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District said, "Successfully completing a complex construction project like this electric barrier takes teamwork. Certainly, the cooperative efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard and our other partners in the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) have been a great help in getting Barrier IIB constructed and operational." 

   The CSSC electric barriers project was designed to reduce the risk of inter-basin transfer of fish from the Mississippi River and Great Lakes drainage basins via the CSSC. The area surrounding the electric barriers remains a regulated navigation area as established by the U.S. Coast Guard. Boaters are reminded to use extreme caution while traveling in the CSSC between River Miles 296.1 to 296.7. This area is bounded approximately by the power plant near the Romeo Road Bridge and an aerial pipeline arch. While traveling through the area, boaters are advised to take the following precautions: Do not enter the water or place hands or feet in the water for any reason; Be sure to closely supervise children and pets or send them below deck if possible; and
Do not linger or attempt to moor in the area.

 

    Access a release from the Corps (click here). Access the Corps Chicago District Aquatic Nuisance Species Portal for more information (click here). Access the ACRCC website for more information (click here).

Chicago & Buffalo GLMRIS Scoping Meeting Transcripts Available

Apr 6: The Army Corps of Engineers (COE) announced that the transcripts for the public scoping meetings for the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) for Chicago (December 15, 2010) and Buffalo (January 11, 2011) are now available on the GLMRIS website on the Completed NEPA Public Scoping Meetings and Transcripts page. Scoping transcripts from the other 10 public meeting sites will be posted as they become available [See WIMS 3/1/11]. The public scoping period is now closed. Public scoping comments were accepted from November 16, 2010 through March 31, 2011. 

    The purpose of GLMRIS is to evaluate a range of options and technologies to prevent the transfer of aquatic nuisance species, such as Asian carp, between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins through aquatic pathways. Opportunities for public involvement, new documents and other important news and events are posted on the GLMRIS website on the new Stay Involved page and are also sent to the GLMRIS e-mail subscription list. GLMRIS also maintains a Facebook page and Twitter account.

 

    Access a COE posted announcement (click here). Access the Meetings and Transcripts page (click here). Access the Stay Involved page (click here). Access complete information regarding GLMRIS, the meeting agenda and scoping requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (click here).

 

 

Sens. Levin & Kirk To Co-Chair Senate Great Lakes Task Force

Apr 5: Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) announced that they will serve as the co-chairs of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force for the 112th Congress. Levin has served as the Democratic co-chair of the task force since 1999. Kirk will take over the Republican co-chair spot, which was held by Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH), until his retirement in January. The Task Force is a bipartisan, bicameral group that works to enhance the economic and environmental health of the Great Lakes. Members of the task force have worked to pass many key programs supporting the lakes, including the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact, invasive species prevention and control, contaminated sediment cleanup, authorizing and funding the Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control, and creating a Great Lakes restoration initiative. 

    Sen. Levin said, "I am pleased that Senator Kirk will serve as co-chair of the task force, and I'm excited about our prospects to protect and enhance our Great Lakes. The task force has led the way to passage for legislation to clean up contaminated sediments, fight invasive species and prevent the diversion of precious fresh water from the Great Lakes basin. I look forward to working with Senator Kirk and I am confident that he will help add to that important legacy." Sen. Kirk said, "It is my honor to serve as co-chair of the Great Lakes Task Force with Senator Levin. This bipartisan, bicameral Task Force will work to protect our Great Lakes -- the crown jewel of the Midwest's ecosystem. Recently, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and I have worked to crack down on raw sewage dumping into the lakes and my hope is to continue this momentum in the Great Lakes Task Force to develop bipartisan solutions and protect drinking water for 30 million Americans and for generations to come."

    The Northeast-Midwest Institute (NEMW), in its mission to aid the states of the northeast and midwest, supports several Senate and Congressional Member Organizations including the House and Senate Great Lakes Task Forces which are bipartisan working groups within the Northeast-Midwest Congressional and Senate Coalitions that cooperate to enhance the economic and environmental health of the Great Lakes. Founded in the mid-1980s, the Great Lakes Task Forces work together to advocate for policies and programs that enhance our unique natural resource -- the Great Lakes. Members of the Great Lakes Task Forces work together to build support for key regional programs to enhance environmental quality and economic development throughout the Great Lakes basin. The Task Forces convene member-level and staff-level events, including meetings, hearings, and briefings. They also collaborate to exercise agency oversight, and advance legislative and appropriation initiatives.

    Access a release (click here). Access further information on the Senate Great Lakes Task Force (click here). Access the NEMW Great Lakes Task Forces website for more information and background (click here).

Army Corps Report On Asian Carp Electric Barrier System

Mar 25: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a research report on the operation of the electric dispersal barrier system in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC). The electric barrier system is a key measure preventing the migration of two species of Asian carp, Silver and Bighead into the Great Lakes ecosystem. The Corps commissioned the report as part of its ongoing research to refine the optimum operating parameters for the barriers.

    All information available to the Corps indicates that the barrier system is working as designed. The Corps has undertaken numerous studies to determine and refine the optimal operating parameters of the electric barriers to ensure it is effective at containing Asian carp. The research report released today was conducted through a collaborative effort between the Corps' Engineer Research & Development Center (ERDC) and the Corps' barrier contractor, Smith-Root, Inc. According to a release, the Operational Protocols Report discusses the results of five laboratory research efforts related to the impact of the fish barrier and various other conditions likely to be encountered in the CSSC, which could affect the behavior of small Asian carp, applying conservative hypothetical "worst case" scenarios. Specifically, the research included experiments on electrical parameters, water conductivity, volitional challenge of electric fields, and water velocity. These studies were conducted in a controlled environment in ERDC's laboratories.

    Research summarized in the Operational Protocols Report indicates the current barrier operating parameters are effective for fish as small as 5.4 inches in length. The research published in the report suggests that slightly higher operating parameters than those currently in use may be necessary to immobilize all very small Asian carp, as small as 1.7 to 3.2 inches in length. The research also indicates that very small Asian carp may repeatedly challenge the electrical barriers at the current operating parameters, high levels of water conductivity could affect the operating parameters, and the swimming ability of small Asian carp is impeded by a combination of the electrical field and water velocity. Because the research was conducted under the physical constraints and limitations of a laboratory setting, further field research near the fish barrier system is needed in order to validate the results. Some of that research is already underway.

    Access a lengthy release with further details and link to (click here). Access a 1-page fact sheet (click here). Access the complete 132-page report  (click here). Access the Corps Chicago District website for more information (click here). Access more information from the Asian carp website (click here). Access the GLMRIS website for information and to submit comments (click here).

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Request For Applications

Mar 25: U.S. EPA is soliciting applications for grants and cooperative agreements to be awarded as part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). Up to $40 million may be awarded under this Request for Applications for about 150 projects, contingent on the availability of appropriations, the quality of applications received, and other applicable considerations.

 

    The RFA is EPA's major competitive grant funding opportunity under GLRI for FY2011 and is one of several funding opportunities available through Federal agencies under the GLRI. The RFA requests applications for projects in the categories listed below: Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern; Invasive Species; Nearshore Health and Nonpoint Source Pollution; and Accountability, Education, Monitoring, Evaluation, Communication, and Partnerships.

 

    Access an announcement for complete details, webinars and questions (click here). Access the new GLRI website (click here).

Latest Council of Great Lakes Governors Newsletter

Mar 15: The Council of Great Lakes Governors (CGLG) announced that the March 2011 edition of its newsletter, THE COMPASS, is now available. Highlights in this issue include: A Message from Council Co-Chair Illinois Governor Pat Quinn; Council Welcomes New Leadership; Great Lakes Companies Seek Sales During CGLG's South Africa Trade Mission; Administration Names Naftzger to Ocean Panel; President Signs Asian Carp Bill; Quinn to Lead Compact Council; Charest Takes Reins of Regional Body.

 

    Access the latest newsletter and link to past issues (click here). Access the CGLG website for additional information (click here).

Request For Great Lakes Presentations & Workshops

Mar 15: The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition (HOW) has issued a "Request for Presentations" from interested applicants who would like to lead a workshop discussion at HOW's 7th Annual Great Lakes Restoration Conference being held in Detroit, MI October 12-14, 2011. The deadline for applications is May 1, 2011. Applications are being sought in five issue areas: National Great Lakes Policy Issues – Beyond the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative; Economics of Restoration Funding – Making the Healthy Lakes, Healthy Economy Connection; Restoration Success – Chronicling Restoration Projects that Deliver Results; Grassroots Action that Makes a Difference; and Science and the State of the Great Lakes.

 

    Also, any person or organization with an interest in Great Lakes restoration is invited to submit an application to conduct a workshop at the conference. Workshop applications must adhere to the instructions outlined in the application form. The event is expected to attract close to 700 activists, government representatives, industry leaders, tribal members, environmental consultants, sportsmen, and academic institutions.

 

    Access a release from HOW (click here). Access details on submitting a presentation (click here). Access details on requesting a workshop (click here).