Agencies Begin Intensive Sampling For Asian Carp

Feb 17: Fisheries biologists from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are beginning intensive sampling operations in multiple locations within the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) this week. The sampling efforts include using commercial fishing nets and electro fishing gear in an attempt to locate either silver or bighead Asian carp above the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Electric Fish Barrier System. The sampling operation will also include the use of commercial fishermen and is scheduled to take place in the CAWS over the next 2-3 weeks.

    Sampling crews will concentrate their efforts near warm water discharges created by various industrial operations along the waterway system. These areas of warm water serve as a place of congregation for fish during the winter when water temperatures drop significantly. The agencies said, "The sampling effort on the CAWS is an important step in the Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework, which includes both short and long term actions to stop the migration of Asian carp into the Great Lakes."

    Access a release from IDNR (click here). Access the WIMS Great Lakes Environment Blog for recent posting regarding the Asian Carp issue (click here). Access the 46-page draft Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework (click here). Access the Asian Carp Coordinating Committee website for extensive details and background (click here).

Groups Continue Push To Slow Down Great Lakes Agreement

Feb 16: Environmental organizations are warning that the public is at risk of being shut out of renegotiation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the landmark policy that, since 1972, has driven critical public health and water quality improvements in the region. In a letter sent to the governments three weeks ago [See WIMS 1/28/10], over 30 groups expressed concern that "this oversight would seriously undermine confidence in the final Agreement, depriving the governments of public input now and public support later." They said, to date, government negotiators have failed to acknowledge the letter and its recommendations.
 
    John Jackson, Director of Clean Production and Toxics with Great Lakes United said, "Canada and the United States have created a process that stifles public involvement and shuts out constructive input. Ultimately, this will fail their citizens, fail the communities dependent on the lakes for their livelihood, and fail the Great Lakes themselves." The groups said in a release that the letter of concern was sent after the governments outlined steps for the renegotiation that would rush the process through by the end of the year. The first step of that process, a "governance" comment period, closed yesterday -- giving the public just a month's notice to offer input on a complex set of issues and no hint of what either nation is proposing.
 
    In comments on governance issues submitted on February 15, to the governments, the groups argued that "if we fail to reform governance issues -- the rules and systems by which the U.S. and Canada and their agencies work together on Great Lakes challenges -- then our ability to make genuine progress on specific issues such as toxics, invasive species, and climate change will fall far short of what the lakes need." The groups said they are concerned that if this comment period is any example, the whole process of renegotiating the Agreement could fail. The Agreement has been renegotiated twice in the past and they point out that in each instance, public and scientific input has been critical in better defining the agreement's scope, and in setting strong obligations that have "dramatically improved the health of the Great Lakes." They cite, for example, in 1987, more than 30 citizen hearings were held across the region.
 
    The letter to the governments included six recommendations to improve the process: (1) Release a draft government position or options paper on governance issues. (2) The release of the draft government position or options paper should set off a 60-day public comment period. (3) Once the governments have negotiated draft language on governance, release it again for a public comment period. (4) For the "issues" consultations, follow a process similar to recommendations 1-3, with the release of a draft position or options paper followed by a 60-day public comment period followed by another opportunity for comment after the governments have completed their first round of negotiations on the topic. (5) Compile a web-posted summary of comments received from public input at each stage of the consultations. (6) Release a final draft of the complete revised Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement for comment prior to completing negotiations and hold public hearings in both countries on this draft.

 

    Access a release from the groups with links to more information on the recommendations and the letter (click here).

WIMS Publishing Notice

Subscribers & Readers Note: We will not be publishing today, February 15, 2010, in observance of the Washington's Birthday/President's Day holiday. We will return on Tuesday, February 16, 2010.

Important Asian Carp Control Meetings & Live Webcast

U.S. EPA , on behalf of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee, will hold a meeting in Chicago on Feb.12 to discuss plans and get recommendations on Asian carp control efforts. The committee will answer questions and listen to comments from
the public.

When: 3:00 – 6:00 PM, Friday, Feb. 12 (4 - 7 EST/3 – 6 CST).
The meeting will be available via live web stream at: http://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/live.

 

Note: This meeting will essentially be repeated next week, from 3:00 - 6:00 PM (3 – 6 EST/2 - 5 CST), Wednesday, February 17, at the Marriott Ann Arbor Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest, 1275 S. Huron, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. It will also be available via live web stream at the same website.

See the WIMS Great Lakes Environment Blog for recent posting regarding the Asian Carp issue (click here). Access the 46-page draft Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework (click here). Access the Asian Carp Coordinating Committee website for extensive details and background (click here).

House Hearing On Asian Carp Control Strategy

Feb 9: On February 9, despite weather conditions that nearly shut down Washington, DC, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, Chaired by Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) held a hearing on "Asian Carp and the Great Lakes." Representative Donna Edwards (D-MD, Vice Chair) presided over the hearing. Full Committee Chairman, Representative James Oberstar (D-MN) also delivered a statement. Those scheduled to testify include: U.S. EPA; Army Corps of Engineers: Illinois DNR; Michigan DNRE; Wisconsin DNR; University of Notre Dame;  Great Lakes Fishery Commission; Canal Barge Company, Inc. on behalf of The American Waterways Operators; and Alliance for the Great Lakes. The Obama Administration, including officials from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. EPA, the Department of the Interior, and the U.S. Coast Guard had unveiled their draft Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework (Framework), outlining over 25 short and long-term actions and $78.5 million in investments to combat the spread of Asian carp on the previous day [See WIMS 2/9/10].

 

    Chairman Oberstar stated, "To be clear, this is a challenge that we cannot fail to meet. We must do everything within our power to prevent the Asian carp from entering the Lakes. . .  Where things start to diverge is on the evaluation of other short-term and long-term Asian carp prevention efforts. These measures include the evaluation of operational changes of the existing navigation locks, and the possibility of an "ecological separation" between the Mississippi River and Great Lakes basins. I recognize that each of these options poses a unique challenge, not only in terms of protecting the Great Lakes, but in ensuring the continued economic livelihood of the communities along the Mississippi River and Great Lakes, as well as protecting their public health and safety.

 

    "Yet, we must move forward, in an expeditious manner, to evaluate all of these options fairly, and then make a rational decision on how best to address the threat of the Asian carp. We cannot tip the scales in either direction before we start this evaluation. Let's be begin by applauding the work to protect the Lakes undertaken thus-far by the Corps and the Environmental Protection Agency. It is heartening to start a hearing, such as this, with a word of praise for the seemingly fluid coordination of the Federal agencies. This is a welcome change. The challenge ahead is great. Yet, we must work together to expeditiously resolve the best course of action to preserve the economic and ecological health of the Great Lakes waters."

 

    Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment Director made several recommendations that echoed Governor Granholm's rejection of the Administration's Framework Strategy. Among her recommendations Humphries called for immediately "closing and ceasing operation of the O'Brien Lock and the Chicago Lock until a permanent ecological barrier is constructed between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed. The Army Corp of Engineers must have the authority to close the locks on emergency and permanent bases if necessary. . ."

 

    Michigan outlined some interim measures but ultimately called for "Developing and implementing plans for a permanent solution to the problems that would ecologically and physically separate the carp-infested waters of the Mississippi River watershed from the Great Lakes."

 

    The hearing produced no resolutions and significant differences in proposed control strategies still exist.

 

    Access information on the House Asian Carp hearing including an 8-page briefing report, links to all testimony and a video (click here). Access an Administration release on the Framework (click here). Access the 46-page Framework (click here). Access the Asian Carp Coordinating Committee website for extensive details and background (click here).

MI Governor Rejects Administration Asian Carp Plan

Feb 8: Federal officials from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. EPA, the Department of the Interior, and the U.S. Coast Guard unveiled a strategy that outlines over 25 short and long-term actions and $78.5 million in investments to combat the spread of Asian carp. The Administration said the draft Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework (Framework) is "an unparalleled effort to control the invasive species, unifying Federal, state, and local action, and introducing a multi-tiered defense of the Great Lakes to prevent Asian carp from developing self-sustaining populations while longer term biological controls are being developed."

 

    The Administration said in a release, in the near term, the Framework focuses on keeping carp from establishing populations in the Great Lakes. It calls for reduced openings of Chicago's navigational locks to prevent carp movement. In addition, Federal agencies will deploy enlarged field crews for physical and sonar observation, electro-shocking and netting operations within the waterway. Turnaround times on eDNA verification will be expedited and testing capacity will be doubled to 120 samples per week.

 

    In March, 2010, a $13.2 million contract will be awarded for construction of barriers between the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and Des Plaines River, which will prevent fish passage around the electric barrier in the event of flooding where the two water bodies mix. A $10.5 million contract will also be awarded for construction and operation of a third electric barrier (IIB). The Framework expedites a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' study of the feasibility and impacts of permanent lock closure, the effectiveness of lock closings to block carp movement, the risks and costs associated with closure, and a discussion of alternatives. The Framework identifies a variety of longer term Asian carp management techniques for the duration of 2010 and beyond. This includes $3 million in funds for commercial market enhancements and $5 million for additional chemical treatments in the case of barrier failure. It also puts forth over $1.5 million in new research funding.

 

    Michigan's Governor Granholm said that a proposal unveiled by the White House falls short of protecting the Great Lakes from the threat posed by Asian carp and continued her call for the locks in Illinois to be closed to protect the ecosystem and the $9 billion boating and $7 billion sport and commercial fishing industries that support the regional economy [See WIMS 2/8/10]. The Governor said, "I am grateful for the good deal of effort and thought that has gone into this by the Obama administration, but I am very disappointed with the proposal presented today during the White House meeting. We have to prevent Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes, but the proposal presented still leaves the lakes vulnerable to this threat."
 
    Granholm said she supports creating a physical and biological separation between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed that keeps Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan. Granholm has called for closing the locks between the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal electrical barrier and Lake Michigan until that separation is constructed. However, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposes to continue operating the locks while attempts are made to suppress Asian carp populations. She said, "While we did have some areas of agreement with the White House, we believe that the plan does not adequately address the concerns we have been voicing about the imminent threat Asian carp pose to the Great Lakes. I believe the proposal's primary objectives are not sustainable, and that this is a plan to limit damages -- not solve the problem."

 

    The only options that exist presently for fish population suppressions in rivers and canals are the use of rotenone and crews of commercial fishermen netting fish. To keep the locks open requires frequent poisoning of the waters with rotenone, Granholm noted, as well as long-term monitoring. She said, "Neither option is a real solution." Granholm also expressed concern that nearly 70 percent of the funding for the federal Asian carp proposal comes from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GRLI), an interagency plan to target the most significant problems in the region, including invasive aquatic species, non-point source pollution, and contaminated sediment.

 

    The Governor said, "We are concerned they are robbing funds from other vital issues we need to address in Great Lakes restoration. The needs we have to address environmental and sustainability issues in the Great Lakes are paramount and a major economic issue for our state. I applaud the administration for commitment to construction of the second electrical fish barrier, separation of the rivers and canal systems to prevent carp movement during floods, increased research, and an aggressive public education campaign. These areas of agreement, however, are not enough to address this very serious issue threatening the health of the Great Lakes and the region's tourism economy."

 

    According to a release from the Governor's Office, Granholm and the Michigan delegation do support the administration's multi-tiered approach to addressing the Asian carp issue.  They also support emergency measures to block passage of water and fish between the Des Plaines River and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC), and the Illinois and Michigan Canal and the CSSC. Michigan also supports increased research of the issue and construction of an additional barrier.

 

    Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released a statement on the Framework saying, "The effort to control Asian Carp received an unprecedented investment from the Obama Administration today. The $78.5 million strategic framework proposes 25 short and long term actions involving four federal agencies that will work closely with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the City of Chicago. It is clear that the Administration is prepared to wage an aggressive battle prevent this invasive species from reaching the Great Lakes. I am committed to working together to find a solution that will protect our lakes, while preserving jobs and promoting economic activity in the region."

 

    Access an Administration release on the Framework (click here). Access the 46-page Framework (click here). Access a lengthy release from Governor Granholm (click here). Access a release from Senator Durbin (click here). Access the Asian Carp Coordinating Committee website for extensive details and background (click here). Access a Chicago Tribune report on the meeting (click here).

Great Lakes Cities Call For Unity To Stop Asian Carp

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).