Lawmakers seek to speed efforts to stop Asian carp

Associated Press

DETROIT

If a group of lawmakers backing a federal bill introduced Wednesday gets its way, the waterways linking the Mississippi River basin and the Great Lakes would be permanently separated to keep Asian carp and other invasive species at bay.

Instead of passing through the current network of canals and rivers, boats and barges might one day use massive boat lifts, for example, to bypass the blockade. The costs and workability of such a plan, however, are unknown.

U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., introduced the “Permanent Prevention of Asian Carp Act” to speed research into such a plan. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., introduced it in the House.

The lawmakers’ action comes after officials announced last week that an Asian carp had been found for the first time beyond electric barriers meant to keep them out of the Great Lakes. Commercial fishermen landed the 3-foot-long, 20-pound bighead carp in Lake Calumet on Chicago’s South Side, about six miles from Lake Michigan.

The legislation would require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to complete research on so-called hydrological separation within 18 months. The Army Corps, which has said research could take up to five years, said Wednesday it couldn’t comment on pending legislation.

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