Press Release

May 28, 2019

ELPC Calls on Congress to Authorize Funds to Begin Construction Project to Reduce Threat of Asian Carp Entering the Great Lakes

Environmental Law & Policy Center Calls on Congress to Authorize Funds to Begin Construction Project to Reduce Threat of Asian Carp Entering the Great Lakes. U.S. Army Corps’ Asian carp long-delayed report outlines recommended action plan.

ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner said in response to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ release of the Final Chiefs Report on the agency’s plan to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp threat:

“Congress should take swift action to authorize project work at Brandon Road Lock and Dam to reduce the risk of Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes. Governor Pritzker has signaled Illinois’ willingness to partner with the federal government and neighboring Great Lakes states to fund the necessary Preconstruction Engineering and Design expenses.

“This is even more urgent to set up Asian carp barriers now that environmental DNA (eDNA) from carp was recently found in Lake Calumet, not far from Lake Michigan.

“Let’s begin work as quickly as possible to reduce the threat to the Great Lakes ecosystem, which supplies safe clean drinking water to 42 million people and supports a multibillion-dollar fishing and recreational boating industry.”

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