Judgment Day For Asian Carp In Lake Michigan
By Marcus Gilmer in News on Dec 2, 2009 9:20PM
The fight against Asian Carp in Lake Michigan comes to a head tonight. After failing to stop the fish with an electric barrier, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is going to unleash a toxic doomsday upon the fish tonight when they dump the poison Rotenone into the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Romeoville to kill off the fish. According to the Tribune:
During the operation, expected to last several days, the canal will be closed to boats between CSSC Mile Marker 291 and CSSC Mile 298. Rotenone dissipates on its own, but a neutralizing agent also will be added to the fish toxin to prevent its spread beyond the designated area, said Chris McCloud, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.Rotenone is an approved substance in fish management throughout the United States to control unwanted and nuisance species in a variety of aquatic habitats and does not pose any known hazards to human or most other animal health if used properly.
The Great Lakes ecosystem and fishing industry isn't the only thing at risk, though. The State of Michigan is looking into ways to sue the State of Illinois in an effort to prevent the potential invasion. Once again, from the Trib:
[Michigan Gov. Jennifer] Granholm and Lt. Gov. John Cherry sent Michigan's attorney general, Mike Cox, a letter today urging him to "pursue every legal tool" available. They say among possible actions are closing the ship canal, part of a waterway linking Lake Michigan with the Mississippi River.A Granholm spokeswoman says Michigan could file lawsuits against the state of Illinois and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It also could try to prevent southern fish farms that use Asian carp from importing more of them.
It's a drastic measure and one that hopefully won't be needed.