Asian Carp

Thank YOU for taking time to be part of the solution!  Read here how your involvement is making a difference.

As you read this, thousands of Asian carp are swimming toward our Great Lakes. The Illinois River is already infested, and this invasive species has been found in other rivers flowing into Lake Michigan and Lake Erie.

 If they become established, our $7 billion fishing industry would be at risk along with many of the ways we enjoy our favorite lakes and rivers.

As of today, Asian carp have NOT made a home in our Great Lakes, which means we still have time to stop them. But we cannot wait any longer to act—there is too much at stake.  We must permanently separate the Great Lakes and Mississippi River waterways to prevent entry of these huge carp and other invasive species. 

If we fail to act now, the Great Lakes may never recover from this invasion.

See our FACT SHEET about how studies show current protection efforts by the Army Corps of Engineers will not stop the Asain carp.  This threat requires immediate solutions, while the Corps’ timeline and actions do not. One of the best ways to influence the Corps is through Congress, which authorizes and mandates its activities and funding. The Great Lakes are our responsibility.

Your Voice and Actions are Helping to Keep the Carp Out

Over the past year and half, your willingness to act is growing efforts to stop the Asian carp that otherwise may not have happened.  This time last year we delivered over 12,000 post cards with your signatures to President Obama and Members of Congress. This past month, with the help of groups around the Great Lakes region, we delivered another 11,000 post cards with your signatures to Members of Congress. Both times, we let them know we wanted their action to help stop the Asian carp and your post cards demonstrated that those who charged with voting them into office wanted to see action. 
 
In 2010, we met with 20 Members of Congress to discuss the Asian carp threats and what actions we need them to take to protect our Lakes. We also held a Congressional briefing where staff from 21 Congressional offices attended. While we were delivering post cards in Washington D.C., we met with John Goss, the Asian Carp Director of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
He let us know that our help is needed educating new elected officials after the elections to keep momentum toward a solution moving forward as quickly as possible.
 
In the Fall of 2011, armed with your post cards, with the help of groups around the region we met with 30 Members of Congress or their staff. Of those meeting, 12 were newly elected Members of Congress. As a result, in just the past few months Congressmen LaTourettte from Ohio, Congressman Kelly from Pennsylvania, Congressman Peterson from Minnesota and Senator Kohl from Wisconsin have stepped up co-sponsor the Stop Asian Carp Act – important legislation that would move forward efforts to separate the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins. Separating the two watersheds is the only permanent solution that would stop the Asian carp from swimming into our Great Lakes.
 
Where do we go from here?
 
Released by the Great Lakes Commission and Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Cities Initiative called “Restoring the Natural Divide”, the study says separating the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins to prevent the spread of Asian carp and other invasive species is not only possible, but a natural step toward much-needed action to improve Chicago’s water infrastructure.
 
Senator Levin circulated a letter, which was signed by 30 Members of Congress in just a few short days, directing the Army Corps of Engineers to utilize this report and wanting to know how they intend to do so. If you see your Member of Congress on this letter, but sure to thank them!  If not, let them know you are disappointed and want them to increase their efforts to help find a permanent solution that will stop the Asian carp. And don’t forget to post on their Facebook page and tweet it! 
 
The more support we can show Congress, the greater our chances are to protect the Great Lakes. But we will continute to need your help to make it happen.

 

 

 

What are Asian carp?  

There are two species of Asian carp making their way to Lake Michigan-bighead carp and silver carp. The Asian carp were imported by catfish farmers in the 1970s to remove algae and other nutrients out of their ponds. During large floods in the early 1990s, many of the catfish farm ponds overflowed their banks, and the Asian carp were released into local waterways connected to the Mississippi River.

What's the big deal?

Both species are well suited for our climate. They consume vast amounts of food and reproduce quickly and are wiping out native fish where they thrive. In Illinois, the Asian carp population has doubled every year since it has been in the Illinois River. The silver carp can jump 10 feet high which has resulted in numerous injuries to boaters. If the Asian carp does make it to the Lake Michigan it will:

  • Push out native fish populations-lake perch, whitefish and walleye and become the dominant species
  • Impact habitat for waterfowl
  • Harm our economy by reducing spending on fishing, hunting, and boating - which is over a 7 billon dollar industry annually many depend on
  • Make boating and swimming unsafe

The only solution that will best protect our Great Lakes for the long term is to permanently separate the Great Lakes and Mississippi River ecosystems to prevent entry of the carp and other invasive species. 

 

News and Headlines

Great Lakes–Mississippi River Separation is Possible, Practical and Preventive 

New Study Identifies How to Move Forward Separating Great Lakes From Mississippi Basin while Solving Other Problems Too

U.S. and Canadian Scientists Warn Great Lakes Asian Carp Threat Real: Urging Separating Great Lakes, Mississippi River Basin

Before taking all the public's comments, Corps announce no need to speed up efforts on carp

River Renaissance: New Report Details Separation to Keep Carp Out of Great Lakes

Groups Want Action on Asian Carp Problem  

Great Lakes NGOs Support Appointment of Federal Asian Carp Director

Hurting Recreational Fishing Economy

View a video of Shedd Aquarium expert on Asian carp

Lawmakers seek to speed efforts to stop Asian carp

Indiana plans barrier to stop Asian carp invasion

Great Lakes mayors and governors are helping work toward a solution

Five states sue over Asian carp

 

Carp Captured: Invasive Bighead Carp Caught Near Lake Michigan

CHICAGO (June 23, 2010) – The nightmare scenario of Asian carp entering the Great Lakes through Chicago waterways is closer to reality as the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee announced today that they had captured an invasive bighead carp in Lake Calumet, 6 miles away from Lake Michigan. The fish’s capture bolsters repeated environmental DNA tests which have shown that the carp have evaded an electrical barrier intended to prevent their movement out of canals artificially connecting the Great Lakes and Mississippi River system.  Scientists and government regulators agree that the invasive fish pose a dire threat to the Lakes because of their size and voracious appetites.

Environmental groups throughout the Great Lakes have been advocating for quick action to impede the carp’s headlong swim towards Lake Michigan, even as federal officials and business interests have questioned the validity of cutting edge science that pointed to the invasive species’ presence. Today’s news brings a renewed call for more agile efforts to prevent the carp’s movement. Many organizations have called for hydrologic separation of the two systems to ensure the movement of the carp and other invasive species is stopped. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently said that a study of this solution will take five to seven years.

"This is a great example of how as we talk about possible solutions the fish keep on swimming," said Jill Ryan, Executive Director of Freshwater Future.  "Now is the time to move to hydrologically separate the Great Lakes watershed from the Mississippi watershed.  To make this happen we need everyone to demand action."  

Freshwater Future