In his unrelenting bid to prevent Asian Carp from entering Lake Michigan and the entire Great Lakes ecosystem, State Senator John Proos from St. Joseph successfully garnered the backing of his colleagues in the State Senate Wednesday on his resolution supporting the recommendations of the Chicago Area Waterway System Advisory Committee.
Proos took to the Senate floor with Senate Resolution 12 (SR-12) on the subject, telling colleagues, "An invasion of Asian Carp into the Great Lakes would forever change the way of life along Lake Michigan — and Southwest Michigan would be one of the first areas affected." He added, "Simply put, the battle against Asian Carp is one we cannot afford to lose. The environmental and economic impact of Asian Carp, if these fish get into the Great Lakes, would be nothing short of catastrophic."
The Chicago Area Waterway System Advisory Committee was formed in May of 2014 with the goal of reaching consensus on short- and long-term measures to prevent Asian Carp and other aquatic invasive species from moving between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River basins through the Chicago Area Waterway System.
Senate Resolution 12 supports the committee's recommendations to implement immediate control technologies at Brandon Road Lock & Dam in Joliet, Illinois, and to further investigate the specific system of control points for long-term movement of aquatic invasive species into and out of the Great Lakes.
Proos told the Senate, "We need action to help prevent a disaster that would decimate our vibrant fishing, tourism and boating industries and wreak havoc on the ecosystems of the Great Lakes and all its rivers." He concluded, "Asian Carp moved 66 miles upstream in the last year, and are now within 76 miles of Lake Michigan. The consistent inaction by the federal government to protect the Great Lakes is unacceptable and jeopardizes a $7-billion fishing industry."
SR-12 states that the Chicago Area Waterway System serves as a pathway for aquatic invasive species to move between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins. Invasive species already in the Great Lakes cost the region more than $100-million per year, and Asian Carp could dramatically add to that cost.
Proos contends that "There are no perfect long-term solutions to prevent Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes, but leaving the Great Lakes vulnerable is the costliest option."
You can watch video captured on the Senate floor by clicking the link below:
