Dispersal Barrier Efficacy Study INTERIM III

US Army Corps of Engineers ^ | June 4, 2010 | Unknown

[Western Phil]

Executive Summary: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) was directed in WRDA 2007, Section 3061(b)(1)(D) to conduct a study of a range of options or technologies for reducing impacts of hazards that may reduce the efficacy of the Electrical Dispersal Barriers located on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC), hereafter referred to as the Efficacy Study. The Electrical Dispersal Barriers were designed to reduce the risk of inter-basin transfer of fish from the Mississippi River and Great Lakes drainage basins via the CSSC. It consists of three electrical barriers, Barrier I, IIA and IIB that comprise the Electrical Dispersal Barrier Project. Barriers I and IIA are constructed and in operation. Construction of Barrier IIB is scheduled to be completed in 2010. As Asian carp have migrated steadily northward up the Illinois River, the threat of these species gaining access to Lake Michigan and the rest of the Great Lakes has become generally recognized by many in the environmental community and among numerous federal, state and local government agencies as having potentially significant ecological and economic consequences, although many uncertainties remain about the ability of Asian carp to establish in the Chicago Area Waterways (CAWS) and Great Lakes. These issues have been the topic of a number of recent Congressional hearings and the subject of a Supreme Court action. USACE and its multi-agency partners are not waiting to develop one comprehensive approach for near-term solutions. ..........

The USACE is recommending implementation of risk reduction measures for Modified Structures and Operations that include the following: the installation of screens on the sluice gates at the O’Brien Lock and Controlling Works; and, the intermittent closure of locks in support of fish control efforts performed by resource agencies, upon request or in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard.....

[Western Phil]

The latest in the ongoing saga of the Asian and Silver carp vs attempts to prevent them from infesting and likely destroying the Great Lakes fishing industry.

This is a long report (504 pages) and took quite a while to download last night. The term dispersal barrier generally refers to the electric fish barrier complex in Romeoville, Illinois. This report, while describing the current status of this system, mainly covers other possible options to prevent the invasive carp from reaching the Great Lakes. The letters from interested parties responding to the question of the financial impact of closing the locks are quite interesting.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

the ongoing saga of the Asian and Silver carp

A. Are they edible?

B. What is the best way to prepare them?

[Western Phil]

I haven’t tried them, but I suspect they can be good. My personal preferences would probably be prepared in a smoker cooker with Cajun spices.

[Cindy]

NOTE The following text is a quote:

http://hoekstra.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=192071

Hoekstra Calls on Administration to Take Immediate Action after Asian Carp Found

Washington, Jun 23 - U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, today called on the Obama Administration to immediately provide the Army Corps of Engineers with the authority necessary to fight the invasion of the Asian carp after one had been found above the Corps Electric Barrier System.

“The administration has been dragging its feet instead of taking bold decisive action to stop the invasion of the Asian carp,” Hoekstra said. “For far too long the effort has been reactive as opposed to proactive.”

Recognizing the urgency and lack of leadership, Hoekstra earlier this year introduced a bill that would make the Army Corps of Engineers the lead agency and provide them the authority to fight the invasion of Asian carp into the Great Lakes.

The bill would authorize the Army Corps of Engineers to expedite a number of measures to prevent the Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes, including applying fish poisons, fixing locks and installing new barriers that include electrical, air-bubble and sound barriers that disorient fish.

“Closing the locks is not enough, and the Army Corps has acknowledged that they have no intention to do so,” Hoekstra said. “Time has been wasted with lawsuits and crossing fingers hoping that the carp will stay out of the lakes. Action has never been more necessary, and I hope that the administration recognizes the urgency with which this problem needs to be addressed and provide every tool to end this threat.”