Stronger barrier to keep Asian Carp out of Great Lakes now on

SunCoke receives permit from Ohio EPA
6:37 p.m.
Cities declare snow emergencies; heaviest snow behind us
6:36 p.m.
Judge cuts off embattled SCLC treasurer
5:58 p.m.
Crash holds up funeral procession
5:55 p.m.
Mother’s defense says boyfriend abused her daughter in secret
5:52 p.m.
> More headlines

By Jim Morris, Staff Writer 1:01 AM Wednesday, August 26, 2009

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Coast Guard have turned up the heat on Asian carp that threaten the Great Lakes. Groups desperately trying to keep the carp out think it’s about time.

After years of debate and concern, the permanent electronic barrier near Chicago has been turned on, operating at two volts per inch. It has the capacity to operate at four volts per inch, but there is concern for the safety of boating traffic if the barrier is set at that level. A temporary barrier has been in operation, but only operating at one volt.

But there is another problem. Apparently the new barrier has to be shut down for a couple of hours for maintenance every six months. That would leave the one-volt barrier as the only defense and it probably would not stop juvenile carp from invading. There is talk about using fish poison in the water between the barriers. A third barrier is in the design stage and is not supposed to be operational until 2011.

The Coast Guard has recently completed safety testing for vessels using the Chicago Shipping Channel where the barriers are located.

The action seems to be not a minute too soon. Recently testing has shown the carp to have penetrated water about seven miles away from the barrier and, apparently, are moving rapidly toward the lakes.

“These carp are clawing at the door now,” Great Lakes Fishery Commission spokesman Marc Gaden told the Detroit Free Press. “They have the potential to be every bit as devastating as the worst invasives we have seen — sea lamprey and zebra mussels.”

Workshop set

Landowners in Butler, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Preble and Warren counties can attend a free CRP workshop, themed “Grassland Habitat Management” on Saturday, Aug. 29 from 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hueston Woods State Park office.

For information or to reserve a spot, contact the Preble SWCD in Eaton at (937) 456-4211 ext. 3; Butler NRCS (ask for John Williams) at (937) 887-3720; or Erik Lewis, Pheasants Forever biologist at (937) 654-3884.

Short shots

Open house: Don’t forget the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s open house on Saturday, Aug. 29 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Greene County Fish and Game Club, 1538 Union Road, Xenia. For information, visit wildohio.com or call (937) 372-9261.

Boat show: If you are traveling through northern Ohio from Sept. 16-20 you might want to take in the unique North American In-Water Boat Show at Cedar Point Amusement Park. For information, visit cedarpointboatshow.com.

Share this article