You can make noise about Asian carp and excess algae this month.
A live Asian carp was caught earlier this year, nine miles from Lake Michigan and beyond a system of underwater electric barriers. The US Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public comment on a draft report related to preventing the spread of these invasive fish. Comments are being taken until Sept. 21 on proposed measures at the Brandon Road Lock & Dam in Illinois. The tentatively selected plan is called the “Technology Alternative – Complex Noise with Electric Barrier.”
Click the links above to learn more, and see other highlights below on ways to “get involved” in helping protect the Great Lakes.
More Asian Carp: The state of Michigan is offering up to $700,000 in cash awards for a Great Lakes Invasive Carp Challenge. Written proposals are being accepted through Oct. 31 “for innovative methods to prevent invasive (or Asian) carp from entering the Great Lakes.” Michigan officials note that they’re working with other states and Canadian provinces to keep silver and bighead carp – two species of Asian carp – from entering the Great Lakes. Asian Carp Canada, by the way, is encouraging people to report sightings of Asian carp and other invasive species to EDD MapS (Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System), a binational program that includes Ontario.
Lake Erie: Until Sept. 29, the US Environmental Protection Agency is taking comment on a Draft Domestic Action Plan for Lake Erie. In 2016, as part of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Canada and the US adopted phosphorus reduction targets for the lake, to address excess algae fed by nutrients. Each country is developing domestic action plans which outline strategies to meet the targets. Canada received comments on its Draft Action Plan earlier this year. Plans for both countries are to be in place by 2018.
More: This is only a small sample of opportunities for public comment in the basin. See our Twitter and Facebook feeds for daily updates on Great Lakes news, and feel free to send “get involved” tips to Jeff Kart at kartj@washington.ijc.org.
Jeff Kart is executive editor of the Shared Waters IJC newsletter and a contractor to the US Section of the International Joint Commission in Washington, D.C.
