Senator Tammy Baldwin is joining a bipartisan effort to improve part of the Chicago waterway to prevent the spread of Asian carp.
It’s called the Guarding Our Great Lakes Act, and Baldwin says action must be taken immediately to stop the spread of the carp. “This invasive species threatens our freshwater economy – from the $5 billion commercial and sport fishing industry on the Great Lakes to the health of the water and our coastal communities.”
The bill calls for immediate improvements to carp controls between the Mississippi River basin and the Great Lakes. “This bipartisan bill recognizes the imminent threat that Asian Carp pose to our Great Lakes, and takes immediate steps to prevent their northward movement by blocking their way at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam outside of Chicago.” Baldwin say that will give time for a more permanent solution to be put into place. “This interim measure would direct the Army Corps of Engineers to build Asian Carp control barriers at the lock to prevent their passage into Lake Michigan.”
Baldwin is also opposing legislation that would allow ocean going ships to change their ballast water inside of the Great Lakes, which has been one of the entry points for a number of invasive species.
WSAU