Proof that a destructive fish is close to the Great Lakes. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources reports that a bighead Asian carp was found in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal just above the Lockport Lock and Dam, in the wake of a massive effort to poison fish in the canal. It’s the first physical specimen that has been found in the canal since testing earlier this year suggested the presence of Asian carp in the area, which is just a few miles from Lake Michigan.
Efforts to prevent the invasive carp from entering the lake are necessary, because the voracious plankton feeders could wreak havoc on the Great Lakes multi-million dollar fishery. The carp, which can grow up to fifty pounds in size, are also a hazard to boaters, due to their tendency to leap out of the water at the sound of motors.
Meanwhile, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm has asked her state’s attorney general to reopen a court case regarding the canal, which links the Mississippi and Great Lakes watersheds. Granholm wants to explore the possibility of permanently severing that link.