December 15, 2014 — The problem of Asian carp invading the Great Lakes and outcompeting local fish populations for food has been an ongoing one, so Friday the US Congress called for a temporary solution to strengthen defenses and protect native fish until a more permanent plan can be agreed upon.
The new measure would use additional structures to control upstream movement of fish at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam, located on the Des Plaines River in Joliet, Ill., just 40 miles from Chicago.
Supporters of the legislation describe Brandon Road as a "choke point," meaning the location would block Asian carp as well as other exotic species from reaching Lake Michigan, and potentially spreading to other Great Lakes.
"This is important work that will develop solutions that can be applied elsewhere in the Chicago waterway system – and throughout the Great Lakes and the nation as a whole – to prevent damaging aquatic species from expanding into other water bodies," Jon Allen, vice chairman of the Great Lakes Commission, which endorsed the bill, said in a statement.