"Game Over" If Asian Carp Reach Great Lakes Already Reeling From Invasives, Pollution - Detroit News

[hatrack]

Traverse City -- Gov. Jennifer Granholm wants Michigan's attorney general to take legal action to prevent Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes. Granholm and Lt. Gov. John Cherry sent Attorney General Mike Cox a letter today urging him to "pursue every legal tool" available. They say among possible actions are closing the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, part of a waterway linking Lake Michigan with the Mississippi River.

As Illinois environmental officials planned today to dump a toxic chemical to try to stop the carp from entering Lake Michigan, environmental groups have called on Michigan officials to take action. One letter calling for closure of all locks leading to Lake Michigan was signed by representatives of the National Wildlife Federation, the Alliance for the Great Lakes, Michigan United Conservation Clubs and Great Lakes United.

"We know from bitter experience the devastating impacts of invasive species on the Great Lakes," the letter reads. "Too rarely do we have the opportunity to prevent the damage of invasion before it begins, yet such an opportunity is now on our doorstep. There are no second chances."

Andy Buchsbaum, the Great Lakes director of the National Wildlife Federation, told The News "Michigan is stepping up to protect the Great Lakes. This is an emergency situation. You have to do whatever it takes," Buchsbaum said. "If those Asian carp get through the last barrier, it's game over for the Great Lakes, which will turn into giant carp ponds."

EDIT

http://www.detnews.com/article/20091202/POLITICS02/912020397/1448/Granholm-seeks-legal-action-against-Asian-carp

[polly7]

1. K&R nt.

[drm604]

2. Giant carp ponds.

I can't even imagine the economic devastation that could occur from this.

[Cronus Protagonist]

6. Are they tasty fish?

I'm hungry.

[drm604]

8. I'm not sure,

but I'm thinking of all of the other fishing industries that would be impacted by this.

[snagglepuss]

3. k & r

[Viking12]

4. Related

As a Lake Michigan angler, I am very concerned about this threat.

Fish kill is urgent bid to keep Asian carp from lake (Dec 1, 2009)
http://www.suntimes.com/1913019,CST-NWS-carp01.article

We've wasted millions on electric barrier boondoggle (Dec 1, 2009)
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/outdoors/1913018,CST-NWS-bowman01.article

1 Asian carp turns up after fish kill (Dec 3, 2009)
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/12/state-to-wage-chemical-war-on-asian-carp-tonight.html

[foxfeet]

5. K&R

[AlecBGreen]

7. carp tend to be bottom feeders...

what species would they edge out?

[NickB79]

9. It's not so much edging out other species, but altering the ecosystem around them

As aggressive bottomfeeders, they root up aquatic plants and throw up mud and silt. Their actions can destroy aquatic plant beds that are vital for food production and as breeding grounds of other fish species. And by kicking up mud, they reduce water clarity and reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the bottom.

[Viking12]

10. ...what Nick said and the Aisan carp are voracious eaters

messing with the food chain

[malakai2]

11. These two species are plankton feeders

So they'd be edging out anything at that level or higher on the food chain. Currently, about 90 percent of the fish mass in the Illinois river is silver and bighead carp rather than native species.