Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. joined members of the Indiana and Illinois Congressional delegations to send a letter the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District, voicing concerns about the use of hydrologic separation on the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins in an attempt to control the Asian carp population.
"The migration of Asian carp into the Great Lakes basin is a significant problem that needs to be addressed," said Bucshon. "At the same time, we need to make sure that any proposed solutions do not have an adverse impact on the region's economy. Unfortunately, the Corps has proposed the use of hydrologic separation, putting $4.7 billion of economic activity in the region at risk without a guarantee that it will prevent Asian carp from spreading into the Great Lakes. I thank my colleagues for taking this issue seriously and I'm disappointed that the entire Indiana delegation did not join us in protecting 17,000 Hoosier jobs."
The members penned the letter in response to the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS), which looked at eight options to control the spread of Aquatic Nuisances Species (ANS), especially Bighead and Silver carp, collectively known as Asian carp.
While the members expressed an explicit concern that Asian carp pose a threat to the region's economy and environment and the need for a solution, the group also explained the use of hydrologic separation would have a profound adverse impact on the economy and would do little to inhibit the spread of Asian carp.