Dispersal Barrier

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
SENATE
Oct. 7, 2004

DISPERSAL BARRIER

Mr. JEFFORDS. Invasive species are a problem in Lake Champlain in my home State of Vermont. The Lake Champlain ecosystem and regional economy have been seriously impacted already by invasive species, many of which dispersed to the lake from the Hudson River by way of the Champlain Canal. Eurasian Milfoil and Water chestnut have rendered much of southern Lake Champlain unusable for recreation and stripped value from waterfront properties. Hundreds of thousands of dollars each year are spent to control these plants. The sea lamprey has devastated our sport fishery, and large amounts of money are being spent on control, with only mixed results. These are just a few species. Once here it is nearly impossible to eliminate these invaders and even marginally controlling them is hugely expensive.

Other invasive species have not yet reached Lake Champlain but have spread widely throughout the Hudson and/or Great lakes drainages. We know they are coming and must act now to keep them out. These include fish like the Asian carp, Eurasian ruff, round goby, alewife and tench. Any one of these could change the Lake Champlain ecosystem in catastrophic ways, and each is moving toward the basin. Invertebrate species such as the spiny waterflea and fish hook flea, as well as aquatic plants are also of concern.

Because of the success of the dispersal barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, we are looking for a similar barrier for the Lake Champlain Canal to keep more invasive species out of Lake Champlain. A barrier will also protect the Hudson River drainage from invasive species that may arrive first from the north, like a particularly damaging fish, the tench.

We must move quickly to complete design, and to construct a dispersal barrier in the Lake Champlain Canal. Time is of essence.