News, Culture and NPR for Central & Northern Michigan
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Army Corps moves forward on plan to stop Asian Carp from reaching Lake Michigan

Bwheelerrtrm
Brandon Road Lock and Dam, where the proposed preventative measures will be placed

The Army Corps of Engineers is moving forward on a plan to keep Asian Carp out of the Great Lakes.

On Thursday, the Commanding General of the Army Corps of Engineers sent a report to congress outlining plans for halting Asian Carp.

The plan, which encompasses a suite of measures including acoustic deterrents and an air bubble curtain, will cost an estimated $830 million, according to the Army Corps of Engineers. That’s for a phased in model which will add the preventative measures over time.

Molly Flanagan is with the Alliance for the Great Lakes. She said the approval gives efforts to stop Asian Carp some much needed momentum.

“Asian Carp in the Great Lakes would really have a devastating impact on the economy of Great Lakes communities and also on the ecosystem in terms of negative impacts on other fish within the Great Lakes.”

Flanagan said earlier this month Environmental DNA from Asian Carp were found near Lake Michigan.

“We are in a race against the clock to keep Asian Carp out of the Great Lakes.”

Funding for the plan will need to be approved by congress. It’s not clear how long the approval process will take.

Officials with the Army Corps says the preventative measures will be phased in over time - finishing between 2026 and 2027.

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow said the plan gives congress what they need to move forward on a “much needed, long term solution.”