Durbin: WRDA Bill Authorizes Federal Funding for Asian Carp Barrier

Press Release

The United States Senate today approved the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The bill includes a provision authored by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) that will authorize the use of federal funds to allow the Army Corps of Engineers to complete the Asian Carp Barrier project. This barrier will prevent the spread of invasive species, including Asian Carp, between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.

"The Asian Carp threatens both the native fish and natural wildlife of the lake and in turn, the economy of the entire Great Lakes region," said Durbin. "Currently, this invasive species threatens a $4.1 billion sport and commercial fishing industry in the Great Lakes. The bill passed today recognizes the threat of the Asian Carp by authorizing the permanent operation of the barrier system to prevent these harmful fish from entering the waters of the Great Lakes."

Asian carp, an invasive species, threaten the Great Lakes ecosystem by consuming large quantities of phytoplankton and competing with native fish for habitat. Originally, Asian Carp were introduced to the United States as a management tool for aqua culture farms and sewage treatment facilities. The carp have made their way north to the Illinois River after escaping from fish farms during massive flooding along the Mississippi River. Asian carp can grow to an average of four feet and 60 pounds, and can consume up to 40 percent of their body weight in plankton per day.

The legislation will authorize the Corps of Engineers to complete construction on a permanent barrier and to upgrade and make permanent the original demonstration barrier. This bill avoids potential construction delays and funding problems by allowing the federal government to fully fund the barrier project. Failure to continue work on the project could result in Asian Carp by-passing the incomplete barriers and entering the Great Lakes.

In addition, the legislation authorizes federal funding for a feasibility study to investigate the options and technologies available to form a more comprehensive strategy to prevent the spread of invasive species between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and other aquatic pathways. The feasibility study by the Army Corps of Engineers would include many types of invasive species, not limited to Asian Carp.

"While Asian Carp is the immediate threat to the Great Lakes, the potential for other invasive species to enter through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and other aquatic pathways is very real," said Durbin. "The feasibility study included in the Senate bill today acknowledges the importance of investigating the appropriate resources to prevent more invasive species from damaging the ecosystem of the Great Lakes."

In the House version of WRDA that was passed this April, Congresswoman Judy Biggert (R-IL) worked to include a provision similar to Durbin's that authorizes the use of federal funds for the Asian Carp Barrier project. In January 2007, Durbin and Biggert introduced legislation to authorize funding for the Asian Carp barriers in the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal. The Senate bill was referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

The demonstration barrier in the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal was authorized in 1996 under the National Invasive Species Act to prevent non-native species like the Asian carp from moving between the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes. Since this barrier was designed to be temporary and is close to the end of its expected service life, a second permanent barrier is being constructed.

In June 2006, Durbin and Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) worked to successfully secure $400,000 to operate the barriers that prevent invasive species from entering the Great Lakes. Twenty-eight other Great Lakes House Members joined Congresswoman Judy Biggert (R-IL) in sending a letter to House appropriators in support of this effort. The funding was included to pay for the operation of Barrier I, a temporary barrier that keeps the invasive species out of the Illinois River and Lake Michigan by emitting an electric current that deters the carp from passing through.

Durbin was a member of the conference committee between the House and Senate versions on the emergency spending bill where the provision to fund Barrier I was added. The bill was signed into law on June 15th, 2006.

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