Durbin: Energy and Water Appropriations Bill Approves Federal Funding for Asian Carp Barrier

Press Release

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee today approved the Energy and Water Appropriations bill. This legislation includes a provision authored by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) that both authorizes and appropriates federal funds for 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. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) was also a supporter of this provision.

"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 threaten the Great Lakes ecosystem because they consume large quantities of phytoplankton, which is critical to the stability of the ecosystem. Originally, they 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.

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