Resolution: Research on pathogens in beach sand and ...



RESOLUTION - DRAFT

(January 22, 2014)

Advancing Solutions to Prevent Asian Carp

and other Invasive Species from Entering the

Great Lakes via the Chicago Area Waterway System

Whereas, Asian carp pose an imminent threat to the Great Lakes ecosystem and economy because of their ability to reproduce rapidly and consume large quantities of food, potentially impacting local ecosystems, out-competing native fish species and impacting recreational fishing and boating; and

Whereas, if populations of Asian carp become established in the Great Lakes they will be difficult, if not impossible, to control or eradicate and thus the federal government has recognized Asian carp as “the most acute [aquatic invasive species] threat facing the Great Lakes today”; and

Whereas, monitoring has detected Asian carp DNA between the electric barriers on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and Lake Michigan and research by U.S. and Canadian fishery experts shows that there is a significant risk of Asian carp surviving, spreading and establishing populations in the Great Lakes, particularly in shallow, near-shore areas like Green Bay, Saginaw Bay, Lake St. Clair and Western Lake Erie; and

Whereas, extensive monitoring and control efforts including commercial fishing, led by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and its federal partners, are important interim control measures, while permanent, long-term solutions are pursued; and

Whereas, a recent study conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service showed that the electric barriers in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal are not effective in stopping the movement of all fish, especially small fish, and that barges can sweep fish through the electric barrier; and

Whereas, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has identified 13 aquatic invasive species (AIS) with a high or medium risk of passing through the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) into either the Great Lakes or Mississippi River basins that likely would cause harmful impacts on the basin being invaded; and

Whereas,

Whereas, the Restoring the Natural Divide report prepared by the Great Lakes Commission and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative in 2012 presented three alternatives for separating the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds in the CAWS to provide a long-term solution that prevents AIS transfer while maintaining or enhancing the system’s benefits for flood protection, water quality and waterborne transportation; and

Whereas, the costs of the least expensive of the three separation alternatives ranges from $3.2 billion to $4.2 billion and could generate long-term savings of up to $9.5 billion by preventing future AIS invasions, with additional improvements in water quality, recreation, flood protection and transportation; and

Whereas, the Army Corps of Engineers has released the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) presenting a range of eight options and technologies to prevent AIS movement between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins, including two alternatives for full hydrological separation; and

Whereas, the GLMRIS report recognizes hydrologic separation as the most effective way to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes and mitigate flooding, but also the most expensive, with a projected cost of $15.5 billion and a 25 year timeframe for implementation;

Whereas, the GLMRIS methodology used several key assumptions that account for significant costs and extensive implementation times for its alternatives, including design to control combined sewer overflows from a 500-year storm event, complete removal of contaminated sediments (as a cost of separation), and no discharges of treated wastewater to Lake Michigan; and

Whereas, the GLMRIS report does not recommend a preferred alternative and the Corps of Engineers has not provided direction on next steps, emphasizing that “ANS control is a shared responsibility” and “continued participation by stakeholders is essential to reach a decision and authorization for a collaborative path forward”; and

Whereas, the Great Lakes Commission is well positioned to facilitate consensus and provide guidance on next steps through consultation with its member states and provinces and advice from the Executive Committee and Advisory Committee for its ongoing Chicago Area Waterways project; and

Whereas, the Great Lakes Commission, the Congressional delegation and regional stakeholders are determined that immediate action is needed to identify short-term steps that can be implemented quickly to reduce risk while continuing to build consensus around a long term solution.

Therefore, Be it Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission should lead a consensus-building effort with its Advisory Committee that draws on the Restoring the Natural Divide and GLMRIS studies, as well as technologies and alternatives put forth by other entities, to identify short- and mid-term actions that can be implemented quickly, as well as long-term solutions such as physical separation; and

Be it Further Resolved, that this short-term plan of action should include a one-way barrier near Bubbly Creek, modifications to the Brandon Road lock and dam, and other technologies based on their potential effectiveness in AIS prevention and the likelihood that they can be integrated into any long-term solution; and

Be it Further Resolved, that while complete hydrological separation is the most effective long-term solution for protecting the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins from AIS transfer, partial or one-way separation or other hybrid solutions may be necessary while a long-term solution is developed and implemented, and that priority in the near-term should be given to preventing the movement of Asian carp into the Great Lakes from the Mississippi River basin; and

Be it Further Resolved, that the Army Corps of Engineers should work with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois to identify a short-term plan of action to investigate and quickly implement measures to reduce the risk of invasion of the Great Lakes from Asian carp and other species while a long-term solution is refined; and

Be it Further Resolved, that Congress should instruct the Corps to proceed to investigate physical separation, carefully considering options presented in the GLMRIS and Restoring the Natural Divide reports; and

Be it Further Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission reaffirms its position that any feasible, long-term solution must couple the regional priority to prevent Asian carp and other invasive species from passing through the CAWS into the Great Lakes with priorities in the Chicago region to prevent flooding, protect water quality, and maintain waterways for recreation and commercial navigation; and

Be it Further Resolved,

Be it Finally Resolved, the Great Lakes Commission calls on the Obama Administration to provide leadership to resolve this challenge by continuing to provide senior-level support and coordination through the Council on Environmental Quality and that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should be delegated the lead role and provided with the resources necessary to coordinate efforts of the Corps of Engineers and other federal agencies through the Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework and the national control plan for Asian carp.

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