Asian Carp and the threat they pose to the Great Lakes has
been in and out of the news for some time now, and has just recently been
spotlighted by a new report prepared by the US Army Corps of Engineers (Army
Corps). “Asian carp are fast-growing, aggressive and adaptable
fish that are outcompeting native fish species
for food and habitat in much of the mid-section of the United States.1”
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) submitted to
Congress the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Inter-basin Study (GLMRIS)
Report Jan. 6, 2014….The report contains eight alternatives, each with
concept-level design and cost information, and evaluates the potential of these
alternatives to prevent, to the maximum extent possible, the spread of 13 ANS,
to include Asian carp...” 2 The
Army Corps, during the Month of January
2014, is in process of hosting public meetings in Chicago, Cleveland, Ann
Arbor, Traverse City, St. Paul, St. Louis and Milwaukee to discuss the options
available and allow for public comment.
Since all of the options offered require extensive funding, there needs
to be public support for any plan put into action.
The Chicago Area Waterway (CAW) system has been the main
topic of conversation regarding the threat of Asian Carp entering the Great
Lakes. In this new report, the Army Corps identifies 18 other possibilities for
passage of Asian Carp and other species into the waterways. One passage where preventive measures are
needed is known as Eagle March, near Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Eagle Marsh is at the headwaters of the Wabash River, which
is part of the Mississippi River Basin, and the Maumee River, which is part of
the Great Lakes Basin. During flood events, water depths in Eagle Marsh range
from 2 feet deep to 10 feet deep. These events last from just days or up to a
month, and can occur multiple times during any given year. These events allow
for a clear passage for Asian Carp and other species between the two basins.
Several species of Asian Carp are known to be present in the
Wabash River, and are within 25-70 miles of Eagle Marsh. To reach Eagle Marsh, the fish would need to
enter Little River and then a series of ditches. Upon reaching Eagle Marsh, the
free passage to the Great Lakes (Erie) via the Maumee River can occur. To date,
there is no certain evidence that the fish have reached Little River. There is
no evidence of Asian Carp in Eagle Marsh either; however there is evidence of
common carp, which have made successful passage for decades.
Several projects are currently in place or in the design
phase to prevent passage of these invasive and destructive fish from our
waterways. Currently a temporary chain
link fence has been installed between the two basins and is meant to prevent
larger fish from gaining free passage. Other possibilities for implementation
include structural barriers, chemical treatments, biological controls and
physical fish removal.
Our waterways are an important resource to be protected. At MeritCorp Group, LLC we want to help our
clients make informed decisions and provide information needed to create
eco-friendly developments focused on the best use of natural resources. Some of our services include Flood Control,
Stormwater Management, Erosion Control, and Drainage. For a complete list of the services we offer
please see our website.
Please feel free to contact our office with any questions or
for more information on the services we provide.
- by James Meier, PE, PLS, CFM
- by James Meier, PE, PLS, CFM
1. National Wildlife Federation website: http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Invasive-Species/Asian-Carp.aspx
2. Army Corps
of Engineers Report www.glmris.anl.gov
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