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MRBP
Members and Associates: Attached
is a copy of a letter the MRBP sent to the Aquatic Nuisance
Species Task Force (ANSTF) regarding Panel concerns related to
operation and maintenance of the
aquatic nuisance species dispersal barriers in the Cal
Sag and Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, and Panel interest in
acheiving biological
separation of the Illinois River from Lake Michigan. Also, attached are pieces of legislation introduced in both the House (H.R. 553) and Senate (S. 336) regarding obtaining federal funding and support to operate and maintain these two barriers. As you may know the electrodes of the original (demonstration) barrier are deteriorating and it may soon become non-functional and the second barrier has yet to become fully operational. Currently
the federal government does not
recognize its full responsibility to operate and maintain these
barriers which connect two of the largest ecosystems
in the Nation. Without
the barriers in place and operational the canal will provide
an open pathway
for the passage of invasive species between these two great
ecosystems. The zebra
mussel and round goby, among other species, have
already used the
canal as their access point to the Mississippi River Basin, and
the Asian carp
now stand ready in the Upper Illinois River to use the canal to
invade the
Great Lakes. We
need to do whatever it takes to close this "revolving door".
You may wish to
discuss this matter with your colleagues in your state or entity and
within the other panels to take whatever action might be
appropriate in your case.
The Great Lakes ANS Panel has already sent a similar letter to the
ANSTF. If
you have any questions drop me an email message. Additional background
information on the canal and the issue is provided in the
attached
paper which I prepared for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in
2002. Thanks
for your attention to this important matter. Jerry
Rasmussen
Letter the MRBP sent to the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (ANSTF) H.R.553 -
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.00553:
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