GLIN==> FW: Army Corps announces activation of new electric barrier (UNCLASSIFIED)

Forwarded on behalf of Lynne Whelan, 
Lynne.E. Whelan at usace.army.mil

Christine Manninen
Communications Director
Great Lakes Commission
Ann Arbor, MI

-----Original Message-----
NEWS RELEASE

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District
Contact:  Lynne Whelan, Telephone:  (312) 846-5330
E-Mail:  lynne.e.whelan at usace.army.mil
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Army Corps announces activation of new electric barrier

CHICAGO - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will
activate on April 8th a new electric barrier, known as Barrier IIA, in the
Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Lockport, Ill. 
   The Army Corps has been operating a similar demonstration barrier in the
Sanitary and Ship Canal since 2002. Both Barrier IIA and the demonstration
barrier will operate at the same time to provide redundant back up. Both will
operate at a field strength of one-volt per inch. The purpose of the barriers
is to block the passage of aquatic nuisance species between the Great Lakes
and Mississippi River basins. Currently, the greatest concern is preventing
Asian carp from moving into the Great Lakes.
   Chicago District Commander, Col. Vincent V. Quarles, hailed the activation
of Barrier IIA as a significant step forward in halting the spread of
invasive species via the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.  He cautioned,
however, that much more work remains to be done. 
   "The barriers are not a panacea," Quarles said. "They serve to plug the
biggest hole, but much more work needs to be done and we all need to start
looking at options for blocking other pathways."    
   Although Barrier IIA was designed to be able to operate at levels higher
than one-volt per inch, the barrier has not yet undergone safety testing at
higher levels. The Army Corps is working with the Coast Guard and marine
industry waterway users to complete higher voltage safety testing this
summer. The Army Corps is also working with fisheries biologists to determine
the optimal voltage required to repel all sizes of fish, including smaller
juveniles. Results of the safety testing and voltage requirement studies will
be used to determine future voltage settings for the barrier project. In the
interim, Quarles said the Army Corps and the Coast Guard are developing
potential options for operating at higher voltages if juvenile fish are
detected in the barrier area.      
   The U.S. Coast Guard has established a regulated navigation area and
safety zone in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal around the navigable
waters located adjacent to and over the barrier system. The temporary interim
rule places navigational and operational restrictions on all vessels
transiting those navigable waters, including the requirement for all
commercial red flag vessels to be escorted through the area by Army
Corps-provided bow boats. 
   All boaters are reminded to exercise extreme caution while traveling in
the Sanitary and Ship Canal from the Midwest generation power plant to the
pipeline arch, an approximately 1400-foot section of the canal from river
mile 296.1 to 296.7.  While traveling through the area boaters are advised to
remain seated, stay out of the water, keep hands and feet out of the water,
and closely supervise children and pets or send them below deck. Boaters are
also advised not to linger or attempt to moor in the restricted area.   
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