GLIN==> Asian carp: New site provides updates as fish bears down on Great Lakes

November 23, 2009

Asian Carp: New site provides updates as fish bears down on Great Lakes

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced last Friday that DNA testing 
shows the presence of Asian carp 6 miles south of Lake Michigan. This is 
20 miles past the electric barrier meant to keep them out of the Great 
Lakes.

To keep track of this emergency situation, Great Lakes United has 
launched a special web section at www.glu.org/asiancarp 
<http://www.glu.org/asiancarp>.

Meanwhile, as an emergency measure, Great Lakes United is demanding that 
the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the state of Illinois 
close the three locks that stand in the way of the carp's progression: 
the O'Brien, Chicago River, and Wilmette.

In a press release alongside allies National Wildlife Federation, 
Healing Our Waters and Alliance for the Great Lakes, Jennifer Nalbone, 
campaign director of Invasive Species and Navigation for Great Lakes 
United said, "If we don't close the locks, we are waving the white flag 
and allowing one of the greatest ecological tragedies to occur."

"If the Asian carp make it to Lake Michigan, the damage to fisheries in 
the Lakes and tributaries will be profound and irreversible."

Take Action!

You can help stop an ecological tragedy from happening. We need you to 
contact your elected officials and urge them to take immediate action.

/*In the United States:*/

*Call your member of Congress AND the Director of the Illinois 
Department of Natural Resources and demand that they:
*

    * Close the O'Brien, Chicago River and Wilmette locks until
      monitoring results show the waterways are completely clear of
      bighead and silver carp and that an electric barrier built to keep
      them out of Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes has not been
      breached.

/To reach your member of Congress, call the Capitol Switchboard at: 
202-224-3121/
/To reach Illinois DNR Director Marc Miller, call: 217-785-0075
/
*/ In Canada/*

*Please urge these ministers to offer Canada's help in any effort to 
stop the invasive fish.*

The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment
Tel: 819-997-1441
Fax: 819-953-0279
Jim.Prentice at ec.gc.ca <mailto:Jim.Prentice at ec.gc.ca>

The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Telephone: (613) 992-9223
Fax: (613) 992-1974
Min at dfo-mpo.gc.ca <mailto:Min at dfo-mpo.gc.ca>

*
  For the latest updates visit **www.glu.org/asiancarp* 
<http://www.glu.org/asiancarp>

	
Where is the carp?
Where is the Asian carp? <http://www.glu.org/en/asiancarp/map>
Click here for a Google Map <http://www.glu.org/en/asiancarp/map> 
showing the location of where Asian carp DNA has been discovered. 

Special Web Updates
Battling Back the Asian Carp <http://www.glu.org/asiancarp>
Great Lakes United has launched a special web section with more 
information about the Asian carp crisis.

Go to www.glu.org/asiancarp <http://www.glu.org/asiancarp> for 
Frequently Asked Questions, the latest headlines, an interactive map, 
and more about what you can  do to stop this threat.

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