GLIN==> DUCKS UNLIMITED SUPPORTS ASIAN CARP ECOLOGICAL SEPARATION STUDY BILLS INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS

Ducks Unlimited supports Asian Carp Ecological Separation Study 

bills introduced in Congress

 

ANN ARBOR, Mich., July 14, 2010 ─ The U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's Water and Power Subcommittee is holding a "carp crisis" hearing later today that comes on the heels of the introduction of the "Permanent Prevention of Asian Carp Act."  The "Carp Act" was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Debbie Stabenow (MI) and Richard Durbin (IL), and in the U.S. House by Congressman Dave Camp (MI).

 

The legislation will require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct an expedited study to determine the best way to permanently separate the Mississippi River and Great Lakes basins. The watersheds are being threatened by the introduction of invasive Asian carp, including silver, bighead, grass and black carp, which could disrupt fish and wildlife habitats in the Great Lakes forever. 

 

The hearing, which begins today at 3:30 p.m., can be viewed on the committee's webpage <http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Home.Home> .

 

Ducks Unlimited supports the introduction of the legislation because Asian carp have great potential to disrupt aquatic vegetation and wetlands important to waterfowl and other wildlife, which would negatively impact fish and wildlife populations and recreational use by citizens throughout the United States. Hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation generates approximately $18 billion in annual revenues to the Great Lakes region. 

 

The legislation will examine engineering solutions to separate the two watersheds, taking into consideration a wide range of factors including flooding, wastewater and storm water infrastructure, waterway safety and commercial and recreational boat traffic. Generated recommendations will be communicated to Congress and the president no later than 18 months after study initiation, with a draft report due in six months. 

 

"DU is pleased to see Congress initiate quick action on ways to prevent Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes," said Gildo Tori, director of public policy in DU's Great Lakes/Atlantic Region. "We are very grateful for the leadership of Sens. Stabenow and Durbin and Congressman Camp that will expedite the ecological separation of these two major watersheds, which many Great Lakes organizations support."

 

Ducks Unlimited is the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 12 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever.

 

 

 

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Kristin Schrader   kschrader at ducks.org  734.623.2000

 

 

 

 

 

Kristin Schrader

Public Affairs Coordinator

Ducks Unlimited

Great Lakes/Atlantic Region

Ph 734.623.2000

Mobile 734.646.4594

Fax 734.623.2035

 

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