GLIN==> U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Activates New Fish Barrier (IIB) (UNCLASSIFIED)

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
April 7, 2011 
                                                        
CONTACT:
Lynne Whelan
312-846-5330
lynne.e.whelan at usace.army.mil


CHICAGO -   The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today activated electric fish
Barrier IIB on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) near Romeoville,
Ill. Barrier IIA has been placed in warm stand-by mode and will undergo
scheduled maintenance within the next two months.  The new barrier is set at
parameters previously applied at Barrier IIA (a maximum field strength at the
water surface of 2 Volts/inch, with 15 pulses per second and each pulse 6.5
milliseconds in duration). The demonstration barrier (Barrier I) remains in
operation.

   Construction of Barrier IIB was largely funded by the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act, enabling the Corps to complete it a year ahead of
schedule.

    "Successfully completing a complex construction project like this
electric barrier takes teamwork. Certainly, the cooperative efforts of the
U.S. Coast Guard and our other partners in the Asian Carp Regional
Coordinating Committee have been a great help in getting Barrier IIB
constructed and operational," said Col. Vincent Quarles, Commander of the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District. 

   The CSSC electric barriers project was designed to reduce the risk of
inter-basin transfer of fish from the Mississippi River and Great Lakes
drainage basins via the CSSC.  
 
   The area surrounding the electric barriers remains a regulated navigation
area as established by the U.S. Coast Guard. Boaters are reminded to use
extreme caution while traveling in the CSSC between River Miles 296.1 to
296.7. This area is bounded approximately by the power plant near the Romeo
Road Bridge and an aerial pipeline arch. While traveling through the area,
boaters are advised to take the following precautions:

   - Do not enter the water or place hands or feet in the water for any
reason.
   - Be sure to closely supervise children and pets or send them below deck
if possible.
   - Do not linger or attempt to moor in the area.
   
     Additional information about the dispersal barriers, barrier safety and
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers efforts regarding Asian carp can be found on the
Chicago District Web Site: www.lrc.usace.army.mil. 


	
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Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE