GLIN==> Media Advisory - Carp Hearing in Traverse City, MI - Jan. 27, 2011

MEDIA ADVISORY

Traverse City Public Meeting to Examine How to Stop Asian Carp from Entering Great Lakes

Amid escalating threat of Asian carp, public offered chance to critique effort by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to implement permanent solution to invasive species transfers between Mississippi River and Great Lakes.

WHEN:
Thursday, January 27th
2 PM to 8 PM Eastern

WHERE:
The Hagerty Center
715 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI

WHAT:
Public hearing on efforts to keep the Asian carp out of Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes

BACKGROUND:
Amid the escalating threat of the Asian carp, the U.S. government is soliciting comment on a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study that examines the risk posed by the invasive fish-and what needs to be done to halt the spread of invasive species like the Asian carp among two of America's most iconic waters, the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been tasked by Congress to prevent the spread of the voracious Asian carp and other aquatic invasive species into the Great Lakes.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has completed a preliminary risk assessment to identify potential transfer points of invasive species between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins.

Conservation groups, including the National Wildlife Federation, are urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to accelerate the study and to not water down the original intent of Congress-which was to look at permanent solutions to the threat of Asian carp and other invasive species.

The meeting offers the public an opportunity to shape the direction the study takes in researching strategies to prevent invasive species from gaining entry into the Great Lakes.  Speakers will also comment on whether the U.S. Army Corps fulfilling their congressional mandate to stop the spread of Asian carp.

The Traverse City hearing is one of several taking place around the region. The National Wildlife Federation is attending the hearings and chronicling it on its blog.

Read more at www.nwf.org/asiancarp<http://www.nwf.org/asiancarp>

CONTACT:
Marc Smith, National Wildlife Federation, 734-255-5413, msmith at nwf.org<mailto:msmith at nwf.org>


Marc Smith
Senior Policy Manager
National Wildlife Federation
734-887-7116 (w)
734-255-5413 (c)

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