You have no doubt heard or read about the Asian Carp in the Illinois Waterway and the possible threat they pose to the fish population in The Great Lakes if they were to enter those waters.
We have on our website several posts under Cruising News that relate to this issue. In addition, we have provided links to other sites, including government, where additional information may be found.
At present there is an electrical barrier in the water designed to prevent the carp from proceeding further upstream and entering Lake Michigan. Some question whether this is an effective method.
Several members of government and environmental groups are calling for the closure of the locks that seperate Lake Michigan from the waterway until a better solution to the problem can be found. Others want a permanent closure stating that the risk to the lakes and the fishing industry is to great. Of course, any type of closure has significant impact on commerce and the recreational boating industry.
If you have an opinion why not share it with us. Waterway Guide will continue to follow the story and post regular updates on our website.
Ted Stehle,
News Editor
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Comment submitted by Earl Beard on 25 December, 2009 - 08:56 This fall, in Hammond harbor, we definitely saw carp. They were large, jumped out of the water a lot and definitely looked like carp. During high water conditions, (such as we had in Nov. - Dec. this year) the western rivers rise sufficiently to intersect with the streams and small rivers which flow into Lake Michigan. This condition would enable carp to migrate without using the locks. I suspect that the carp are already in Lake Michigan.
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Asian Carp Debate Intensifies