Stabenow Writes New Bill to Stop Asian Carp

Last week, Asian carp were found in a Chicago lake, 6 miles from Lake Michigan.

One of Michigan’s U.S. senators wants to stop the invasive fish from spreading any further.

Senator Debbie Stabenow has co-written a new bill in the Senate along with Illinois Senator Dick Durbin.

The bill is called the Permanent Prevention of Asian Carp Act.

It’s a response to protests about infiltration of the fish, like a protest we at ABC 10 News Now covered in February in Escanaba.

That protest centered around the fact that if the carp enter Lake Michigan, they’ll eventually reach the U.P.

Stabenow said in a news conference call today that’s what made it important to get support from Wisconsin’s and Minnesota’s senators.

Stabenow says Minnesota’s support was especially important, since Minnesota’s only Great Lakes shoreline is on Lake Superior.

But she says Minnesota’s senators are just as concerned as she is.

The act would require the Army Corps of Engineers to study the best way to permanently separate the Mississippi River basin from Lake Michigan.

The study would have to begin within 30 days of the bill becoming law.

Within 18 months, it would have to be completed, presented to Congress and also given to the President.

The U.S. Council on Environmental Quality would monitor the study to make sure the timetables are met.