Study on Asian Carp suggests multi-million dollar project

GREAT LAKES — The U.S Army Corps of Engineers are suggesting a $275M dollar project to keep Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes.

The project would call for building an underwater noise-making system to deter fish from entering the waterway near the Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Illinois to keep the fish from escaping the Mississippi River system into the Great Lakes. It also suggests constructing an electric barrier to repel and stun fish that get through the other barrier. Boats that pass through it would be shot with water jets to remove small and stunned fish that might hitchhike on boat bottoms.

Building the barriers would cost more than $275 million, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers paying $179 million and seeking non-federal money for the rest. It estimated construction could be done by 2025.

The public can comment on the recommendations until September 21st at the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin study website here.