UNDATED -- President Obama has tapped the former head of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to oversee how federal authorities will keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. John Goss will lead the almost 80-million dollar attack against the invasive fish as Asian carp czar. Illinois Senator Dick Durbin says the government isn't in denial over the Asian carp problem. Governor Granholm released a statement Wednesday calling the selection of Goss "a great choice," adding her belief that he shares a passion for protecting the Great Lakes. Meanwhile, testimony continues in Chicago this week as Michigan and four other states ask a federal judge to order Illinois to take steps to prevent Asian carp from getting into the Great Lakes.
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox is hoping the new Asian carp czar will keep the interests of the entire Great Lakes region at heart as the effort to keep the fish out of the area continues. Cox Spokesperson John Sellek says it appears the federal government is finally owning up to the threat the fish present. Sellek says he hopes part of Goss’s plan is to close the canal’s locks. Goss says he has not yet reached a conclusion on that. He is waiting to see what the Army Corp of engineers has to say about it.
Meanwhile, in an Illinois court room, it was day two of testimony in the Asian Carp lawsuit. General John Peabody of the Army Corp of Engineers says electric barriers are the best way to keep the fish from passing into the great lakes. He denied the fish can sneak thru because big metal ships can disrupt the Barriers. He says the carp don’t like to swim under the ships.
He testified it ould cost millions to lift ships over the locks using cranes, money he would rather spend elsewhere on more critical needs.
The state of Illinois also went all the way to Italy to find a biologist who would dispute the testimony of a Notre Dame biologist who says the discovery of Carp DNA close to lake Michigan is a sign the fish may be getting thru. The Italian Biologist, {0909Gentile Fehchay-tolah) told says the DNA could have come from bilge water or dead carp.
More testimony may come this week before the judge takes the request for an injunction to close the locks under advisement. No immediate decision is expected.
