Long Awaited Report Released on How to Stop Asian Carp – Your Voice is Needed - A Message from Freshwater Future - January 6, 2014

A long awaited report from the Army Corps of Engineers was released today identifying options to stop the spread of Asian carp and other invasive species between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River waterways. Called the "Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study Report," or GLMRIS report, it provides information and data we need on the financial and environmental costs of different options for dealing with Asian carp and other invasive species moving between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River waterways.

With the help of over 25,000 people throughout the region, we have been making it clear to decision makers -- the U.S. Congress -- that we want them to move forward the strongest, permanent solution for our Great Lakes - separating them from the Mississippi River system. Actions that do not move us toward this goal are a distraction that further delay the permanent solution so desperately needed.

This is a critical moment in the fight to stop Asian carp. Can you take one or more of the below actions to ensure our voices are heard loud and clear?

• Use our social media tool to let Members of Congress know we want them to move forward with separating our Great Lakes from the Mississippi River watershed.
• Attend a public meeting or webinar and make a comment supporting separation (scroll down to see dates and times). Below are a few talking points in addition to the hearing schedule. You will need to register to speak and can do so here.
• Make a comment on the GLMRIS website.

Talking Points

• The most effective solution is "physical separation," or restoring the natural divide between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins and creating barriers elsewhere.
• We must recognize the costs of failure and what happens if aquatic invasive species get into the Great Lakes because we didn't take strong enough prevention measures. These waterborne invaders can cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage each year to human health, commerce, recreation and the environment. Separation is the only surefire way to stop that from happening.
• We urge Congress to move forward the strongest permanent solutions presented in the report, including either:
• Option 5: Lakefront hydrologic separation with physical barriers separating the basins at four locations along the lakefront of Lake Michigan, or
• Option 6: Mid-system hydrologic separation with physical barriers separating the basins at two mid-system locations.

Below are the dates and locations of the public meetings. All meetings will run from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM, local time. Note: a webinar will also be available during the Chicago meeting on January 9th and the Ann Arbor meeting on January 21st for interested parties who cannot make it to a meeting, details will be posted to the Web site.

January 9, 2014
Gleacher Center, University of Chicago Booth School of Business
450 N Cityfront Plaza Dr,
Chicago, IL 60611 *webinar

January 13, 2014
Milwaukee Area Technical College
T Building Auditorium
700 West State Street
Milwaukee, WI 53233

January 16, 2014
Cleveland Public Library
325 Superior Ave., N.E.
Cleveland, OH 44114

January 21, 2014
University of Michigan League
911 N University Ave
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
*webinar

January 23, 2014
The Hagerty Conference Center
Northwestern Michigan College - Great Lakes Campus
715 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI 49686

January 27, 2014
Refuge Headquarters and Bloomington Education and Visitor Center
3815 American Blvd. East
Bloomington, MN 55425

January 30, 2014
National Great Rivers Museum
#2 Locks and Dam Way
Alton, IL 62002

Thank you,

Cheryl Kallio Freshwater Future Associate Director      Freshwater Future