Bighead Carp

On December 3, 2009, rotenone, a fish toxicant, was released into the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) to prevent Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan. The action to release the toxicant into the canal was in response to the required scheduled maintenance of one of two electric barriers currently in operation on the CSSC. The electric barriers operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were constructed to prevent the movement of Asian carp and other invasive species into Lake Michigan. While the barrier was shut down for maintenance the toxicant was applied as a precaution to guard against Asian carp entering Lake Michigan. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources in coordination with a multi-agency Asian Carp Rapid Response Workgroup managed the application of the rotenone. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District was not involved with the application of the toxicant, however, the District cooperated with the multi-agency workgroup by allowing the agencies access to District land and the canals. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Frank Avila is holding the only Bighead Asian Carp that was found during the project. The Bighead carp was found upstream from the MWRDGC Lockport Powerhouse. The majority of the other fish found were common carp and other species. At the present time the multi-agency workgroup is continuing to work together to address the on-going Asian carp issue.

Asian Carp DNA Found Upstream of the Barriers

UW Sea Grant Insititute has more information on the possible Asian carp breach here.

Read other articles on the breach here, here, and here.

World Toilet Day

Today is World Toilet Day! A day to celebrate the importance of sanitation and raise awareness for the 2.5 billion people (nearly half of the world's population) who don't have access to toilets and proper sanitation.

Click here for more information on World Toilet Day.

Click here to read an article by my colleague, Commissioner Shore, about the importance of today.

Asian Carp Invasion Video

Check out these informative videos on Asian Carp:

Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to Close for Fish Barrier Maintenance

During the first week of December, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is planning on performing maintenance on one of the two electric barriers in operation on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. During this period the Canal will be shut down to all traffic for a period of four to five days. The electric barriers in the canal were put in place to stop the movement of Asian carp into Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes. Asian Carp pose a significant threat to the Great Lakes ecosystem because of their ravenous feeding and spawning habits. If introduced to the lake, the Asian carp would be very difficult to control and would quickly out-compete native species by disrupting their food chain and consequently become the dominant species in the lake. This would not only devastate the Great Lakes ecosystem but have a significant economic impact on the $7 billion fishery. Asian carp have been detected using environmental DNA testing in the canal below the barrier. Therefore, when the electric barrier is shut down for maintenance there is a fear that the Asian carp could travel down the canal to Lake Michigan. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources who is working with other environmental agencies such as the MWRDGC as part of the Asian Carp Rapid Response Group will be applying Rotenone, a fish poison, in the canal during the electric barrier shut-down. According to IDNR, the Rotenone will provide the highest level of certainty that Asian carp will not advance past the electric barrier when shut down. Rotenone will kill the Asian carp as well as other fish in the canal but when used properly does not present a risk to people or other wildlife.

For more information read the IDNR press release and Asian carp FAQ.

Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Turn Red for Study

U.S. Geological Survey Scientists injected a harmless bright red fluorescent dye into a stretch of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal on Tuesday, November 10, 2009. According to the USGS, "the dye study is aimed at obtaining information on the dispersion and travel times of waterborne contaminants in the canal and characterizing leakage to adjacent water bodies such as the Des Plaines River and I & M Canal. Such information is used by Federal, state, and local agencies for various engineering applications, especially water-quality monitoring and control and invasive species management." One such invasive species of concern is the Asian Carp, which pose a significant threat to the the aquatic communities and fisheries in the Great Lakes.

For more information read the USGS news release and their Red Dye Studies FAQ.

Board Meeting Notice

A friendly reminder that there is a MWRDGC Board Meeting at 10:00am on Thursday, November 5, 2009. The Board Meetings are held in the Board Room at 100 East Erie Street, Chicago. All members of the public are welcome to attend. There is also a special meeting to discuss the 2010 MWRDGC Budget at 1:00pm on Thursday. Click here for Board Meeting details and agenda.

Other Meetings:
There will also be two study sessions to solicit public comment on the Watershed Management Ordinance. The first meeting will be this Wednesday, November 4, 2009, at 7:00pm at Glenbrook North High School, 2300 Shermer Road, Northbrook Illinos. The second meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at 7:00pm at Maine West High School, 1755 South Wolf Road, Des Plaines, Illinois.