Camo At The Capitol

Video Blog: Supreme Court denies Michigan’s request to close locks, block Asian Carp

The Supreme Court today ruled that it would not grant Michigan's request for an injunction against the Army Corps of Engineers and State of Illinois to close Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal navigational locks in order to prevent Asian Carp from invading Lake Michigan. The Court did not rule, however, on Michigan's petition for a supplemental decree under the 1929 Supreme Court ruling in Wisconsin v. Illinois . That case dealt with the Canal's diversion of Chicago sewage into the Mississippi river. Under the remaining petition, Michigan seeks a ruling declaring that operation of the Canal constitutes an unlawful public nuisance that threatens the natural resources of Michigan and other Great Lakes states.

Despite having support from five Great Lakes states and the Canadian Province of Ontario, Michigan faces harsh opposition in its quest to close the locks by the Obama Administration, Illinois shipping industry, and State of Illinois. Opponents prefer "alternative measures," like electric barriers to stop the carp, despite the warning sign of Asian Carp DNA found in lake Michigan, beyond electric barriers currently in use. Last week, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) held a hearing on the Asian Carp issue where officials went as far as to suggest that Asian Carp should be marketed as dinner fare under the table name "Silver Fin."  Sen. Durbin defends the Obama Administration's opposition to close the locks in favor of economic benefits derived from the shipping industry. Great Lakes advocates argue the locks' economic impact pales in comparison to the $7 billion Great Lakes sportfishery that will be devastated when the Carp breach the locks.

In the wake of this unfortunate news, the bi-partisan determination to defeat the Carp gives us a silver lining (pardon the pun) that Republicans and Democrats CAN work together, at least on issues that threaten our Natural Resources and outdoor traditions.  Michigan Governor Granholm and Attorney General Mike Cox continue to rattle the public, the President, and other government officials over the need to act. According to an early report from MIRS News and the Associated Press, Granholm and Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today called for an immediate White House Summit of Great Lakes Governors on the issue -- or as MIRS calls it, a "Carp Confab." Since filing Michigan's lawsuit in the Supreme Court, Cox has been criss-crossing the state to rally support to close the locks.

For more information on Cox's next steps and remaining petition for a supplemental decree under Wisconsin v. Illinois, visit StopAsianCarp.com or check back with www.MichiganOutofDoors.com

Leave a Comment Comments (0)