Feds could close Chicago-area locks

Posted on 09 February 2010

ShareTweet

Federal officials might seek to close navigational locks on Chicago-area waterways for up to three or four days a week, a move that would restrict cargo shipping and recreational boating.

The idea is only one option for dealing with the problem of Asian carp, but shipping industry experts reacted swiftly and negatively, saying even a partial closing of the locks in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal would deal an economic blow to the region, cost jobs and force some companies to shut down or leave the area, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Advocates of closing the locks permanently didn't like the partial closing idea either. Michigan attorney general Mike Cox, who has sued Illinois in an attempt to close the locks, said shutting them a few days a week "sounds as logical as keeping criminals in jail four days a week and hoping the other three days go well."

The proposal is one piece of a $78.5 million, multipronged attack to stop Asian carp, an invasive species, from entering and establishing a large population in Lake Michigan.

The Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework, announced at a White House meeting with Midwest governors, contains more than 25 short- and long-term actions designed to protect the estimated $7 billion commercial and recreational fishing industry in the Great Lakes, the newspaper reports.

Click here for the full article.

Comments

3 Tuesday, 16 February 2010 21:32

I am totally opposed to closing the locks.  The locks are an economic and engineering masterpiece.  Closing them would do much more harm than good.  The Great Lakes fishing industry is NOT worth $7 billion . The value is not even half that and 2/

 The true cost of closing the locks is less than 70MM. The fishing and RECREATION industry on the Great Lakes dwarfs the shipping industry on the lakes.

As far as the locks themselves, yes a marvel that also costs Lake Michigan 3billions gallons of water per day and is most likely the single biggest reason for lower than normal levels the last decade. Chicago and Illinois have only a tiny fraction of the shore line of the Great  Lakes yet they have taken steps over the years that have the greatest impact. Now that Chicago has figured out how to clean it's sewage, there is no longer is any reason to reverse the flow of the Chicago river and send it to the Mississippis. (the original reason the locks were built)

2 Friday, 12 February 2010 22:47

I am totally opposed to closing the locks.  The locks are an economic and engineering masterpiece.  Closing them would do much more harm than good.  The Great Lakes fishing industry is NOT worth $7 billion . The value is not even half that and 2/3 of that number ges to Canadian companies , not US  companies.  Also the EPA has issued warnings against eating fish from the Great Lakes.  Why "protect " an industry that harvests a dangerous product.  Speaking of the EPA, it was this agency that introduced the Carp to the US in 1973 to clean up fish ponds.  The Carp is still approved for this use in 30 states.  Why blame Illinois for something the Federal government did?   Finally the Carp are not even a danger to the Great Lakes.  They have not wiped out other fish in the Illinois River or the Sanitary Canal .  If they get to the Lakes , they will coexist with the other species.   If the locks are closed and Illinois is hurt, I suggest everyone in Illinois boycott Michigan and Michigan products.

1 Tuesday, 09 February 2010 22:10

I am sorry to hear that we have to close Lake Michigan, And If that Is what is going to make, Our lakes ,Rivers, or Oceans, Safe from Invasions  of  foreign, Species, Than do It, So We can live here In Our U.S.A. Without any other

Species Invading our shores,

Thank You    Anthony

yvComment v.1.21.1