Over the past year it's been hard to miss the ongoing news reports of an imminent Asian carp invasion. Now there is an opportunity to help stop the carp happening here in Buffalo.
The Army Corps of Engineers are collecting public comments tomorrow (Tuesday, Jan 11th) at the Buffalo CONFERENCE Center (2 Fountain Plaza) from 2-8pm on their Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basin Interbasin Feasibility Study (GLMRIS). The study focus will determine if we implement a permanent solution (separating the artificially connections between the Mississippi and Great Lakes) to stop the Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes.
What GLMRIS is: A study authorized by Congress in 2007 mandating that the Corps determine how to prevent invasive species from moving into Lake Michigan from the Mississippi basin through the Chicago area waterway (and visa versa, as species can move in both directions). It also will look at all hydrological connections between the Great Lakes and Mississippi basin.
Why GLMRIS is important: While there is little debate that fast action to prevent an Asian carp invasion is needed, the Corps study is both too slow and too broad, and can be improved in many ways. And the bottom line is that there will be no authorization or funding for building a permanent solution (hydrological separation) without successful completion of this federal study.
Read more about what groups are calling for in GLIMRS here:
How you can speak out:
Please attend tomorrow's public meeting and make sure you register today to speak before the meeting so you will be given preference - see the full list of meetings and how to register to speak here.
If you can't attend the meeting, submit written comments on-line here:
Comments will be collected until March 31, 2011. Thank you for all you to do protect the Great Lakes from the Asian carp!
Silver Carp; photo credit: Great Lakes Fishery Commission
View image
The Army Corps of Engineers are collecting public comments tomorrow (Tuesday, Jan 11th) at the Buffalo CONFERENCE Center (2 Fountain Plaza) from 2-8pm on their Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basin Interbasin Feasibility Study (GLMRIS). The study focus will determine if we implement a permanent solution (separating the artificially connections between the Mississippi and Great Lakes) to stop the Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes.
What GLMRIS is: A study authorized by Congress in 2007 mandating that the Corps determine how to prevent invasive species from moving into Lake Michigan from the Mississippi basin through the Chicago area waterway (and visa versa, as species can move in both directions). It also will look at all hydrological connections between the Great Lakes and Mississippi basin.
Why GLMRIS is important: While there is little debate that fast action to prevent an Asian carp invasion is needed, the Corps study is both too slow and too broad, and can be improved in many ways. And the bottom line is that there will be no authorization or funding for building a permanent solution (hydrological separation) without successful completion of this federal study.
Read more about what groups are calling for in GLIMRS here:
How you can speak out:
Please attend tomorrow's public meeting and make sure you register today to speak before the meeting so you will be given preference - see the full list of meetings and how to register to speak here.
If you can't attend the meeting, submit written comments on-line here:
Comments will be collected until March 31, 2011. Thank you for all you to do protect the Great Lakes from the Asian carp!
Silver Carp; photo credit: Great Lakes Fishery Commission
Thanks for the heads up, GLU!
To head off potential confusion: the hearing is at the Buffalo CONFERENCE Center, not the CONVENTION Center. This is the building next to the Hyatt at Main and Huron (with the "Space, 1999" architecture). Here's their web site: http://www.buffaloconferencecenter.com/