President Obama: Put UP That Wall! And Save The Great Lakes!

If President Obama could stop global warming with the stroke of a pen and a couple of million dollars do you think he would do it? We think he would in a heartbeat. Then why isn’t he declaring a national emergency to stop Asian carp from destroying the habitat of the largest freshwater lake system in the world? Why isn’t he declaring war on this invading species while he can still win it? President Obama, it is a simple fix: put up the wall! Then, fill in the locks with earth and be done with it. With some real determination this job could be completed in a single day! It shouldn’t cost more than a few million dollars because all that is needed is to move some dirt! But since Asian Carp DNA was found beyond the Army Corps of Engineers “electric fence” several weeks ago, government has dithered.

BoatTEST.com readers are astonished that the U.S. federal government has not moved quickly to save the Great Lakes from its worst devastation in recorded history.

The Army Corps of Engineers “electric fence” reminds us of the 2100-mile long “Rabbit-Proof Fence” erected from 1901 to 1907 in Western Australia designed to keep wild rabbits (which were not indigenous to Australia and had been introduced as game) from entering the state. Like the Asian carp, this alien specie was prolific and within 30 years of its introduction in eastern Australia had munched itself all across the continent leaving crop devastation and huge economic loss in its wake. The “Rabbit-Proof Fence” didn’t work, of course, and in 1935 a special “Enquiry Commissioner reported that is was a “Gigantic make-believe.”

Australia’s “Rabbit-Proof Fence” ended up being worthless and a cruel hoax.

Who among us seriously trusts the Army Corps of Engineers to protect the Great Lakes? In fact, recently a Federal Judge has ruled that the Army Corps of Engineers was responsible for the flooding of New Orleans during hurricane Katrina. Why, then should we trust our valued Great Lakes to their protection? Does anyone trust that pumping electricity into a canal will stop the onslaught of Asian Carp – particularly after the Army Corps, itself, has declared that it has found carp DNA evidence beyond their barrier?

President Obama is from Chicago, he knows about the Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal, we assume that either he or a ranking member of his staff – many of whom are from Chicago – know about the eminent threat of Asian carp, so why haven’t we heard a peep? Could it be because Chicago TV news casts are full of local businessmen whining about how closing the canal will hurt their business, kill jobs, and make prices higher for consumers?

By its own admission, the Army Corps’ “electric fence” is not working.

We suggest that Chicago can get along without hauling gravel, cement, fuel oil, coal, garbage and everything else on its canals just as other large metropolitan move all of these commodities WITHOUT canals. Just think about Dallas, Denver, Columbus, Indianapolis, Atlanta, etc. Chicago can use rail and trucks like other cities. Forget the canals, they are something out of the early 1800s, and while an industry has grown up around them in Chicago, a new one can simply grow up around the fact that it doesn’t have them.

Several BoatTEST.com readers wrote in asking if closing the locks would keep them from being able to make the “Great Circle.” The answer is “yes.” Others complained that they like to use the canal to go out to Lake Michigan and back. We say all of this is a minor issue to boaters compared to what would happen if the Great Lakes fishery is ruined. Take a look at this reader exchange:

In addition to not having game fish to catch, boaters will risk injury and death from flying carp. Note the F&W officer’s chicken wire.

Trust the Army Corps

Mr. Rohr writes “...Closing the canal would be horrible for the economy at these times. Not to mention the pleasure boaters. It is about 70 miles on the canal from where I live to Lake Michigan and I do the cruise a few times a year. Not being able to do that any more would just ruin some of my boating pleasure. My buddies and I look forward to doing this every year. Therefore, I think this is a big mistake. We need to have faith in the Army Corps of Engineers and just give them some time.”

To which, Mr. Veneruz responded, “…You can kiss your and my fishing industry good-bye as well as any water body that is remotely attached to it. You guys are so short-sighted you can’t see past your noses...There are other modes to move your precious cargo…Close off the canal -- that would create thousands of jobs. Then, kill the carp -- all of them!”

This Asian carp made it beyond the lock and was killed by poison used while the “electronic fence” was being repaired.

Mob Rule

Yet another reader, Mr. Stroupe, is not particularly optimistic about the future and says, “I hate to say it but our Great Lakes do not have a chance of keeping the carp out. Not only is Chicago known since the 1800's for the shipping industry, it has been known nearly as long for its political corruption.

“Don't think for a minute that the mob is not alive and well and has the influence needed to keep those canals open. It's reprehensible that this is our President's home and Washington is silent. Washington puts out all of this propaganda about how "green" this administration is with their greenhouse initiatives, etc…It is an unfortunate reality that the carp is not political enough to get any real attention…because there is no money in it for anyone to stop them NOW.”

Asian carp hoover up to 40% of their body weight each day.

Since Asian carp DNA has been found beyond the barrier by the Army Corps of Engineers, themselves, it is admitting that its own “electrical barrier fence” does not work to stop 100% of the Asian carp. Stopping “most of them” is simply not good enough. Once the carp are out of the bag, and into Lake Michigan, there is no way to stop them.

Government MUST act now. This is an environment issue AND a jobs issue. If Asian carp take over the Great Lakes they will effectively kill off all other fish species because the Asian carp literally hoover-up all of the vegetation, fish eggs, fry and all other nutrients on the bottom of the lake and river beds. They destroy the habitat. If there are no game fish, there is no game fishing. If there is no game fishing, there is no need for fishing boats, and tens of thousands of jobs are lost in boat yards, boat factories, marinas, marine engine companies, in related gear plants, boat dealerships, etc. all up and down the economic chain.

For some reason boats passing over the Asian silver carp cause them to fly out of the water. At first it seems funny – until you consider the sheer numbers of these critters and their danger.

The time to act is now. American boaters have proved in the past that when they speak up in great numbers they CAN get government action. For example, just last year American boaters raised such a hue and cry about the EPA rules meant for ocean-going ships applied to pleasure boats that Congress actually passed a law stopping the EPA action.

We think American boaters can do it again – this time by getting just one person -- the President of the United States, to Stop the Carp! Below is a link to the White House email address. We urge you to use it.

White House e-mail contact link.