SR-15, As Adopted by Senate, April 17, 2007

            Substitute for Senate Resolution No. 15

            A resolution to memorialize the United States Congress to enact legislation to increase protections for the Great Lakes from Asian carp.

            Whereas, Two species of Asian carp, not native to the United States, are on the verge of invading the Great Lakes. Silver carp and bighead carp escaped from confinement at southern fish farms in past decades and have migrated up the Mississippi and the Illinois River to within less than 100 miles of the Great Lakes; and

            Whereas, Asian carp could become a dominant species in the Great Lakes, threatening the $4.5 billion Great Lakes commercial and recreational fishery and recreational boaters. Asian carp are voracious feeders that compete with native fish and wildlife for food. In addition, silver carp can weigh up to 70 pounds and jump up to 10 feet out of the water when disturbed by boats. Boaters have suffered cuts, blackened eyes, broken bones, back injuries, and concussions from leaping silver carp; and

            Whereas, The only thing preventing the movement of Asian carp into the Great Lakes is a temporary electrical barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. A permanent electrical barrier is also under construction to replace the temporary barrier; and

            Whereas, To date, over $12 million has been spent on construction and operation of the electrical barriers. To help match federal funding, the state of Michigan has contributed nearly $70,000 toward the completion of the permanent electrical barrier; and

            Whereas, Current funding is insufficient to complete construction of the permanent barrier and only finances operation of the temporary barrier through the first half of fiscal year 2007. In addition, there is no funding to renovate the temporary barrier as a permanent backup to the new barrier; and

            Whereas, There are provisions in several measures before the Congress that would provide funds to upgrade the current barrier and complete construction of the permanent barrier. Bills with this language include the Great Lakes Asian Carp Barrier Act (H.R. 553 and S. 336), the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (H.R. 1495), the National Aquatic Invasive Species Act of 2007 (S. 725), and the Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act (H.R. 1350). It is of the utmost importance that Congress protect the Great Lakes by providing the funding and authority for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the barriers, compensate states for their contributions to the project, and provide for research into controlling Asian carp and other exotic species; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the United States Congress to enact legislation to increase protections for the Great Lakes from Asian carp; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.