CHICAGO, Ill. (WTAQ) - An official of the Army Corps of Engineers says electrical barriers are the best way to keep the invasive Asian carp from getting into the Great Lakes.
General John Peabody made that remark Wednesday at a court hearing in Chicago. He testified in a lawsuit by Wisconsin and 4 other states which seek tougher federal action to keep the bloated carp at bay.
DNA tests have shown that several carp made it past the electronic barrier near Chicago. But another biologist testified Wednesday that such tests can be misleading. Peabody testified against the states’ proposal to close down 2 Chicago area shipping locks, thus closing the link between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River.
Peabody said ships would have to be lifted with cranes over the closed locks. And he says it would cost money that could be used instead to repair other locks and dams which are at risk of failing.
Chicago and Illinois officials say closing the locks would be a blow to the region’s economy, while Wisconsin and the other four plaintiffs say the carp is in danger of ruining the Great Lakes’ multi-billion dollar fishing industry.
