Friday, March 26th, 2010

Asian Carp and the Supreme Court

One type of invasive Asian carp threatening the Great Lakes. USFWS image.

This week, the US Supreme Court turned down a request for an injunction that would have closed two locks leading to Lake Michigan. The request by the state of Michigan was aimed at blocking invasive Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes. Opponents of the lock closures cited a potential large cost to the shipping industry, as well as the uncertainty of being able to prevent the carp's movements via lock closures.

A larger case, still up for consideration by the court, seeks to re-open a 90-year old decision involving diversion of water from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River. We'll talk about the carp and Great Lakes water issues.