Substitute for Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 18

A concurrent resolution to memorialize Congress to require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to take immediate action to prevent Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes watershed through the Chicago Area Waterway System, including closing the O'Brien and Chicago Locks and placing block nets in other open pathways.

            Whereas, The health and vitality of the waters, fisheries, and habitat of the Great Lakes are inextricably connected to a successful and prosperous Michigan tourism industry and healthy state economy. The Great Lake's waters, as well as Michigan tourism and outdoor recreation, are threatened by uncontrolled migration of invasive species in the form of Asian carp moving closer daily to entering Lake Michigan and spreading throughout all of our state's waterways; and

            Whereas, Asian carp could become a dominant species in the Great Lakes, threatening the $7 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, Immediate and decisive action is required to protect the $7 billion Great Lake commercial and recreational fishery and the $9 billion Great Lake recreational boating industry. The collapse of the sports and commercial fishing industries and damage done to the recreational boating industry would translate into billions of dollars in lost revenues and thousands more workers joining the ranks of the unemployed. In addition, damage done to the Great Lakes, rivers, and inland lakes by Asian carp would greatly harm our state's viability as an attractive vacation destination, thereby weakening the effectiveness of the Pure Michigan brand and leading to decreased tourism outcomes, revenues, and jobs; and

Whereas, H.R. 892 and S. 471 are currently pending before the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to require the completion of feasibility studies as to how best to provide hydrological separation or other certain means of preventing the migration of Asian carp and other invasive species into Lake Michigan; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That we memorialize Congress to require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to take immediate action to prevent Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes watershed through the Chicago Area Waterway System, including closing the O'Brien and Chicago Locks and placing block nets in other open pathways and that the locks remain closed until H.R. 892 and S. 471 are enacted into law; 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.