Photo by Ryan Hagerty/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Silver carp jumping in the Fox River in Illinois.
The forecasted pricetag of a planned Asian carp defense system near Joliet, Illinois that would hopefully prevent the invasive species from infiltrating the Great Lakes has now climbed to $778 million, up from an initial estimate of $275 million, according to an update last week from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
As reported by the Detroit News, the project, which would be finished sometime between 2025 and 2027, will now be reviewed by state and federal agencies. If Congress funds the initiative, an electric barrier would be installed as well as underground speakers to essentially blast noise at fish to stop them in their tracks northbound.
The dangers of Asian carp moving into the Great Lakes are numerous and well-detailed, from environmental concerns to impacts on recreational boating, commercial shipping and fishing.
Ohio earlier this year joined Wisconsin, Michigan and the province of Ontario in supporting the Great Lakes Basin Partnership to Block Asian Carp, the group backing the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers' plan. Sixty-five percent of the total cost would be shouldered by the feds while the state of Illinois would cover the rest. Outgoing Michigan governor Rick Snyder helped spearhead the coalition and has said the state would work with other Great Lakes states and two Canadian provinces to support costs of operation and maintenance should the project go forward.
