Letter to The Honorable Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp

Letter

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that sent a personal letter to Lieutenant General Robert Van Antwerp, who is the Chief Engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers, urging him to do everything possible to ensure that the deadly Asian carp do not invade the Great Lakes, including closing off waterways connecting Asian carp-infested waters to the Great Lakes. Current government data indicates that the Asian carp are dangerously close to infesting the Great Lakes Area and may have already made a home in Illinois' canals leading to Lake Michigan. If these fish are allowed to enter Lake Michigan, they can easily flow into New York's Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Because the economic harm from the Asian carp would cost billions. Schumer is urging the Army Corps to close off these gateways with all due speed.

"The Army Corps must close the locks on the canals and stop the Asian carp invasion at the gates of the Great Lakes. We're talking about billions in economic losses at a time when New Yorkers can ill afford it, the time to act is now," said Schumer. "We need to do all we can to prevent Asian carp from contaminating the Great Lakes, which would deal a direct blow to people who depend on the Great Lakes for work and for play. These fish are voracious eaters that will shred the Great Lakes ecosystem, crowd out popular native species, severely impact boaters and diminish the enjoyment of beachgoers."

Schumer said that Asian carp could have a devastating economic impact on the region, and threaten the $7 billion a year Great Lakes fishing industry. The Asian carp have such a voracious appetite that they destroy the food chain in the bodies of water they inhabit, devastating ecosystems and killing native fish. The Great Lakes are already in dire need of restoration funding and will suffer if Asian carp are allowed to invade the Great Lakes. In the summer of 2009, local beaches in Rochester, for example, were closed for more days than they were open. As of September 2009, Ontario Beach was closed a total of 34 out of 63 days due to high bacteria levels in the previous day's water tests. Lakes Ontario and Erie are already plagued with invasive species, such as lamprey and zebra mussels. At an event at Rochester City Hall in August 2009, Schumer noted that the unpredictability of the water quality was precluding resorts from being developed along the shore, and hindering tourism because people do not want to take a risk visiting a beach that is closed more than half the time.

Right now, the federal government's own tests show that the Asian carp have penetrated waterways in the heart of Illinois which lead directly to New York. The Army Corps of Engineers has the authority to shut down the gateways that exist in Illinois by closing locks on these waterways which would prevent the Asian carp from migrating to the Great Lakes. Schumer has been a long advocate for securing and restoring the Great Lakes. Recently Schumer fought back against President Obama's proposed 2011 Budget that would cut $175 million from the Great Lakes Initiative which works to secure and restore the Great Lakes. Funding for the Great Lakes Initiative targets the most significant problems in the region, including invasive aquatic species, non-point source pollution, and contaminated sediment. Schumer's letter is part of his ongoing effort to stand up for New York's Great Lakes and the economic opportunities that they create. The full text of the letter is below.

Much of the government's current work on the Great Lakes is done through federal agencies with assistance from local governments and NGO's, but keeping the gateways open threatens all of that work and the economy of the Great Lakes Region. In fact, a recent study by the Brookings Institute showed that every dollar invested in cleaning up the lakes would yield $2 in savings and increased revenue through economic development.

Schumer added "We just cannot afford to purge $7 billion out of New York's economy. If we do, people will lose their jobs and the overall economy in Upstate New York will decline. The solution is straightforward and the federal government needs to step up to the plate and make it happen."

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The Honorable Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp

Chief of Engineers

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

2600 Army Pentagon

Room 2E667

Washington, DC 20310-2600

Dear Lt. Gen. Van Antwerp:

I write today to urge you to take all necessary action to protect the Great Lakes from the threat of Asian carp, including closing the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal locks to prevent Asian carp from entering the lakes.

The Great Lakes are among our nation's greatest natural resources. These waters provide New York and the nation with numerous commercial and recreational opportunities that generate billions of dollars in economic activity annually. New Yorkers are fortunate enough to enjoy the benefits of both Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, which have historically been anchors of economic activity in the region. With over seven hundred miles of shoreline and 80 percent of New York's fresh surface water, the lakes are vital natural resource, a source of drinking water for thousands of New Yorkers, and an intrinsic part of New York's economy and culture.

Asian carp have come dangerously close to invading the Great Lakes and eDNA testing indicates that they may already have penetrated the electric barriers of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal designed to prevent them from entering Lake Michigan. If the Asian carp reach the Great Lakes, they have the potential to cause billions of dollars in economic losses for those who live near, and rely on, the Great Lakes for their livelihood. Already we have seen the negative impact aquatic invasive species and low water quality have on native aquatic species and habitats, as well as industries such as fishing and tourism. The communities along the lakes and the people who rely on the lakes for income cannot afford an Asian carp invasion, especially during these economically challenging times.

It is imperative that we prevent Asian carp from migrating to the Great Lakes and establishing a breeding population. To do this, we need to utilize all possible strategies for preventing Asian carp from entering the lakes, including closing the locks of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal on a temporary or permanent basis. I am heartened to see that the framework put forth by USACE in collaboration with other federal agencies acknowledges the possibility of changing lock operations, but am also concerned that the framework does not go far enough to protect the lakes from the threat of Asian carp. The cost of inaction that would allow this invasive species into the Great Lakes far outweighs the short term impact associated with changing lock operations. This is not the time for us to be pulling back or giving an inch in this fight. I strongly urge you to heed the request of the New York State Attorney General, and numerous other stake holders, and close the locks connecting the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to Lake Michigan to prevent Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes. Additionally, I encourage the USACE to work in partnership with local impacted economies to resolve any financial challenges that may emerge by closing the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal locks.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent request. I look forward to working with you to protect the health of the Great Lakes and prevent the spread of Asian carp. If you have questions, please contact my staff.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer

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