One of the most significant opportunities to help stop the Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes is occurring right now. Concerned citizens from across the Great Lakes region- and North America- have an opportunity to speak loudly and clearly and let decision makers know we want the artificial connections between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River basin repaired now!

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are collecting public comments from December 15^th through March 31^st on their Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basin Interbasin Feasibility Study (GLMRIS). The study focus will determine if we implement a permanent solution (hydrological separation) to stop the Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes.

•    In 2007 the Corps was mandated to study ways to “prevent” invasive species movement between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River. Deplorably, the Corps has decided to spend precious time and resources to also study ways to “reduce the risk” of Asian carp, not just prevent. This was not authorized by Congress nor is it a credible strategy that will protect our Great Lakes. We need you to tell them this is unacceptable and only options that will “prevent” invasive species movement and stop the Asian carp should be studied. Hydrological separation must be thoroughly examined!
   
• The Corps study takes too long. The Chicago portion of the study will not be completed until mid-2015, or nearly five years from now. The Corps must acknowledge the urgency of finding a permanent solution, condense the timeline and produce final results for the Chicago portion of GLMRIS within 18 months rather than mid-2015!
   
•   The Asian carp are knocking at the back door to the Great Lakes. While it is important for all artificial connections between the two basins to be repaired, Corps should fast-track and prioritize the development of a permanent solution for the Chicago Area Waterway System first.

•   Please attend a public meeting and make sure you register to speak before the meeting so you will be given a time to speak – see the full list of meetings and how to register to speak here: http://glmris.anl.gov/involve/pubschedule/index.cfm 
   
• If you can’t attend a meeting, submit written comments on-line here: http://glmris.anl.gov/involve/comments/index.cfm Comments will be collected until March 31, 2011. Take a moment to write a letter now, or Great Lakes United will send out additional alerts encouraging you to write in 2011.