State lawmakers say they’re concerned about the time and expense of plans to keep the Asian carp out of the Great Lakes.
As we hear from The Michigan Public Radio Network’s Rick Pluta, some experts say it’s time to plan for the worst.
State invasive species experts say Michigan does not have the luxury of waiting on a final plan to ensure Asian carp don’t infest the Great Lakes and upset the food chain. Jon Allan directs the Michigan Office of the Great Lakes.
“We’re talking about things in the interim that lower the risk, may not be the ultimate solution, but we have to be diligent every day in dealing with this issue.”
Allan testified at a hearing on an Army Corps of Engineers study of the costs and options to deal with the Asian carp, and other invasive species. A permanent fix could take 25 years and cost billions of dollars. In the meantime, the state Department of Natural Resources says another species of Asian carp is moving up the Mississippi River system toward Lake Michigan.