Who Is Running The Great Lakes?

By Bob Allen

Last week, the Army Corps of Engineers released results of tests that show Asian carp are close to entering Lake Michigan near Chicago. The Corps operates a $9 million electric fish barrier in a canal that's meant to repel the giant fish. Now there's D-N-A evidence from the invasive carp above the barrier. The only thing left to stop them are some locks near where three different waterways enter the lake. Conservation groups are calling for the Corps to shut the locks and keep them sealed until a better plan takes shape. The Corps says it will examine all options before taking action on the locks. Everyone agrees the carp will likely be disasterous for the multi-billion dollar Great Lakes fishery. Dave Dempsey has written a couple of books about Great Lakes history and policy. He's writing on his blog that this situation is just another example of how the agencies lack the ability to respond to serious problems in the lakes. He spoke with Bob Allen.