Michigan's request to temporarily shut Chicago waterway locks to slow Asian carp denied
As the battle to keep Asian carp from creating a sustained population in the Great Lakes wages on, the Supreme Court denied a request to temporarily close a Chicago-area waterway for a second time Monday.
The court denied the request to close the waterways as it weighs whether to consider an "interstate lawsuit" regarding the invasive species of fish, the New York Times reported today.
The request was made by the state of Michigan last month after DNA tests indicated carp had made it into Lake Michigan for the first time. Supporters of the closure say closing the locks could slow the fish from being able to move through the waterways and into the lake.
The Illinois shipping and tourism industry have both strongly opposed efforts to close locks they say would damage industry and be ineffective in slowing the carp.
Tina Reed covers health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. You can reach her at tinareed@annarbor.com, call her at 734-623-2535 or find her on Twitter @TreedinAA.
Comments
Jeff
Thu, Mar 25, 2010 : 6:09 p.m.
Obama and Chicago are brothers, who cares about the great lakes and boating and swimming and walking on the beach.
*thereal*DJ
Tue, Mar 23, 2010 : 1:46 p.m.
It's times like these when we should enlist the help of the Michigan Militia.
Arboriginal
Tue, Mar 23, 2010 : 9:07 a.m.
I have heard that the Asian Carp will not survive in the Great Lakes as they are a warm water species. Is this true?
cubicle
Tue, Mar 23, 2010 : 8:53 a.m.
From the linked article... "The decision to reject Michigan's renewed injunction request was announced without comment this morning" Also, the people filing it had no expectation that the Court would side with them..."Our motion was an extraordinary attempt to protect the Great Lakes, but we felt it was necessary to because the Court deserved to have access to the new DNA... before making a decision," Cox said. "We will continue to focus on the reopening of the diversion case in April."
Mick52
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 8:16 p.m.
I would like to know why the court refused this. Is it just because they are deciding on hearing the lawsuit? Or did they give a reason? Tina? I suppose the Dems who run Chicago are proud of Julie's "uber-conservative" Supreme Court. Good to see bi-partisan cooperation in government
Julie
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 7:17 p.m.
I love it. The uber-conservative Supreme Court deinies the request, yet someone somehow blames Obama. Brilliant.
David Briegel
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 6:43 p.m.
jmichael65, you are a genius. Two birds with one stone!! A dam with a highway on top to eliminate Chicago and Illinois! Sheer brilliance. Jobs, lake trout and salmon for us and carp fishing for Illinois! Heck, I might even visit Wisconsin more often. Although I love Chicago, I do love Mich and the freshwater great lakes so much more!!!
jmichael65
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 5:18 p.m.
Let's hook up with the other states,and Canada bordering the Great Lakes, build a dam from the Indiana-Illinois border to the Wisconsin border. We have a shipping and fishing industry and they can go carp fishing. Afterall, think of the jobs, and even the time saved if we stick a highway (revenue!) on top of it.
4real
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 4:58 p.m.
We need to keep pressing the issue until the request is honored. Why is it that Michigan continues to get hit hard?
tdw
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 4:19 p.m.
Hey why is'nt anyone accuseing Obama of protecting his billionare shipping buddies? oh, that's right,only Bush did that kind of thing