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Army Corps declines to close Chicago shipping locks


WhiteSoxfan1986

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http://www.startribune.com/business/95570759.html

 

I really think the government needs to do everything possible to prevent these things from entering Lake Michigan. Should they get in there and start reproducing, all hell would break loose 10-20 years from now. These things eat a ton and reproduce like crazy, which is bad news for fish like salmon, bass, etc. The silver Carp even jump out of the water when they hear boat motors, hitting people in the face. Who the hell is going to want to go boating and water skiiing, when there is a threat of a 20 pound fish smackin into you at 20 mph? Just check out how these things jump.

 

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I agree with the Corps here. Closing the locks does definite and clear damage economically. Then there's the fact that they cannot keep them closed all the time, or they will cause periodic and massive flooding damage. The carp, based on the two most recent tests, aren't even near the locks yet. And here's something people seem to forget (or are too young to remember) - Lake Michigan had an ENTIRELY different ecosystem as little as 20 years ago. There isn't much natural in there now, in terms of fish species, anyway.

 

That all said, I agree they need to do whatever they reasonably can to keep the carp out - but that doesn't include putting the entire river basin at flood risk and destroying an economic engine. Instead, do the electronic barriers, do some occasional cleanups, and declare some wall zones to keep things tracked constantly. Does the same thing, except without all the economic and home damage.

 

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QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 5, 2010 -> 06:11 PM)
I agree with the Corps here. Closing the locks does definite and clear damage economically. Then there's the fact that they cannot keep them closed all the time, or they will cause periodic and massive flooding damage. The carp, based on the two most recent tests, aren't even near the locks yet. And here's something people seem to forget (or are too young to remember) - Lake Michigan had an ENTIRELY different ecosystem as little as 20 years ago. There isn't much natural in there now, in terms of fish species, anyway.

 

That all said, I agree they need to do whatever they reasonably can to keep the carp out - but that doesn't include putting the entire river basin at flood risk and destroying an economic engine. Instead, do the electronic barriers, do some occasional cleanups, and declare some wall zones to keep things tracked constantly. Does the same thing, except without all the economic and home damage.

I think experience says...follow your course, and they get into the lake. You want to stop them, you go the drastic route.

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QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 5, 2010 -> 07:34 PM)
I think experience says...follow your course, and they get into the lake. You want to stop them, you go the drastic route.

My experience tells me that bizarre foreign fish are going to get in there anyway, and already ARE there. Zerba mullosks, lamprey, etc. all invaded. Various salmon, alewives, other fish were put there intentionally, which was stupid. Here is my opinion - some will get through no matter what. Its a question of what economic toll you want to take. Kind of the same reasoning I use to support having a virtual wall on the southern border, instead of a concrete rampart.

 

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This is going to be interesting. Basically the fun part is if Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana can show economic hardship and sucessfully sue to have the locks closed. I love a state versus state fight.

 

 

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QUOTE (Tex @ Jun 23, 2010 -> 05:18 PM)
This is going to be interesting. Basically the fun part is if Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana can show economic hardship and sucessfully sue to have the locks closed. I love a state versus state fight.

Various courts have already blocked those attempts by other states, and SCOTUS refused to review it. Basically, as long as Illinois is making a good faith effort (along with US agencies) to try to stop it, that seems to be good enough for the courts.

 

Also, not a surprise that was found - it was pretty much accepted among locals that the fish were already IN Lake Michigan, just in small numbers.

 

Thing is, Asian Carp entering the Great Lakes in significant numbers might not have that huge an impact on fisheries. They are basically assuming the worst, which i can understand. On the flipside, closing the locks also could have big economic consequences. Then there;s the fact that they won't be able to keep the locks closed all the time anyway, because otherwise parts of the city and suburbs will flood in storms. Basically, closing the locks is just not likely to happen.

 

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QUOTE (Tex @ Jun 24, 2010 -> 07:29 PM)
Rick Perry will be the GOP nominee for President.

 

Him and Sarah Palin need to go screw themselves somewhere as long as they can't procreate.

 

Rick Perry is a piece of s***.

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QUOTE (Rex Kicka** @ Jun 25, 2010 -> 11:15 AM)
I'm pretty sure anyone trying to balance a county or municipal budget in Indiana would gladly give him to you.

 

 

Hey, while that may be true, neither Kap nor I like ours. How the hell can you be disliked by Kap and I? :lolhitting

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QUOTE (Tex @ Jun 25, 2010 -> 01:56 PM)
Hey, while that may be true, neither Kap nor I like ours. How the hell can you be disliked by Kap and I? :lolhitting

 

Mitch Daniels is an epic f***up, too.

 

They are both doing EXACTLY the same thing, interestingly enough.

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QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jun 25, 2010 -> 03:59 PM)
Mitch Daniels is an epic f***up, too.

 

They are both doing EXACTLY the same thing, interestingly enough.

 

Add Chris Christie to that list too. Except he's slashing state funding to the cities to fund state mandated programs, and then trying to cap municipal tax hikes to pay for these programs that they are required to do but have no money to run.

 

I live in Trenton. He's eliminating "Capital City aid." Sounds like entitlement program for a poor city right? No, its the payments they make in lieu of property tax for the 20% of city office space that they own. So they will use Trenton resources, not pay the city for it, blowing a hole up from 12 million dollars to almost 60 million dollars. What does that mean? 50% police force lay off in a city that can't afford to lose a single officer.

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