Avon Lake Will Review Legislation Aimed at Asian Carp Invasion

Avon Lake’s Environmental Committee voted to move a draft ordinance that would address the Asian Carp issue to city council, most likely in the next few weeks.

The ordinance, presented by Council woman Jennifer Fenderbosch, chair of the city’s Environmental Committee, urges immediate action from the state of Ohio and the Federal government to eliminate “the threat of Bighead and Silver Carp, commonly known as Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes.”

“This was discussed by the Environmental Affairs Advisory Board and all but one voted for it to move to council,” Fenderbosch said at the Feb. 21 Environmental Committee meeting.

The ordinance suggests the city join Vermilion, who passed similar legislation in October of 2010, urging President Barack Obama and Ohio Gov. John Kasich in closing the locks in Illinois and putting in dam structures preventing any flow of water between Lake Michigan and associated waterways. This includes separation from Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, the Chicago River, the Illinois and Michigan Canal “or any other connecting water body.”

Fenderbosch said Asian Carp DNA has been found in Lake Erie.

“The concern is there is a $7 billion fishing industry in the Great Lakes,” she said. “They compete for the same fish. We could lose walleye, bass and perch.”

The Avon Lake ordinance also suggests considering a lift lock for recreational vessels similar to the Big Chute Marine Railway on the Trent Severn Waterway in Ontario; considering the use of limited Rotenone, a chemical deterrent to prevent fish organisms from entering the Great Lakes; and to educate the public to never use wild-caught baitfish in waters other than where they came from.

Fenderbosch said no scientists are against these actions, but noted some politicians are against the measure.

“No scientists that are against this legislation in the US, Canada or Great Lakes,” she said.

Politically, the issue has made gains and had setbacks. In November 2010 the Senate passed The Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act (S. 1421) supported by Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Avon), one of the bill’s co-sponsors.

On ­­­­Feb. 16, however, The U.S. House of Representatives rejected a proposal that would force the closure of Chicago-area shipping locks to prevent Asian Carp invasion. The house voted 292-137 against Michigan Rep. Dave Camp’s budget bill amendment that would have denied funding to the Army Corps of Engineers to open the two navigational structures.

The Bill’s opponents said the locks were necessary to commerce.

Councilman Dan Bucci, who sits on the committee with Fenderbosch, recommended moving the legislation to council for review but said he needed additional time to review the information.

 “I don’t know if closing the locks in Illinois is the thing to do; I have to do my research,” Bucci said.

Fenderbosch said she is hoping a representative from the Ohio Sea Grant program to address council members when the legislation is introduced.