EPA Sinks $5 Million to Combat Invasive Asian Carp Fish Species

Last week, reports surfaced about the overwhelming presence of the invasive Asian Carp fish in the Mississippi River as they made their way toward the Great Lakes basin. Today the EPA has signed off on 11 programs to combat such invasive species in the region.

The grants have been issued for initiatives to target aquatic and terrestrial invasive species in the Great Lakes region and will hopefully provide insight that will help prevent the rise of new invasive species. The grants were given to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), which has been involved in over 70 projects funded by the EPA since 2010.

The GLRI has benefitted many universities, preserves, and other environmental programs/measures who have received funding for various projects over the past four years. The 11 programs this year involve the following schools and programs:

Loyola University: The school will receive $500,000 to target invasive plants in the Lake Huron watershed.

Friends of the Forest Preserves: The program will receive $470,000 to control invasive plant species on Belle Isle in the Detroit River.

Huron Pines Resource Conservation and Development: The organization will receive $250,000 to continue its phragmite early detection/rapid response program.

Michigan Technological University: The school will receive $500,000 to prevent the spread of Eurasian watermilfoil (an invasive plant in Lake Huron and Lake Superior).

Michigan State University: The school will receive $500,000 to test a technique to trap the invasive aquatic sea lamprey species.

Ducks Unlimited: The organization will receive $500,000 to improve coastal marsh damaged by invasive cattails.

New York State Office of Parks: The system will receive $410,000 to create 15 invasive species prevention programs at unmonitored boat launches.

Paul Smith's College: The school will receive $500,000 to continue the Eastern Lake Ontario Headwaters Watercraft Inspector Program.

Lorain County, Ohio: The county will receive $500,000 to control invasive phragmites and restore damaged habitats in the Lake Erie watershed.

University of Toledo: The school will receive $500,000 to develop a technology to identify invasive mussels and insects in Great Lakes waters and sediments.

To read more about the problems posed by invasive species in the Great Lakes region, visit this EPA government webpage.