The protracted standoff between President Donald Trump and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker regarding the funding of a barrier system against invasive carp in the Great Lakes has been resolved. The Trump administration has assured to cover its part of the bill for the $1.2 billion project, as CBS News Chicago reports. Illinois can now proceed with the purchase of land necessary for the construction of a high-tech, carp-deterring facility near Joliet, Illinois.
Since February, there had been an impasse, but it seems to have broken after the federal government's commitment. "My Administration fully supports preventing the spread of invasive carp," the White House stated, pressing Illinois to expedite the property negotiations by July 1. The memo also indicated that the federal government will streamline permits and environmental reviews, ensuring an unobstructed path forward for the crucial environmental safeguard. This action, long-awaited by stakeholders, is an indication that protecting of Great Lakes, its $7 billion fishing industry, and the surrounding ecosystems against the Asian carp invasion is a shared priority.
CBS News Chicago outlines that the invasive carp, a non-native species, has been a concern since escaping into the Mississippi River four decades ago. Now, they threaten to disrupt the ecological balance and commercial fishery of the Great Lakes. The project at Brandon Road Lock and Dam involves a multi-faceted approach, incorporating bubble curtains, electrical fields, and sound frequencies to prevent the carp's migration into Lake Michigan.
Despite the early tension, Pritzker's administration was ready to finalize a property deal for the project until the Trump administration’s review of federal spending commitments caused delays. The governor expressed satisfaction with recent developments. "I'm hopeful everyone is taking this project seriously now and we're not going to see any more delays," Joel Brammeier, president and CEO of the nonpartisan Alliance for the Great Lakes, told Central Illinois Proud. The project's completion, set for 2032, will add a crucial layer of protection against the upstream swimmers.
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