There was a meeting this past weekend of the governors of eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces that border the Great Lakes. The focus of the meeting was the threat to the Great Lakes that’s posed by Asian carp and other invasive species.
The states and provinces approved a10-page mutual aid pact. It includes agreements to alert other members when there’s an invasive species threat, how to request help, and to share research and expertise.
The states and provinces are most concerned about the threat posed by Asian carp. But they’re also looking to build a comprehensive watch list of non-native species that could make their way into the Great Lakes. The states did not resolve an impasse over whether a Chicago shipping canal should be physically sealed to ensure Asian carp cannot slip from the Mississippi River system into Lake Michigan.