Native Species Must be Protected
A century ago, the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal was hailed as an engineering masterpiece. Built to carry sewage and ships, the canal created an artificial connection between the Great Lakes basin and the Mississippi River Valley – two ecosystems that evolved separately for millennia. Today the canal has become a superhighway that allows plants and animals from one ecosystem to invade the other. Several species of invasive carp threaten to devastate the Great Lakes and inflict irreversible damage on sport fisheries, wildlife, regional economies, and the people that rely on them.
Problem: Invasive Species
If invasive carp invade the Great Lakes, they could devastate the region’s $7 billion fishing industry and permanently alter how recreational boaters, anglers, and tourists use and enjoy the lakes and their many tributaries.
Solution: Restoring The Natural Divide
Connecting the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River system seemed like a good idea at the time. By digging the canal, the State of Illinois caused the Chicago River to reverse direction, allowing Lake Michigan to serve as a giant toilet tank flushing sewage into the Illinois River and on to the Mississippi River. Prairie Rivers Network advocates for the permanent closure of the connection between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River basin to prevent invasions in either direction via the canals. Key actions that we are working on include:
- Advocate for policies to prevent the transfer of any and all aquatic invasive species between water systems
- Defend and strengthen endangered species protections
River Health & Resiliency Priorities
Nature has...
Illinois has...
