CHICAGO -- An Illinois Federal Judge has heard opening arguments in a lawsuit brought by 5 Great Lakes states to stop Asian Carp from reaching Lake Michigan, and set a date in two weeks for the next hearing.
Judge Robert Dow Jr. has made it clear that he won’t be rushing into a decision. Michigan’s Assistant Attorney General Robert Reichel argued that Illinois is providing a “carp highway” to the Great Lakes, and the discovery of one of the fish in Lake Calumet, beyond the electronic barriers, was an biological tipping point. They want an injunction to seal the canal. Attorney’s for the Government say that closing the locks will impede national transportation, and could create a flood risk for residents.
Judge Dow set September 7th and 8th for the next hearings, when he wants to hear from experts on the issue.
