Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Senator Bob Casey and a bipartisan group of 10 other senators are urging the US Army Corps of Engineers to aggressively work toward implementing short term measures, and finding a long term solution to stop the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes. Casey says fighting the invasive fish is important to the economy of Northwestern Pennsylvania, and getting this right will protect the region’s tourism industry and play a substantial role in future economic growth. He says Lake Erie’s coastal region supports more than 1.2 million Pennsylvania jobs and is an integral part of Pennsylvania’s economy. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Washington, DC- Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that he has sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) urging the agency to expedite the development of plan to combat Asian Carp in the Great Lakes. In a letter that was joined by 15 other senators, Casey urged the Army Corps to swiftly develop and implement a comprehensive plan to combat Asian Carp when the Corps releases its feasibility study on the transfer of invasive aquatic species between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins in January 2014. “Combatting Asian Carp is important to Northwestern Pennsylvania’s economy,” Senator Casey said. “The Army Corps should move as swiftly as possible to put in place a comprehensive, effective plan. Getting this right will protect the region’s tourism industry and play a substantial role in future economic growth.” The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today released a letter urging the Administration to take swifter action to prevent Asian carp from overtaking Lake Erie and rivers in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Asian carp are dangerously close to entering the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers and their tributaries, and samples taken this summer from Lake Erie have tested positive for Asian carp environmental DNA. “Preventing Asian carp from reaching Pennsylvania waters is a necessary and important step to protecting the fishing and boating industry, as well as the health of our rivers and lakes,” said Senator Casey. “The millions of people who fish and boat in Pennsylvania’s waters each year and depend on the industries for jobs and economic well-being deserve swift federal action to stop this invasive fish before it invades our waterways.” In his letter to White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Asian Carp Director John Goss, Senator Casey wrote that a decrease in native fish...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior urging the agency to quicken and strengthen its efforts to prevent Asian carp from wreaking havoc on the ecosystem of the Great Lakes and the jobs and economic footprint Lake Erie has on Northwest Pennsylvania. Senator Casey’s letter comes after the announcement that Asian carp DNA was recently discovered in samples taken from Lake Erie last year. “The discovery of Asian carp DNA in Lake Erie is a worrisome development and a strong call for action,” said Senator Casey. “To protect jobs and the economy of Northwest Pennsylvania, the Department of the Interior must step up its efforts to prevent a disastrous infestation of this invasive fish.” The coastal region of Lake Erie supports $1.2 million Pennsylvania jobs, Senator Casey wrote in his letter to Secretary Ken Salazar, and Pennsylvania’s fishing industry contributes $1.6 billion to the state’s economy annually. Senator Case...

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today joined Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) in introducing bipartisan legislation to prevent Asian carp and other invasive species from entering the Great Lakes and destroying the Lakes' ecosystem. The Stop Invasive Species Act would require the speedy creation of an action plan to block Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes through a number of rivers and tributaries across the Great Lakes region. “We need to act now to prevent Asian Carp from infiltrating Lake Erie and threatening the fishing and boating industries that rely on a healthy lake,” said Senator Casey. “This bill would expedite the creation of an aggressive plan to stop Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes at 18 points of entry and protect the communities along Lake Erie that depend on the lake for recreation and commerce.” The Stop Invasive Species Act requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to submit to Congress an expedited actio...

A federal study says Lake Erie and some rivers flowing into it would offer ideal habitat for Asian carp, the invasive species that could threaten the Great Lakes’ multi-billion dollar fishing and recreation industry. The U.S. Geological Survey says the Maumee, Sandusky and Grand rivers have temperatures and water flows suitable for spawning by silver and bighead carp. Both species that have been advancing toward the Great Lakes for years after escaping into the Mississippi River and its tributaries from southern fish farms and sewage lagoons. The study released today says there is reason to worry about the potential threat to Lake Erie. http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=3074 The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Twelve chambers of commerce from the Great Lakes region today sent a letter (see attached) to President Obama urging him to take immediate action to block the destructive Asian Carp from infiltrating the Great Lakes. The Honorable Barack Obama President of the United States The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: The economies of the American Midwest are under serious threat by Asian Carp. These invasive species are aggressively colonizing watersheds dangerously near the Great Lakes, risking an environmental and economic catastrophe. We collectively ask for your leadership and active and immediate federal engagement in this issue. While the threat is real and immediate, prompt action by the federal government could slow, or even prevent, calamity. Various solutions to address the Asian Carp issue have been proposed, including the closure of locks along the Chicago Area Waterways System. This proposed solution, while addressing the immediate problem of invasive spec...

Five states, including Pennsylvania, are suing the federal government and Chicago's water department, demanding stronger action to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota and Pennsylvania filed the lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court in northern Illinois. The lawsuit seeks an order to close Chicago shipping locks and gates that could provide a pathway to Lake Michigan for the voracious fish. The U.S. Supreme Court refused twice this year to order the locks closed. But state officials say the situation has become more urgent since a live Asian carp was found within a few miles of Lake Michigan last month. Asian Carp are a significant threat to the Great Lakes because they are large, extremely prolific, and consume vast amounts of food. They can weigh up to 100 pounds, and can grow to a length of more than four feet. They are well-suited to the climate of the Great Lakes region, which is similar to their native Asian habitats. "The spread o...