Water Act Will Protect Lakes from Invasive Species

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This commentary is authored by Dereth Glance, Executive Program Director for Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

Albany, NY – Environmentalists and Great Lakes enthusiasts across New York and around the entire Great Lakes Basin applauded the congressional override of President Bush’s veto on the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The overwhelming vote to override—far more than the two thirds necessary—demonstrated Congress’ commitment to supporting water needs.

 The bill includes authorization for $25 million dollars in Great Lakes restoration spending with provisions for fully funding the Asian Carp barrier, a physical barrier to keep the destructive invasive carp out of the Great Lakes. The Asian Carp is one of roughly 186 invasive species that have taken hold in the Basin. A large and voracious eater, the Carp threatens the delicate food chain of the lakes system. 

This commentary is authored by Dereth Glance, Executive Program Director for Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

 

 

Albany, NY – Environmentalists and Great Lakes enthusiasts across New York and around the entire Great Lakes Basin applauded the congressional override of President Bush’s veto on the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The overwhelming vote to override—far more than the two thirds necessary—demonstrated Congress’ commitment to supporting water needs.

The bill includes authorization for $25 million dollars in Great Lakes restoration spending with provisions for fully funding the Asian Carp barrier, a physical barrier to keep the destructive invasive carp out of the Great Lakes. The Asian Carp is one of roughly 186 invasive species that have taken hold in the Basin. A large and voracious eater, the Carp threatens the delicate food chain of the lakes system. 

In addition to celebrating the legislation, New York environmental organizations announced the release of a short video created by Citizens Campaign for the Environment focusing on the impacts of aquatic invasive species in New York. 

“This is a great day for Great Lakes restoration,” said Dereth Glance, Executive Program Director for Citizens Campaign for the Environment.  “If allowed to enter the Great Lakes, Asian carp would decimate native fisheries and threaten to turn the Great Lakes into a giant carp pond, collapsing the $4.5 billion recreational Great Lakes fishery,” concluded Glance.

“Aquatic Invasive Species pose a serious threat to the birds, other wildlife, and the economy of the Great Lakes region, and strong federal action is needed to address their spread. WRDA provides important resources to restore and protect the Great Lakes as well as other important waterbodies across the state, and we commend Congress for their leadership on this important legislation,” said Albert E. Caccese, Executive Director of Audubon New York, the 50,000 member state program of the National Audubon Society.

Organizations across the state praised congress for their action on WRDA while renewing their call for further action to address invasive species.

"The override is a fantastic show of the federal commitment to the health of our Great Lakes, as well as water needs across the country,” said Katherine Nadeau of Environmental Advocates of New York. "We support the Act and call on Congress to now pass strict national ballast water regulations that will protect our waters, particularly Lakes Erie and Ontario"

In total, the Water Resources Development Act authorizes $23 billion in funding for navigation and flood protection, and $6 billion in ecosystem restoration. This is the first veto override of the Bush presidency and only the 106th in U.S. history. The law authorizes funding for the projects, and the funding must be approved in the 2009 appropriations process.

For more information and to see the video: www.citizenscampaign.org/media/pr_110907.htm