[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 126 (Thursday, October 7, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S10689]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           DISPERSAL BARRIER

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I want to thank Senator Jeffords from 
Vermont for his recognition of the situation we are facing in the Great 
Lakes with Asian carp. We are currently trying to keep this invasive 
species out of the Great Lakes ecosystem by constructing a dispersal 
barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. It is very important 
that this barrier be completed soon before this destructive invasive 
species makes it way to the Lakes. I know that my colleague from 
Vermont has the same problem in Lake Champlain, and I plan to do 
everything I can in the next Congress to work with him to authorize and 
fund a dispersal barrier for Lake Champlain.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. Invasive species are a problem in Lake Champlain in my 
home State of Vermont. The Lake Champlain ecosystem and regional 
economy have been seriously impacted already by invasive species, many 
of which dispersed to the lake from the Hudson River by way of the 
Champlain Canal. Eurasian Milfoil and Water chestnut have rendered much 
of southern Lake Champlain unusable for recreation and stripped value 
from waterfront properties. Hundreds of thousands of dollars each year 
are spent to control these plants. The sea lamprey has devastated our 
sport fishery, and large amounts of money are being spent on control, 
with only mixed results. These are just a few species. Once here it is 
nearly impossible to eliminate these invaders and even marginally 
controlling them is hugely expensive.
  Other invasive species have not yet reached Lake Champlain but have 
spread widely throughout the Hudson and/or Great lakes drainages. We 
know they are coming and must act now to keep them out. These include 
fish like the Asian carp, Eurasian ruff, round goby, alewife and tench. 
Any one of these could change the Lake Champlain ecosystem in 
catastrophic ways, and each is moving toward the basin. Invertebrate 
species such as the spiny waterflea and fish hook flea, as well as 
aquatic plants are also of concern.
  Because of the success of the dispersal barrier in the Chicago 
Sanitary and Ship Canal, we are looking for a similar barrier for the 
Lake Champlain Canal to keep more invasive species out of Lake 
Champlain. A barrier will also protect the Hudson River drainage from 
invasive species that may arrive first from the north, like a 
particularly damaging fish, the tench.
  We must move quickly to complete design, and to construct a dispersal 
barrier in the Lake Champlain Canal. Time is of essence.
  Mr. VOINOVICH. I thank the Senator from Vermont and recognize that 
his State is facing similar problems and I pledge to work with him and 
the Environment and Public Works Committee to advance authorization for 
a Lake Champlain Canal dispersal barrier through both the Water 
Resources Development Act and the National Aquatic Invasive Species Act 
in the next Congress.
  Mr. LEVIN. I would like to join my colleagues in supporting the need 
for the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal dispersal barrier and pledge to 
work with my Great Lakes colleagues and Senator Jeffords to address the 
invasive species problems in Lake Champlain through the authorization 
of a dispersal barrier. I also am pleased to join my colleagues in our 
pledge to move the National Aquatic Invasive Species Act forward in the 
next Congress.

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