Bad news (Virus on the great lakes coming to a lake near you!)

[Orlip]

For those of you that like to fish the big big pond Lake Superior please take a look at this thread in the Duluth forumsWe Don't need this and if you agree there is an online petition you can ad your name to here Petition I know there is more than just me that likes to go there.

It has to do with the shipping industry and the practice of dumping ballast water from the Ocean, Seas and Great Lakes into Lake Superior. So far we have a list of exotics that have been introduced because of that practice. Lamprey which just about wiped out the Lake Trout, Gobbies, Ruffies, Zebra Mussels and Spiny Water Flies. Now theres a new threat, Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia, a water born Ebola if you will.

For those of you who get the Outdoor news there is an article in there about this that explains it real well and also about how it can spread.

Thanks For your time.

[MuleShack]

Here is a response i got back from Norm Coleman....

Quote:

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Dear Muleshack:

Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding the threat of invasive species. I believe it is critical we protect Lake Superior from devastating, non-indigenous species.

You may be pleased to know that I am an original cosponsor of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Implementation Act (S.791). S.791 was introduced by Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) on March 7, 2007, and would authorize and implement many of the policy recommendations developed by the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration. Originating from an executive order by President Bush, the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration has made a number of recommendations to stop the introduction of new invasive species, restore wildlife habitat and wetlands, provide local governments with resources to upgrade their wastewater infrastructure, and create a program to address mercury pollution, as well as several other proposals.

S.791 takes several steps to halt the spread and introduction of invasive species to the Great Lakes . The legislation would authorize a comprehensive program to establish mandatory ballast water management, create a screening process for importations of live aquatic organisms, and provide funding for research, education and outreach programs. In order to confront the threat of Asian carp, the bill would direct the Army Corps of Engineers to improve and operate the dispersal barriers in the Chicago Ship & Sanitary Canal and would fully prohibit the importation and interstate transfer of live Asian carp.

Minnesota 's lakes, rivers and fishing are among the state's greatest treasures. We need to take action now to ensure that these natural resources will continue to be enjoyed by future generations.

Thank you once again for contacting me. I will continue to work to protect Minnesota 's natural resources. If I may be of further assistance to you in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me again.

Sincerely,

Norm Coleman

United States Senate

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