The president and GL governor’s meeting was this afternoon. The President announced an action plan – of which the details are currently unavailable. However, it appears that the plan will not take all necessary and prudent precautions. This meeting was on Monday afternoon – so little news about the outcomes are yet available. I’m pasting one message below – which was from Gov. Granholm’s press office at http://bit.ly/ctjfNH

Another news source available was at http://bit.ly/b1NIuY

No doubt many papers will release stories on this by morning – just thought I’d share what is available immediately (nothing was available on the White House website yet).

Bryan

I wanted to take a quick minute, prior to the weekend, to provide you with some new information on the Asian Carp issue. We don’t always take the time to communicate it – but we are spending time trying to affect positive results on it.

This week the MI Attorney General’s office filed a new motion to the Supreme Court, with the new and pertinent information concerning eDNA samples discovered in Lake Michigan (which was not provided by the Army Corp in a timely manner when the Supreme Court was making their original determination). Information on this new motion can be found at the AG’s website, and can be reached as well – through their website www.stopasiancarp.com which is linked to on our website www.michigantu.org. This represents a continued attempt to do everything within MI’s power to help stop the colonization of these fishes into the Great Lakes.

On Monday there will be a congressional meeting on this subject (remember Rep Camp and Senator Stabenow from MI have concurrent bills introduced, referred to as “the Carp Act”, that would force the US Army Corp of Engineers to take appropriate actions – which they have failed to do so far). There will be lots of great testimony given at the meeting – including MDNRE Director Humphries. TU Governmental Affairs staff will provide written testimony in support of the bills – and will be in attendance at these meetings. An action alert is being prepared as we speak, by TU Nat’l to be emailed to all members of TU – asking for them to voice their support for the Carp Act. This should be ready by early next week.

As many of you are aware, the situation with Asian Carp invading the Great Lakes has been frustrating, with Federal agencies and the Supreme Court failing to take action to prevent the colonization of these fish into the Great Lakes.  Today I am writing you to finally provide you with some encouraging news.

Yesterday, Senator Debbie Stabenow and Representative Camp both introduced a legislative bill, “the Carp Act”, that would force the US Army and federal agencies into action.  The bill makes mandatory, numerous actions that are wise and justified - but have not yet occurred.  They are actions necessary to stave off the unimaginable damage that Asian Carp will have on the ecology and economy of the Great Lakes.  We can be thankful for the leadership our delegates are having on such a difficult issue.

I am also asking that you take this opportunity to send your comments of support for this legislation to our congressional delegates - you can reference it as “the CARP ACT” (#CAM10024).  This bill is attached to this email for your review.  Thank you for taking the time to support this important effort.  From here on out we are all going to have to help work for more good news and progress on this issue.

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox has launched StopAsianCarp.com, an online petition enabling you, your friends and family members across the Great Lakes region to help convince federal and local authorities responsible for carp infested waters to close the locks connecting them with Lake Michigan, protecting the region's $7 billion fishing industry and over 800,000 Michigan jobs connected to the health of the Lakes. Will you sign the petition today at StopAsianCarp.com?