The Midwest is under attack by invasive carp, a species that has infested almost every waterway in the region. These fish are not only obnoxious invaders, but they also overwhelm other fish species, muddy clear waters, and even jump out of the water when startled. Recreational boaters have suffered broken arms and jaws due to the frenzy created by these 25-pound lunkers. The Great Lakes have been spared so far, but the carp could still find a way in through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. The Army Corps of Engineers is spending $1.2 billion to build a barrier at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam to stop the carp from getting to the lakes. Experts say that keeping the fish out is worth the price, as the cost of failure is much higher. The Brandon Road Interbasin Project will be the Great Lakes’ last line of defense, using a variety of technologies to inflict sufficient discomfort on the advancing carp. The invasive carp were deliberately introduced into the United States in the early 1960s, first as a sport fish and then as a solution to an environmental problem. However, they soon wreaked havoc on the waterways and native species. These fish are the pig of the fish world, rooting around in a weed bed and destroying it as habitat for other fish.
The battle to construct a $1.2 billion fish barrier to protect the Columbia River Estuary has been officially unveiled. In an announcement made by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) on February 15, 2021, the ambitious undertaking includes a series of complex engineering and habitat restoration projects that promise to help protect the region’s threatened fish populations.
The ODFW project, called the Columbia River Estuary Fish Barrier Mitigation (CRFM), was established to remove existing barriers to fish migration and create optimal habitat for threatened fish populations in the estuary. As part of the project, a total of $1.2 billion will be spent on new fish ladders, habitat restoration, dam structure upgrades and an innovative fish tracking system. The ladders will enable migrating fish to pass through man-made barriers between the estuary and the upper Cascade and Willamette River systems.
The ambitious project is being undertaken in partnership with federal and state agencies, non-profit organizations, tribes, businesses and local governments. The initial phase of the project involves the construction of a number of fish ladders and fish passes that will enable salmon and steelhead to travel upriver unimpeded. It also involves the restoration or replacement of existing fish passage infrastructure such as fish screens and fish flumes.
The second phase of the project includes enhancing existing habitats and building new ones in the estuary so that the fish populations can prosper and grow. This involves creating suitable stream channels and restoring or improving spawning and rearing habitats, as well as establishing sanctuaries for juvenile fish to safely navigate downstream. Finally, the project is also including the installation of thermal and flow control devices to mitigate the effects of climate change.
The Columbia River Estuary is home to many endangered and threatened species of fish, including Chinook salmon, steelhead, white sturgeon, and Coho salmon. The construction of the fish barrier is intended to ensure the protection of this sensitive habitat and to enhance the health of the fish populations that rely on it. If successful, the project will serve as a model for other waterways around the world and provide a valuable learning opportunity for future conservation efforts.
