Trump Administration Halts Efforts to Combat Invasive Carp in the Great Lakes
The Trump administration has halted work on the Brandon Road Interbasin Project, a key initiative aimed at preventing the spread of invasive carp in the Great Lakes. This decision drew criticism from Governor JB Pritzker, who labeled the move as an attack on Illinois’ and the nation’s fresh water resources. The suspension occurred on July 24 and prompted the Pritzker administration to urge the federal government to lift the stop-work order.
Pritzker expressed concern that this decision endangers clean water supplies and drinking water for the Great Lakes region and the entire country. The project focuses on building defenses against invasive carp at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam on the Des Plaines River. This has been a contentious issue between the state of Illinois and the federal government, carrying significant regional implications.
Efforts to control invasive carp have spanned decades, involving Illinois, Michigan, and federal agencies. These fish, particularly silver and bighead carp, threaten the ecosystem and industries in the Great Lakes. The project underscored the longstanding mistrust between Pritzker and Trump, which had already caused delays.
Illinois was informed of the recent suspension through site contractors, not federal officials. The state Department of Natural Resources has requested a meeting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which confirmed the stop-work order is part of an administrative review. The Corps’ spokesperson offered no further details.
Last year, Trump reaffirmed support for the project, simultaneously accusing Pritzker of impeding progress. The U.S. Department of the Interior also froze more than $13.6 million allocated for related mitigation projects. Pritzker’s administration argues that these delays jeopardize drinking water and the regional economy.
Invasive carp originated from China and were introduced to the U.S. in the 1960s to manage vegetation in aquaculture and sewage settings. They escaped into the Mississippi River basin in the 1980s and 1990s due to flooding and have since moved north towards the Great Lakes.
Silver and bighead carp are especially concerning because they lack natural predators in U.S. waters. Their unchecked growth and competitive nature can disrupt ecosystems significantly. As a response, the $1.15 billion Brandon Road project represents years of cooperative efforts to prevent these species from advancing towards the Great Lakes.
Experts identified the project site as a strategic choke point, with plans to use layered technology to prevent carp movement upstream. Current barriers, such as those near Romeoville, are unreliable. If the carp penetrate the Great Lakes, they could severely impact the quality of drinking water and the industries depending on this vital water source, impacting several states in the area.