CHICAGO - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today released for public comment two draft Aquatic Pathway Assessment Reports for Swan River and Libby Branch of Swan River in Minnesota that evaluate key evidence to estimate the likelihood of an aquatic pathway forming and the possibility of aquatic nuisance species using it to reach the adjacent basin.
“Though the reports indicate both pathways have a low probability for movement of aquatic nuisance species, we remain vigilant in our task of aquatic nuisance species prevention and recommend the results from all of the pathway assessments, regardless of their overall viability rating, be evaluated and taken into consideration by the appropriate federal, state, or local resource agencies,” said U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) Program Manager Jack Drolet.
Comments will be accepted beginning September 25, 2012. The comment period will close 30 days later on October 25, 2012. Comments may be submitted electronically at www.glmris.anl.gov or mailed to GLMRIS Focus Area 2, Summary Report Comments, 1776 Niagara Street, Buffalo, NY 14207-3199. The reports will be available for download on the GLMRIS website at www.glmris.anl.gov.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host a stakeholder conference call Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 10 a.m. (Central) to answer questions regarding the Minnesota reports. Call-in information is USA Toll-Free: 877- 336-1839, USA Caller Paid/International Toll: 636-651-0008, Access Code: 8506361, Security Code: 0000.
The overall objective of the Focus Area 2 portion of GLMRIS is to produce an interim report for each potential aquatic pathway found between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins. These reports are the next step in a tiered approach to assess the probability associated with the spread of aquatic nuisance species between the basins.
Additional reports focusing on potential pathways in Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania will be released over the next few months, as they are completed.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will review and incorporate public input before finalizing and re-issuing the reports in winter 2012.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District 111 N. Canal, Ste. 600 Chicago, IL. 60606