Comment: All can agree on this:
Asian carp not welcome in Michigan

On Monday, Gov. Jennifer Granholm, along with Govs. Jim Doyle of Wisconsin and Pat Quinn of Illinois, met with White House officials to discuss the problem of the invasive Asian carp and the potentially devastating effects they might have on the Great Lakes.

This meeting may or may not produce results to Michigan's liking. However, it is a good example of how states and political forces can work toward a common purpose: to protect our Great Lakes from destructive forces and preserve the ecosystem many of us depend on for our livelihood.

This coming together is not only happening in Washington D.C., but in Lansing as well. Republicans and Democrats alike have expressed concern and foreboding about the impact of this species on our state. This issue, unlike the state budget or Race to the Top, is one issue on which there is no debate. Legislators on both sides of the aisle recognize the danger these fish pose. A unity such as this is rare and should be taken advantage of.

I have been quite concerned about the impact of Asian Carp since it first became apparent that the species were a threat to the Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair, and industries that are dependant upon a healthy ecosystem. I love the water as many Michiganians do, and I fear that the introduction of these leaping four-foot fish will turn a relaxing day on the water into more of a contact sport for boaters.

If these carp invade Lake Michigan via the canal that connects its waters to the Mississippi River watershed, it would be devastating to our tourism and fishing industries. I am committed to pursuing whatever options are available to stop Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes. Even though the emergency injunction to close the locks was denied by the U.S. Supreme Court, I am hopeful that Attorney General Mike Cox's lawsuit eventually prevails to close the Chicago Sanitary Canal.

Wherever one's political allegiances lie, one thing is clear – as go the lakes, so goes our state. I will continue to fight for our lakes' protection so that the resource of our expansive waters may be available – carp free – for generations to come.

Rep. Bledsoe will host a Town Hall meeting on Asian Carp at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Rd., in Grosse Pointe Farms on Monday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. For more information, contact his office toll-free at (888) 254-5291 or via e-mail.

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