NeWS & NoteS
Threat of Asian Carp in Great Lakes stirs debate Asian Carp have been moving up the Mississippi River system for decades. Currently, there are electric barriers on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to prevent the fish from migrating into Lake Michigan. No carp – dead or alive – have been found north of the barriers in Romeoville, Ill., but recently traces of carp DNA were found between the barriers and Lake Michigan. This discovery prompted some groups to call for closing of the shipping locks connecting the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River system, which would stop all barge shipments between the two waterways and deal a devastating blow to the already struggling regional economies. Known for their voracious appetites, Asian Carp were originally brought to the U.S. in the 1970s to help prevent algae buildup. There is concern the carp would overrun native species if they reach Lake Michigan, disrupting the fishing industry. Michigan’s attorney general filed a lawsuit in December against Illinois and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to immediately and temporarily close the canal. The U.S. Supreme Court denied the request to take immediate action in January. Federal legislation is also being proposed to close the locks. The canal moves millions of tons of cargo each year. Between 1990 and 2009, the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor handled 439 barges that moved through the Chicago-area locks, with a business revenue impact of more than $351 million. The American Waterway Operators and Waterways Council Inc. released a statement in January that said, “The regional economy would be devastated if the Chicago-area locks were closed. Millions of tons of critical commodities, such as coal for utilities, petroleum for heating homes and fueling vehicles and airplanes, and road salt, currently move through the Chicago-area locks, and thousands of American jobs depend on regional waterborne commerce. Closing the locks will also strike a blow to regional air quality because commodities will be shifted onto trucks and rail, which are much less fuel-efficient than barge transportation.” Built in 1900, the canal was meant to prevent pollution in Lake Michigan by reversing the flow of the Chicago River. It was named a “Monument of the Millennium” by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2001. Experts have stated that closing the canal could cause regional flooding in Chicago and northwest Indiana. Steve Fisher, executive director for the American Great Lakes Ports Assoc., sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers voicing strong opposition to the closure of Chicago’s navigation infrastructure because of its importance to regional economies. He also pointed out there are four other non-navigable waterways connecting to Lake Michigan that are not regulated. “While non-native carp present a unique challenge to resource managers, we urge the federal government to resist the hysteria surrounding this issue and move cautiously and thoughtfully to address this problem,” Fisher said. “Construction of electronic barriers on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal are an important effort to protect the Great Lakes. We urge the Corps to prioritize and fund additional solutions that protect the Great Lakes while also maintaining navigation.”
Between 1990 and 2009, 439 barges moving to or from the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor went through the Chicago-area locks.
Ports employees celebrate milestones
Four Ports of Indiana employees reached significant anniversaries with the company in 2009. Brian Seig, operations manager at the Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville, started at the company in 1989. Regina Alexander, Executive Assistant, celebrated 10 years. Randy Kennedy, operations manager at the Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon, and Bonnie Underwood, administrative assistant at the Jeffersonville port, each marked five years.
Brian Seig 20 years
Regina Alexander 10 years
Randy Kennedy Bonnie Underwood 5 years 5 years
Markland Lock reopening scheduled for March
According the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the main chamber at Markland Locks and Dam on the Ohio River will reopen in March if repairs continue on course. Located near Louisville, Ky., the lock has been closed since Sept. 27 when a gate collapsed. Since then, the 600-foot auxiliary lock, which is half the size of the main chamber, has been handling all river traffic. Approximately 1,200 vessels have moved through the locks since its closure. “A lot of progress has been made and commerce continues to move on the river,” said Gene Dowell, the locks and dam operations manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Louisville District. “The entire team has been working really hard to ensure the auxiliary lock stays open and to repair the gate leaves.” The Markland Board of Investigation found the lock failure was caused by a valve malfunction that allowed water to flow into the lock chamber while the gates were closing. The gates were not completely sealed and differences in water pressure forced the gates past the closed position, which ultimately caused the failure. Since the gate leaves were damaged in the failure, the Corps says welders and repair crews have worked two 10-hour shifts 13 of every 14 days to complete the structural repairs. “If the river continues to run low, we plan to finish the work, rehang the gates and return the lock chamber to service by March 1,” said Louisville District Commander Col. Keith Landry. www.portsofindiana.com · Winter 2010 5