Army Corps of Engineers releases the Eagle Marsh, Fort Wayne, Ind. Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Controls Report

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has released the Eagle Marsh Aquatic Nuisance Species Controls Report for public review and comment.  Eagle Marsh, which is located in Fort Wayne, Ind., has been identified as a potential pathway where ANS may spread between the Mississippi River and Great Lakes basins.  This potential pathway was identified in the report titled Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study Other Pathways Preliminary Risk Characterization released in 2010.

The purpose of the Eagle Marsh ANS Controls Report is to identify a permanent means to prevent the spread of Asian carp and other aquatic nuisance species across Eagle Marsh as efficiently and effectively as possible.  In the report, nine structural alternatives are compared and at least three were determined to have a "high" likelihood of preventing interbasin spread of ANS across Eagle Marsh.  A range of non-structural alternatives are also described that could complement any structural solution.

USACE actively coordinated with the Indiana DNR, U.S. Geological Survey, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. EPA, Council on Environmental Quality, Little River Wetlands Project, Maumee River Basin Commission, Allen County Soil and Water Conservation District and Allen County Surveyor's Office throughout development of the report.  Their contributions significantly improved the quality of the report and reflect significant interest and capabilities that may be applied toward long-term prevention of the spread of ANS across Eagle Marsh.

The report is available for download at www.glmris.anl.gov.  A 60-day public comment period begins on Nov. 16, 2012 and ends on Jan 14, 2013.  Comments may be submitted electronically at www.glmris.anl.gov or mailed to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District, ATTN: CELRL-PM-P Eagle Marsh Public Comments, P.O. Box 59, Louisville, KY 40201-0059.

The Army Corps of Engineers will hold a public meeting and question and answer panel on the report on Dec. 4, 2012 from 5-8 p.m. at the Allen County Main Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN 46802. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District Commander Col. Luke Leonard will provide Army oversight during the meeting. White House Council on Environmental Quality Mr. John Goss will moderate the events.

The public may connect to a webinar of the meeting on Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. at: https://www.webmeeting.att.com;
Meeting Number(s): 888-684-8852 or 215-446-0155;
ACCESS CODE: 3027302;
Audio Conference: USA Toll-Free: 888-684-8852; USA Caller Paid/International Toll: 215-446-0155;
ACCESS CODE: 3027302

For first-time users to the Web Meeting Service, download the client software. Web Meeting HELP and Software Downloads can be found at: https://www.webmeeting.att.com