Illinois acquires land for for a multi-state, $1.15 billion effort to keep invasive carp of Great Lakes

Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Illinois last week took possession of the Will County property, which includes riverbed access for the Brandon Road lock, at no cost from Midwest Generation LLC after Republican President Donald Trump confirmed his administration will follow through on the federal financial commitment to the project made by Democratic former President Joe Biden.

"Millions of people in the Great Lakes region rely on its ecosystem for their livelihoods and protecting it has been a top priority since I took office. After receiving the necessary assurances from the federal government, my administration acted quickly and formally acquired the land needed for construction," Pritzker said.

The project will deploy a complex series of invasive carp and aquatic nuisance deterrents at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam on the Des Plaines River near Joliet, Illinois, which is a critical pinch point for stopping invasive carp from moving through the Chicago Area Waterway System and into the Great Lakes.

"Invasive carp poses a real economic and environmental threat to one of our region’s most valuable resources, the Great Lakes," said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. "Acquiring this land will allow the project to move forward and ensure our Great Lakes are protected for generations to come."

Last year, Illinois committed $50 million and Michigan $64 million to unlock $274 million in federal funds included in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the first of three phases of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project.

Trump put that money, and other federal funding earmarked for Illinois, on hold shortly after taking office Jan. 20 — an action Pritzker believes is illegal.

But Trump then issued a May 9 presidential memorandum recommitting the federal government to protecting the Great Lakes from invasive species and directing federal agency leaders to get the Brandon Road Interbasin Project going with "maximum speed and efficiency."

"This threat affects every state that borders the Great Lakes: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Curbing this threat requires immediate and effective deployment of resources, infrastructure and expertise," Trump said.

Invasive carp, notably bighead, silver and black carp, have the potential to outcompete other Great Lakes fish species, resulting in fewer fish like lake whitefish, perch and walleye. If invasive carp were to enter and colonize in the Great Lakes basin, inland rivers and lakes also would be vulnerable.

Silver carp in particular are known for leaping through the air and injuring boaters in the Illinois River and other locations where they are present. In many cases, boaters cease to enjoy waters that are infested with silver carp, and fishing opportunities are greatly reduced.

Invasive carp generally is edible and typically sold as "Copi."