Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee

Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee
Name	Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee
Formation	2009
Type	Interagency coordinating body
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois
Region served	Great Lakes Basin, Mississippi River Basin, United States
Leader title	Chair

Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee is an interagency body formed to address the invasion of silver carp, bighead carp, grass carp, and black carp in the United States's inland waters, coordinating responses among federal, state, and tribal partners to protect the Great Lakes, Mississippi River, and associated waterways. It convenes representatives from agencies such as the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency to align actions with statutes like the Lacey Act and directives from the Executive Office of the President. The committee integrates scientific input from institutions including the United States Geological Survey, the Smithsonian Institution, and university research centers to guide operational measures such as electric dispersal barriers and targeted harvests.

History and Establishment

The committee was established following sustained pressure from states in the Great Lakes Commission, members of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers compact, and congressional delegations from Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin after high-profile detections near the Chicago Area Waterway System and the Lockport Lock and Dam. Its creation drew on precedents in invasive species coordination like the Invasive Species Advisory Committee and built on interagency task forces convened after incidents at the Electric Dispersal Barrier installations operated by the USACE Chicago District. Legislative and administrative milestones influencing formation included hearings in the United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, actions by the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and grant programs administered via the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Mission and Objectives

The committee's mission emphasizes prevention of Asian carp establishment in the Great Lakes Basin, protection of native fishes such as walleye, lake trout, and lake whitefish, and safeguarding fisheries managed by entities including the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission. Objectives include coordinating implementation of control technologies piloted by the USGS and the USACE, facilitating emergency responses in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency when infrastructure failures or rapid spread occur, and aligning policy actions with statutes such as the Federal Power Act where relevant to barrier installation.

Organizational Structure and Membership

Membership comprises senior officials from federal agencies including the USFWS, NOAA Fisheries, EPA Region 5, and the USACE, alongside state natural resource directors from Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and representatives of tribal governments such as the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. The committee convenes working groups on topics linked to partners like the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the National Park Service, and academic partners like the University of Michigan, Purdue University, and University of Wisconsin-Madison for technical advice. Chairs and co-chairs rotate among participating agencies with liaison roles for congressional delegations from the Great Lakes congressional delegation and the Mississippi River Basin congressional caucus.

Programs and Initiatives

Key initiatives coordinated include deployment of electronic and acoustic deterrents developed in collaboration with NOAA Laboratories and USACE research facilities, coordinated removal and commercial harvest pilot programs involving companies regulated under the National Marine Fisheries Service and state fishery agencies, and public outreach campaigns with partners like the Sea Grant network and the Nature Conservancy. The committee also oversees pilot projects for novel controls such as pheromone disruption informed by labs at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and biocontrol feasibility studies coordinated with the United States Department of Agriculture.

Coordination with Federal, State, and Tribal Partners

Coordination mechanisms align operational activities with regulatory authorities including the United States Coast Guard for navigation safety, the Bureau of Indian Affairs for tribal engagement, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for ecological risk assessments. Memoranda of understanding with bodies such as the Great Lakes Commission and agreements with state governors and tribal councils enable joint emergency response protocols, resource sharing, and synchronized enforcement actions with agencies like the Department of the Interior and the Department of Justice when litigation or interstate disputes arise.

Research, Monitoring, and Data Sharing

The committee prioritizes integrated monitoring programs combining eDNA surveillance protocols standardized by the USGS National Aquatic Health Monitoring Program with electrofishing, hydroacoustic surveys, and telemetry studies conducted by universities such as Ohio State University and Michigan State University. Data platforms link partners including the Great Lakes Observing System, the Integrated Ocean Observing System, and state data repositories to enable real-time situational awareness used by managers at the Fish and Wildlife Service and regional offices of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Policy, Funding, and Management Actions

Policy actions coordinated through the committee include recommendations for appropriation requests to the Congress of the United States supporting the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and targeted congressional funding for barrier operations managed by the USACE. Management tools encompass adaptive frameworks influenced by the National Invasive Species Council's strategic plan, grant programs administered through the Fishery Resources Grant Program, and enforcement collaborations with the National Marine Fisheries Service and state conservation officers to implement harvest regulations and interdiction measures.

Category:Invasive species management