More details to come … Townhall Meeting with Rep. Vern Ehlers Feb 22nd, 10:00-11:00 – Gerald Ford Museum Auditorium, Grand Rapids

By JOHN FLESHER, AP Environmental Writer The strategy released by the Obama administration this week agrees only to conduct a long-range study of that idea, which could take years. The government also refuses to shut down two navigational locks on Chicago waterways that could provide an easy pathway for the carp into the lakes, although it promises to consider opening them less often. More on woodtv.com >>

From the press office of Governor Granholm … Governor grateful for Obama administration efforts, but restates call for closing locks LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said that a proposal unveiled by the White House falls short of protecting the Great Lakes from the threat posed by Asian carp and continued her call for the locks in Illinois to be closed to protect the ecosystem and the $9 billion boating and $7 billion sport and commercial fishing industries that support the regional economy.

From the Chicago Breaking News Center WASHINGTON — After a White House meeting christened the “carp summit,” federal and state officials today announced a multi-pronged attack with a $78.5 million price tag to prevent Asian carp, an invasive species, from establishing populations in Lake Michigan. Nancy Sutley, the president’s top environmental adviser, led the meeting at the request of the governors of Michigan and Wisconsin, who were on hand. Gov. Pat Quinn of Illinois was scheduled to attend, but cancelled his travel plans because of the winter weather and planned to take part by teleconference, said Marlena Jentz, a spokeswoman....

Late last week, Dr. Bryan Burroughs sent out an email to the Michigan TU Council detailing what steps TU was taking to address Asian Carp issue. Here’s his letter …

Various movements in government are in motion regarding the Asian carp … Asian carp summit could be held in February Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Rep. Dave Camp introduced legislation to close routes into Lake Michigan

This just in from the Chicago Tribune … “The DNA of Asian carp has been found in Lake Michigan for the first time, researchers said Tuesday, igniting a new round of calls for urgent action and renewed criticism of Illinois and the federal government for allowing the voracious carp to migrate up the state’s waterways.” Army Corp report Asian Carp Rapid Response site

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to order immediate closure of shipping locks near Chicago to prevent Asian carp from infesting the Great Lakes. The court rejected a request by Michigan for a preliminary injunction to close the locks temporarily while a long-term solution is sought to the threatened invasion by the ravenous fish. The one-sentence ruling didn’t explain the court’s reasoning. More on woodtv.com >>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Michigan Trout Unlimited urges the U.S. Supreme Court to rule in favor of the State of Michigan’s (and Wisconsin’s, Minnesota’s, Ohio’s, New York’s and Ontario’s) request for preliminary injunctive relief to protect the Great Lakes’ coldwater trout fisheries from the Asian Carp (bighead and silver carp). Contrary to arguments made by State of Illinois and the Obama Administration in response to Michigan’s legal action, the threat posed by Asian Carps to the Great Lakes economy and its coldwater trout fisheries is real and grave.  In fact, the opinion of the U.S EPA is that, “Asian Carp are...