PERRY – Yesterday, experts and stakeholders from Northeast Ohio’s environmental, natural resources and angling community joined Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) in a roundtable discussion on the threats posed to Lake Erie by Asian carp and proposed efforts to prevent further harm by them. Participants included Ohio Environmental Council Water Resources Director Pete Bucher, Alliance for the Great Lakes Policy Director Crystal Davis, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Administrator of Fisheries Management Scott Hale, USGS Research Fisheries Biologist Patrick Kocovsky, US Army Corps of Engineers Biologist Richard Ruby, Ohio Lake Erie Commission Director Joy Mullinex, Lake Metroparks Executive Director Paul Palagyi, and Lake Erie Charter Boat Association Vice President Dave Spangler. 

“As a life-long resident of Northeast Ohio, swimming and fishing in Lake Erie as a kid are still some of my favorite memories,” said Dave. “But there’s a lot of work that needs to be done to ensure that both current and future generations have that same opportunity, especially when it comes to invasive species like Asian carp. The reality is that any threat to Lake Erie is also a threat to the drinking water supply for 11 million people, our tourism industry, and all the plants and animals that are a part of the lake’s ecosystem.  The input provided by experts and stakeholders from across Northeast Ohio during today’s roundtable will help me continue to lead the fight in Washington to protect and preserve Lake Erie and the national treasure that is the Great Lakes System.” 

“The Alliance for the Great Lakes appreciates Congressman Joyce’s leadership on protecting our Great Lakes from invasive Asian Carp,” said Crystal Davis, Policy Director for the Alliance for the Great Lakes. “We encourage the Great Lakes Congressional delegation to continue to show leadership on this issue by prioritizing the authorization of the Brandon Road project in the Water Resources Development Act.”

“We know from experience the devastating impacts of invasive species on the Great Lakes region,” said Pete Bucher, Water Resources Director for the Ohio Environmental Council. “Forward-thinking, science-based solutions like the Brandon Road Lock and Dam plan need to be immediately implemented to protect the ecological health of the Great Lakes ecosystem and our regional economy.”

Dave has long championed efforts to protect the Great Lakes and address the Asian carp threat through his role on the House Great Lakes Task Force and as the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies. Dave has successfully fought to ensure the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) receives appropriate funding every year since coming to Congress in 2013, some of which goes directly to combatting the threats posed by invasive species like Asian carp. In Fiscal Year 2019 alone, $21 million of GLRI funding was directed toward the prevention and control of Asian carp to help protect the $7 billion Great Lakes fishery. In July, Dave introduced the GLRI Act of 2019, which would reauthorize this vital program for another five years and increase its authorized funding from $300 million annually to $475 million annually by fiscal year 2026. 

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