Chicago canal to close for Asian carp effort

[Lee Borgersen]

Chicago canal to close for Asian carp effort

 - The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal will be periodically closed over four days in October to allow underwater electric structures designed to stop the spread of the Asian carp to be installed.

The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee says the closures will be from Oct. 4 to Oct. 8. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is to install underwater structures that will limit the spread of electric current from barriers that are already in place.

The U.S. Coast Guard is to enact a safety zone on the canal. No traffic will be allowed on the canal when it is closed. Officials say they expect that to be every morning and afternoon and possibly once or twice overnight.

Asian carp can weigh up to 100 pounds and biologists fear is they get into the Great Lakes they can destroy the fishing industry.