FMR's invasive carp barrier bill secures crucial first hearing
The invasive silver carp can leap high out of the water, posing a safety risk above the surface in addition to the ecological risk below. (Photo by Sam Stukel/USFWS)
FMR's bill to fund an invasive carp barrier in the Mississippi River will get its first legislative hearing this week.
The Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy committee will hear testimony on SF 2037 this week — helping to ensure a much-needed invasive carp barrier remains on the Legislature's radar in the weeks ahead.
Come to the Capitol to show your support
Attending the committee hearing is a good way for legislators to see how many people care about this issue (and based on our petition, we know it's a lot). We are encouraging River Guardians and other supporters to come show their enthusiasm for this bill! The meeting will be from 3-5 p.m. on Thursday, March 23, in room 1150 of the Minnesota Senate Building (95 University Ave. W, St. Paul).
Participating is easy — all you have to do is sit and observe the meeting. FMR staff will be there alongside you, and we'll provide stickers for you to wear to show your support. (The Senate does not allow signs or props.) There won't be speaking opportunities at this hearing.
Please contact Grassroots Organizing Coordinator Maddie Miller (mmiller@fmr.org, 651.222.2193 x31) with any questions.
Can't attend? Sign our petition and we'll share the list of signers with the committee members.
The growing list of bill endorsers now includes:
- Conservation Minnesota
- Fishing for All
- FM Walleyes Unlimited
- Friends of Pool 2
- Friends of the Mississippi River
- Izaak Walton League – Minnesota Division
- Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance
- Midwest Marina Association
- Minnesota Conservation Federation
- Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates
- Minnesota Trout Unlimited
- Mississippi Park Connection
- MN-FISH
- National Parks Conservation Association
- National Wildlife Federation
- Native Fish for Tomorrow
- Stop Carp Coalition
- Wild Rivers Conservancy
Previous 2023 updates
March 3: Invasive carp: Bill to build underwater barrier gains steam
Our bill to stop invasive carp from moving upstream into Minnesota is building momentum. The bill was introduced in both the House (HF 2389) and Senate (SF 2037) with a bipartisan list of co-authors. We appreciate Sen. John Hoffman and Rep. Peter Fischer's leadership as the lead authors on this important issue.
The bill would fund the design, construction and operation of a "state-of-the-art deterrent system" at Lock and Dam 5 in Winona, Minnesota. The system would include a continuous bubble wall coupled with an underwater noise system to deter invasive carp from passing through and moving up river. You can see an example of this type of system via this USFWS video. The legislation also includes funding for additional invasive carp management techniques and a native fish passage study.
When committee hearings for these bills are scheduled, we'll be asking our River Guardians to come fill the hearing rooms to show their support for this crucial bill.
This legislation has garnered a long list of supporters and endorsers, including:
- Conservation Minnesota
- Fishing for All
- FM Walleyes Unlimited
- Friends of Pool 2
- Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance
- Midwest Marina Association
- Minnesota Conservation Federation
- Minnesota Division of the Izaak Walton League
- Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates
- Minnesota Trout Unlimited
- Mississippi Park Connection
- National Parks Conservation Association
- National Wildlife Federation
- Native Fish for Tomorrow
- Stop Carp Coalition
- Wild Rivers Conservancy
We're also seeing a swell of support for action among River Guardians. Our petition urging decision-makers to act now to protect Minnesota's waters has garnered more than 570 signatures.
Feb. 20: Plan to protect MN's waters from invasive carp takes shape
Minnesota needs to act — sooner rather than later — to protect its waterways from ecologically destructive invasive carp. The outline of legislation to do just that is now coming into form.
A bill in the Minnesota Senate (currently in draft form) would provide $16.4 million to the Minnesota DNR to install a carp deterrent system at Lock and Dam 5 in the Mississippi River. This system would use sound and bubbles to deter carp from passing upstream through the lock. It's almost impossible for carp to bypass Lock and Dam 5 any other way.
Lock and Dam 5, located near Winona, Minnesota, represents a critical point in the effort to slow invasive carp's northward spread. An effective deterrent there would protect Lake Pepin, the St. Croix River watershed, the Minnesota River watershed and other treasured Minnesota waterways for decades to come.
In addition to this in-river deterrent, the bill would provide funding to the DNR for:
- Fish tracking technology
- Expanded fishing efforts to remove invasive carp
- Associated staffing costs to manage the agency's work
Two University of Minnesota projects to further improve invasive carp deterrence at Lock and Dam 5 would also receive funding. One project would develop recommendations for adjusting the dam's spillway gates to reduce the risk that carp could swim through the dam in high-water conditions. The second project would study the feasibility of installing a native fish passage system at the lock to enhance the health of native fish and mussel populations currently impeded by the dams on the river.
We appreciate Sen. John Hoffman for serving as this bill's lead author in the Senate, and Rep. Peter Fischer for his lead authorship in the House. Co-authors are pending.
Invasive carp can outcompete native fish populations and degrade the aquatic ecosystem. Their presence also negatively impacts both tourism and recreation economies. The legislation is gathering grassroots support from a diverse list of conservation organizations, along with organizations and industry associations dedicated to protecting Minnesota's economy for hunting, fishing, boating and other activities.
Read more about the impacts of invasive carp here.
We expect the bill to be formally introduced in the near future, followed by committee hearing dates. The hearings will be an opportunity for experts, stakeholders and other members of the public to testify in support of the bills. We'll share these dates as soon as we learn them.