Klobuchar authored a bipartisan provision recently signed into law that will help fight the spread of invasive carp by closing the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock within one year
Closing the Upper St. Anthony Falls will help prevent invasive carp reach world class fisheries connected to the Mississippi River; fishing and boating industries contribute around $4 billion to Minnesota’s economy each year
MINNEAPOLIS, MN –U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today was at the Mississippi Headwaters to highlight the need to take action to stop the spread of invasive carp. Klobuchar recently authored a bipartisan provision to close the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock within one year and help stop the spread of invasive carp.
“The Mississippi Headwaters are a pristine and irreplaceable Minnesota treasure that need to be protected and preserved,” said Klobuchar. “Closing the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock is an important step in that fight, and with Minnesota’s economy and outdoor heritage at stake we must continue to do everything we can to stop the further spread of this invasive species.”
Invasive carp are capable of eating between 20 and 120 percent of their body weight each day and outcompeting native fish. Closing the Upper St. Anthony Falls will help prevent invasive carp from reaching Mille Lacs Lake, Gull Lake, and other world class fisheries connected to the Mississippi River. Minnesota’s fishing and boating industries contribute around $4 billion to the state’s economy each year.
The provision was cosponsored by Senator Al Franken and Representatives Keith Ellison, Erik Paulsen, Tim Walz, and Rick Nolan. It is supported by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Audubon Minnesota, Minnesota Seasonal Recreational Property Owners, Anglers for Habitat, Clean Water Action, Minnesota Coalition of Lake Associations, National Wildlife Federation, Fish & Wildlife Legislative Alliance, Mississippi River Fund, Minnesota Division Izaak Walton League of America, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Minnesota Trout Unlimited, National Parks Conservation Association, and Friends of the Mississippi River.
###