Dam Funding Cut Could Allow Spread Of Asian Carp
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- A Minnesota House committee has eliminated funding to rebuild a dam that officials say is the best option for stopping the spread of invasive Asian carp into many of the state's northern lakes.
The House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday removed $16 million in improvements to the Coon Rapids Dam from the state bonding bill.
Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Landwehr says that if funding isn't restored, the state could lose its best window of opportunity for stopping the spread of Asian carp up the Mississippi River.
Without the upgrades to the dam, DNR officials say there will be no physical barrier to Asian carp migrating up the Mississippi into some of Minnesota's most popular lakes, upsetting the food chain and harming native fish and mussel populations.
(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
