Flood Could Push Carp Into Lake Michigan

Flooding in the Des Plaines river could wash invasive Asian carp into Lake Michigan. In a blog post on Weather Underground, meteorologist Jeff Masters said that the river was set to experience a record flood crest on Friday, likely providing a pathway for the fish to bypass the Des Plaines River barricade, a 13-mile-long concrete barrier designed to keep them out of the lake.

Environmentalists and scientists are concerned that the carp, an omnivore with a ravenous appetite, could establish a breeding population in the lake. A study published by a team from Notre Dame earlier this month suggested that invasive carp have already reached the Lake Michigan area, though they haven’t yet established a viable population.