Toxic coal ash complicates Illinois plan to block invasive carp from reaching Great Lakes

A 50-acre land transfer in Chicago may not be enough to stop invasive Asian carp from reaching Lake Michigan, as Illinois struggles to secure and clean up additional coal ash-contaminated land needed for a billion-dollar fish barrier.

Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco reports for Grist.

In short:

• Illinois plans to build a $1.1 billion underwater barrier to stop invasive Asian carp from reaching Lake Michigan, but additional land needed for the project is contaminated with toxic coal ash from a defunct power plant.
• The contamination stems from Midwest Generation, which operated the coal plant and has limited access to the site until a deal is signed; meanwhile, officials worry taxpayers may bear the cleanup cost.
• Scientists suspect pollutants in Chicago-area water may be temporarily halting the carp’s progress, buying the state time but adding urgency to build the Brandon Road Interbasin Project before fish breach the divide.

Key quote:

“We are concerned that Illinois taxpayers are being asked to foot the bill for environmental remediation associated with construction of the Brandon Road project.”

— Office of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker

Why this matters:

Invasive carp pose a dire threat to the Great Lakes, home to one-fifth of the world’s surface freshwater and a backbone of the region’s multibillion-dollar fishing and recreation economy. These carp—originally imported to control algae in Southern fish farms—have overrun the Mississippi River Basin, disrupting native species and ecosystem balance. Their northward march now pauses just 40 miles from Lake Michigan, where coal ash pollution — ironically — may be repelling them. But this accidental barrier isn’t permanent. Coal ash, a toxic byproduct laced with arsenic and heavy metals, remains a long-term hazard for local water systems and public health. The situation underscores how industrial legacies can complicate modern environmental responses: Illinois must act swiftly to clean up and secure the polluted land for the Brandon Road project or risk irreversible ecological damage.

For more:

• Millions risk losing clean water as Great Lakes lab faces severe budget cuts
• U.S. job cuts threaten Great Lakes water safety, Canadian scientists warn
• Scientists urge Canada to address emerging water contaminants in the Great Lakes