Congress OKs closing Minneapolis lock to slow invasive carp

[h2ofwlr]

Associated Press
Posted: 05/22/2014 12:01:00 AM CDT | Updated: about 12 hours ago

WASHINGTON -- A lock in downtown Minneapolis will be closed to prevent invasive carp from spreading upstream thanks to a provision in a massive water projects bill approved by Congress and headed to the White House.

The Upper St. Anthony Falls lock on the Mississippi River will be closed to stop the fish. The lock and dam have long been viewed as a good choke point. Minnesota lawmakers worked to have the provision included in the larger Water Resources Reform and Development Act. The bill cleared the Senate by a vote of 91-7 on Thursday after passing the House on Tuesday.

Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar says closing the lock will help stop invasive carp. She says they are a major threat to Minnesota's waterways and says they hurt fishing and recreation industries.