A new report that called for reversing the flow of the Chicago River to curb the invasion of Asian Carp into the Great Lakes may have gained attention from top Illinois politicians, but experts are already raising concerns about the proposal, including its price tag.

The report, “Restoring the Natural Divide” -- produced by the Great Lakes Commission and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative -- calls for the reversal of the Chicago River and separation barriers between the Mississippi River Basins and Lake Michigan, which is estimated to cost up to $9.5 billion. But experts say more political and financial support is needed before the project can move forward.

Those involved with the study say it’s time to educate the public on the dangers of allowing the Asian carp population to grow and determine cost-effective ways to fund the endeavor, said David Ulrich, executive director of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative and an author of the study, which was released January 31.

“We fully understand that getting the broad, public support and financial support is going to be difficult,” said Ulrich.

But, he added, “We are still in the early stages.”

Most importantly, Ulrich said, Congress will have to be behind the effort to stop the Asian carp, which can grow up to 90 pounds each and disrupt natural ecosystems because of their voracious appetite.

Asian carp have already been found in the Illinois River, which connects to the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan.

“Congress is going to be critical--there’s no question about it,” Ulrich said.

“All of the states are going to have to say this is important enough to help fund it.”

When the report was released, it won initial support from top Illinois politicians, including Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Gov. Pat Quinn, and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.

Durbin said through a spokeswoman that he welcomes the recommendations in the report; and he’s hoping it will influence Congress to move quickly and pass the Stop Asian Carp Act of 2011, which he co-sponsored last March.

The Senate bill, along with its companion bill in the House, requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to create an action plan for barrier separation of the Mississippi River Basins from Lake Michigan. Durbin's bill does not consider reversing the Chicago River. Both bills are in committee and waiting approval.

Ulrich said his team is working closely with the Army Corps of Engineers to fast track their work to determine the best solution for the Chicago waterways. (Progress Illinois recently posted an interview with the USACE team currently tasked with protecting Lake Michigan from Asian carp.)

Neither Durbin’s office nor environmental policy experts could say when the Senate bill is expected to move forward.

Howard Learner, executive director of the Midwest-based Environmental Law and Policy Center, said coordination among local and national political offices, environmental groups, communities and business leaders  needs to happen as soon as possible to prevent the risk of “serious ecological and economical damage”, which could come as a result of the invasive species entering the Great Lakes.

However, “people can define ‘soon’ in different ways,” said Lerner, who served on the report’s advising committee.

But ultimately, funding will be the project’s largest hurdle, Ulrich said.

“Honestly, even though it’s expensive, it’s something that I think is within the realm of reason for a major infrastructure project,” he said, adding that the Great Lakes generate about $7 billion annually from tourism and sport fishing.

Learner said taking action may seem expensive to some, “but there is a high price tag for inaction.”

“There is no free lunch here,” he said.  “If we close our eyes and allow Asian carp and other invasive species to get into the Great Lakes, we let economical and ecological costs go up.”

Molly Flanagan, program officer at the Chicago-based Joyce Foundation, which helped fund the report, said there has been “a lot of positive support” since the report was released, but not everyone is sold on separating the Mississippi River Basins and Lake Michigan.

Companies that use barges for transportation on the waterways have been outspoken opponents to separating the basins because, they say, it will lead to higher costs and delayed shipments.

Learner said there are obvious costs to current users of the system.

“It won’t be as easy to move up and down the river system, and that’s understandable why companies may be concerned,” he said.

But the single largest commodity that moves along the local river system is coal, Learner said. With mounting pressure from the city and state to clean up local coal-fired power plants, there is some indication the Fisk and Crawford power plants might shut down.

The State Line Power Station plant at the Indiana and Illinois border said it plans to shut down sometime this year, Learner said.

“If (separation) happens, the single largest commodity shipped on barges—coal—will be reduced anyway,” Learner said.

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