Asian Carp: A Case Study in Aquatic Habitat Connectivity and Integrated Decision-Making

Dams and other man-made barriers have disconnected aquatic habitats with serious consequences for life history stages of aquatic organisms.  Consequently, there is a growing interest in removing barriers, especially where they no longer serve a useful function.  More recently, aquatic invasive species managers have advocated maintaining or even creating barriers in some situations to slow or prevent the dispersal of invasive species.  Whether the purpose is connection or disconnection, a variety of similar considerations enter into the decision-making process.  Either removing or creating barriers has the potential to alter flood heights and frequency, water chemistry, storm water and waste water uses, aesthetics, commercial navigation, and many other public uses of waterways .  Public acceptability hangs in the balance.  This presentation will discuss some of these considerations in the context of the current efforts to prevent the spread of Asian carp.