The last time the Great Lakes states cooperated like this we ended up with Bud Selig as commissioner of Major League Baseball. So from the start we were wary of the unholy union between Ohio and Michigan, Wisconsin and Michigan, Minnesota and…well…Michigan. The group, along with New York and Indiana (and maybe Ontario), is petitioning the federal government to shut down connections between Chicago-area waterways and Lake Michigan to stop the spread of Asian carp.

The carp, an invasive species, which have been working their way through the Mississippi watershed since the 1990s and, via Chicago’s system of rivers and canals, seem poised to gain access to the Great Lakes. This would be an ecological nightmare.

The fish uproot vegetation from lakebeds and often outcompete native species, devastating populations. Combined with their girth (they can exceed 100 pounds) and propensity for leaping, they have the potential to wreak limnological and recreational havoc.

Given the magnitude of the problem, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has erected two electric barriers designed to keep the carp at an arm’s length from the lakes while preserving the use of the canals for cargo and sport.

However, carp DNA was recently found beyond the barriers, raising concerns among Michigan, et al. that not enough was being done to stop the march of these overgrown koi. Their petition, which sits before the U.S. Supreme Court, seeks the quarantine of the Chicago waterways from Lake Michigan to protect the entire Great Lakes system. Illinois maintains that closing the locks, which are used for recreational boating and cargo shipping, would damage the industry and is unnecessary.

Although it would be difficult to overstate the gravity of the situation, we believe the government should keep the locks open.

We acknowledge the potential consequences of allowing the fish to reach the Great Lakes, but not enough evidence exists to hit the panic button just yet. In the wake of the DNA findings and in conjunction with the shutdown of one of the electric barriers for maintenance, Illinois conducted a massive fish kill with the hope of rooting out the carp. The project yielded 90 tons of dead fish and cost $3 million dollars, but after state officials combed a 6-mile stretch of canal, they found only one offending carp. The total pales in comparison to the dozens of mobsters who surfaced during the operation.

Furthermore, the canal not only serves as a shipping conduit, but it is also opened to release water and prevent flooding during heavy rains. We’re all for messing with Bears fans, but this seems to be taking it a bit far, no?

The Great Lakes are a critical natural resource for all involved and it is important the entire region remain vigilant in their protection. However, not enough evidence has been accumulated to show the carp are on the verge of reaching Lake Michigan. Until further developments indicate otherwise, Illinois should be allowed to keep its waterways open.