This petition is for the purpose of protecting and preventing America's Great Loop from closing.  As the most popuar, historic and longest waterway in America, recreational boaters are able to cruise 5,400 safe and scenic miles around the eastern portion of North America. The route includes the Atlantic and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways, the Great Lakes, the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, and the Inland Rivers and wateways of America's heartland.

As a result of Asian carp, an invasive species of fish now in the Chicago Sanitary and Shipping Canal, just a few miles from Lake Michigan. The Great Lakes Council of Governors has decided to pursue a "hard lock" closure and seperation of Lake Michigan and the Mississippi Basin. This "Asian carp prevention would not only prevent the Asian carp from making this passage into the Great Lakes, it will also prevent boats from passing from the Great Lakes into the Mississippi river - thus closing this historic and popular boating waterway.

This petition is NOT against a hard closure, but for the closure to include a "Marine Lift Lock" or "Marine Railway passage" so that boaters can cross this barrier, while the Asian carp can not.  Our petition therefore is to keep America's Great Loop open.

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