Minn. asking feds to help stop spread of Asian carp

Several members of Minnesota's congressional delegation want the federal government to study the feasibility of closing the Upper St. Anthony Falls Dam in downtown Minneapolis as a way to stop the spread of Asian carp.

Their message comes as two types of Asian carp -- the silver and bighead -- were found last week in the Mississippi near Winona, Minn.

The ecological problems these invasive species cause is well documented, but so has been the carp's march north along the Mississippi.

Paul Labovitz, superintendent of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area joined The Daily Circuit Thursday and said he favors a physical barrier on the river as far south as Iowa to keep numbers low.

"We are all looking for a wide variety of management activities that will help us keep the population of these Asian carp species low while some scientific control methods are devised so that the populations don't explode and become what most people might be familiar with via a YouTube video of thousands of Silver Carp jumping out of the river at a boat," he said.

Video: CNN reporter hit by Asian carp

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