The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
(CHICAGO) — The Coast Guard announces temporary waterway restrictions for vessel traffic on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Oct. 19-21.
These vessel traffic restrictions are necessary to facilitate fish sampling by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in their efforts to prevent the passage of Asian carp into the Great Lakes.
These temporary restrictions to vessel traffic will allow the IDNR to safely gather essential data in support of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ electric fish barrier that was constructed to deter the environmentally harmful fish.
To support these actions, the U.S. Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. Vessel traffic will not be permitted to transit through the zone during periods of work. However, every effort will be made to allow vessels to transit when work is no longer taking place.
WHERE: Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal from the Lockport Lock and Dam to the fish barrier (mile marker 291-296.1).
WHEN: From 4 p.m. on Oct. 19 to 10 a.m. on Oct. 21, with the exception of a four-hour opening from noon to 4 p.m. on Oct. 20.
Questions regarding the waterway closure can be directed to U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan at 414-747-7182 or to U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Chicago at 630-986-2155. Questions on the construction project can be directed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at 312-846-5330.
