In early April, the Minneapolis City Council unanimously asked for immediate action to limit the spread of Asian carp into streams and rivers in Minnesota. Specifically, the council asked two steps be taken:

1. Implement an ongoing monitoring and detection program to determine the extent of Asian carp breeding populations within the Mississippi, St. Croix and Minnesota Rivers.
2. Prevent movements of Asian carp populations into the upper Mississippi River by implementing strategies outlined in state and national plans to control Asian carp species and to develop additional effective behavioral or other methods to stop their spread.

Additionally, the council asked the state to establish an Asian Carps Task Force for the Mississippi River and work to formalize a plan with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to mitigate the impact of the potential spread of carp.

John Anfinson, chief of resource management for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area of the National Park Service, testified in support of the measure. "The Twin Cities are, in a way, a gatekeeper to the heart of Minnesota," Anfinson said. He warned that if Asian carp get past the Twin Cities, a wide area through central Minnesota could be affected.

Read more:

• MPR, “Minneapolis wants federal, state funding to prevent Asian carp invasion”,
• KSTP TV, “City of Minneapolis plans to block Asian carp from river”,
• City of Minneapolis, “Minneapolis moves to support state on Asian Carp”, and
• Star Tribune, “Invasive bighead carp snagged in St. Croix; it's bad but doesn't fly”.