JOLIET – Following a recent statement regarding the Trump Administration continuing to pause federal funding on the Brandon Road Interbasin Project, State Senator Rachel Ventura raised concerns regarding this decision, warning that delays would threaten both the health of the Great Lakes region and the economic vitality of Illinois communities.

“Invasive carp pose a very serious threat to our waterways and the communities that depend on them,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Joliet sits at the center of this effort. The Brandon Road project is a critical safeguard for Lake Michigan and the entire Great Lakes system, and delays in federal funding put years of work and collaboration at risk.”

Earlier this year, the federal government placed a review and funding pause on the project, delaying construction and leaving Illinois waiting for previously appropriated federal funds to move forward.

The Brandon Road Interbasin Project, located at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Joliet, aims to install technological deterrents like bubble curtains and acoustic barriers to prevent invasive carp from entering the Illinois River into Lake Michigan and the broader Great Lakes system. The lakes provide drinking water to more than 40 million people and support a massive regional economy tied to tourism, shipping, and recreation.

Illinois has already taken significant steps to keep the project moving forward while awaiting federal support. State officials have secured key land needed for construction and continued coordinating with regional partners and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prepare for the next phase of the project.

At the same time, several federal grants totaling more than $13 million for invasive carp removal efforts in Illinois waterways remain paused under federal review. These delays come despite ongoing state efforts to manage the invasive species. To date, Illinois-led removal efforts have taken nearly 78 million pounds of invasive carp out of regional waterways.

“Protecting our waterways is not just an environmental issue, it’s an economic and public health priority,” said Ventura. “Illinois communities should not be left waiting for resources that were already promised.”

Ventura will continue to fight for the release of federal funding to protect Illinois waterways.