Major Goals and Objectives

• Determine the effectiveness of the current electric barriers and proposed carbon dioxide barriers in the Chicago Area Waterway System at deterring the passage of invertebrate species from a wide range of taxonomic groups
• Determine whether different voltages and frequencies of electricity affect the effectiveness of the electric barriers in the Chicago Area Waterway System at deterring species passage
• Determine whether different concentrations of carbon dioxide affect the effectiveness of proposed carbon dioxide barriers in the Chicago Area Waterway System at deterring species passage.

Accomplishments / Benefits

Story: https://iiseagrant.org/research-copic-egly-ais-barriers/

Publication: Development and First Tests of a Lab-Scale Electric Field for Investigating Potential Effects of Electric Barriers on Aquatic Invasive Invertebrates 

Story: https://iiseagrant.org/invasive-carp-barriers-may-not-slow-down-invertebrates-moving-between-chicago-waterways/

Story: https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2023/01/electric-barrier-to-keep-silver-bighead-carp-from-great-lakes-allows-in-other-invaders-study-says.html

Video: Effect of electric & carbon dioxide barriers on AIS passage through Chicago Area Waterways