By Illinois Radio Network/Cole Lauterbach

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois’ troublesome asian carp problem could be a bigger issue for the Great Lakes than originally thought.

A new study from the University of Michigan says Asian carp likely would be able to cross Lake Michigan and infiltrate other inland waterways and even the other great lakes. The thought originally was that Lake Michigan was too big, deep and devoid of food for the fish to make that swim.

“Previous studies suggest that suitable BHC habitat is limited to a few productive, nearshore areas,” the study read. “However, those studies did not consider the influence of BHC’s diet plasticity or the presence of spatially discrete subsurface prey resources.”

Robert Hirschfeld, water policy specialist with the Prairie Rivers Network, said people are underestimating the resourcefulness of these invasive fish.

“Carp are hearty,” he said. “We need to be focusing on prevention because, if they get through, there’s just no way to eradicate a species like carp.”

The Army Corps of Engineers approved a $778 million plan to put a number of different types of electric, sound and air barriers at Brandon Road in May, but Illinois officials are hesitant to spend their part on the construction for fear they would end up paying for the whole project when other states would benefit from it as well.

Hirschfeld says the Army Corps of Engineer’s plan is expensive but the cost to the commercial and recreational fishing industries in Lake Michigan would dwarf that price.

“That’s a drop in the bucket compared to what we’re talking about with these Great Lakes industries,” he said.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker joined governors in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in calling for more federal spending to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes chain.