Groups study Great Lakes, Mississippi separation

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TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Two organizations have begun a study on how best to separate the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds to prevent invasive species such as Asian carp from migrating between them.

The study is sponsored by the Great Lakes Commission, which includes the region's eight states, and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative representing more than 70 mayors and other local officials.

They announced Tuesday that the study is underway now that they've reached their $2 million funding goal. The money is coming from a half-dozen private foundations. A team of engineers, biologists and other experts will do the technical work.

The two groups say their study should help the federal government reach a quicker decision about whether and how to separate the two watersheds.

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