August 31, 2026.
Michigan DNR says it is working to understand why federal officials halted construction of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project.
Construction remains halted on the Brandon Road Interbasin Project, the major federal-state effort designed to prevent invasive carp from reaching the Great Lakes, as concerns grow over the discovery of hundreds of juvenile silver carp just 80 miles from Lake Michigan.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a stop-work order July 24, 2026, placing the project under what federal officials have described as an “administrative review.” No detailed explanation for the review has been publicly provided.
The $1.15 billion Brandon Road project is being constructed near Joliet, Illinois, at a critical point in the Illinois Waterway. The planned system uses multiple deterrents, including an electric barrier, underwater acoustic deterrents, an air-bubble curtain and other technologies designed to prevent invasive carp from moving farther upstream toward Lake Michigan.
Michigan DNR: State Still Seeking Answers.
Michigan officials, who have a direct interest in protecting the Great Lakes from invasive species, say they are still trying to determine why the federal government stopped the work.
“We are working to understand the reasons construction has been halted on the Brandon Road Interbasin Project for federal administrative review,” Michigan Department of Natural Resources spokesperson Ed Golder said in a statement reported by Michigan Public Radio (Michigan Public).
The statement is significant because Michigan is one of the non-federal partners involved in the project and has been involved in Brandon Road planning and design for years.
Michigan officials also emphasized the importance of the project's seasonal construction window.
Michigan Public reported that project partners had not received an explanation for the stoppage and that delays could reduce the amount of work accomplished during the construction season.
Juvenile Carp Found Just 80 Miles From Lake Michigan.
The work stoppage comes as wildlife officials reported a troubling development farther south.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources sampling crews recently captured approximately 700 juvenile silver carp in the Marseilles Pool of the Illinois River, about 80 miles from Lake Michigan.
The fish were approximately 4 to 6 inches long. According to Illinois officials, the discovery represents the farthest upstream detection of juvenile invasive carp of this size since intensive monitoring began in 2010.
The presence of juvenile fish is particularly concerning because it indicates that spawning has occurred in the area and could mean spawning took place even farther upstream.
Officials are conducting additional electrofishing and monitoring operations in the upper Illinois River and tributaries to determine the extent of the spawning activity.
Great Lakes Organizations Demand Restart.
The discovery has intensified calls for the federal government to allow construction at Brandon Road to resume.
On Aug. 26, the Alliance for the Great Lakes, Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition and other Great Lakes organizations called for construction to restart.
The groups warned that the combination of juvenile carp being detected farther upstream and the continuing construction stoppage represents an increasingly urgent threat to the Great Lakes.
The Alliance for the Great Lakes said the Brandon Road project represents a critical opportunity to stop invasive carp before they reach the Great Lakes, while Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition called the fish a serious threat to native fish populations and the regional economy.
Bipartisan Congressional Pressure.
Members of Congress from Great Lakes states have also called on the federal administration to lift the stop-work order.
In a July 31 letter, bipartisan co-chairs of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force urged federal officials to conclude the administrative review, release federal funds and allow construction to continue.
The lawmakers noted that the project has already undergone extensive federal and state review and that Congress has authorized and appropriated funding for the project.
They also warned that further delays could increase the risk to the Great Lakes ecosystem and the communities and industries that depend on it.
Why Brandon Road Matters to Michigan.
For Michigan, the stakes extend beyond the Illinois River.
The Great Lakes support Michigan's commercial and recreational fishing, boating, tourism and outdoor recreation industries while providing drinking water and habitat for thousands of species.
Michigan has been involved in efforts to prevent invasive carp from entering the Great Lakes for years. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has participated in Brandon Road design discussions and invasive-carp monitoring and response efforts.
The state's position is not that the project has been abandoned. Rather, the Michigan DNR says it is trying to understand why construction was halted during the federal administrative review.
No Restart Date Announced.
As of August 31, there is no publicly announced date for construction to resume.
That leaves contractors, state officials and Great Lakes advocates waiting for the federal government to complete its review and explain what prompted the latest stoppage.
The timing has become increasingly important following the discovery of juvenile silver carp farther upstream than previously documented.
For Michigan and the other Great Lakes states, the concern is straightforward: the closer invasive carp move toward Lake Michigan, the less time remains to complete measures intended to stop them before they reach the Great Lakes.
The Sault Tribe Guardian will continue to follow the Brandon Road project, the federal administrative review and developments involving invasive carp in the Illinois Waterway and Great Lakes region.
