Why the US Army electrifies this water

The Chicago and Sanitary Ship Canal is the path that invasive carp would take to reach the Great Lakes. So to stop them, the US Army Corps of Engineers has installed an electric barrier. Although for obvious reasons, I didn't get to see it close up. [The interviewee is project manager Jeff Zuercher, whose name caption got missed out! Apologies, Jeff.]

Sources, apart from the interview and the team I talked to:

(you can find contact details and social links there too)

[onenof]

One interesting thing not mentioned: the local paramedics have been given a 'no rescue' order. If you foolishly go into or near the electrified water and become injured, no one will come save you. The risks to the rescue personnel are too high.

[maxsalmon]

I hope the carp don't figure out how to dig a tunnel past this. Those carpal tunnels can be wicked.

[takovata]

I find it ironic how the little plant behind Tom is an Ailanthus altissima (chinese tree of heaven) - an invasive species that is an entirely different problem of its own and how it isnt bothered by the huge facility for preventing IAS spread its growing on.

[mariem.]

This is such a funny example for how seemingly small mistakes sometimes require literally giant solutions

[TomScottGo]

One of the safety rules I had to follow while filming was "don't touch two different metal things at the same time", just in case of any stray voltage. That's how powerful the barrier is.

[KineticboyK]

If you said "Guess why you can't kayak from the Gulf of Mexico to the great lakes." none of my guesses would be "because of a deadly electric fish barrier."

[DaHoodedBandit]

I work at the refinery attached to this place and Its so cool to see someone I watch regularly on YouTube film where I work and make a video about things that actually directly impact me.

[SpawnofChaos]

Maybe they should add a locks system where barges stop in the middle and they pulse the water in that middle zone with extra voltage a few times to make sure even smaller fish are knocked out. The locks could also double as a maintenance system, allowing them to block off the waterway entirely when the electric barrier needs to be serviced.

[dracticarchive]

“US Army Electric Fish Barrier” is objectively incredibly funny and just seems like one of those web titles you’d see in Futurama as a headline for a news paper

[YTPEXPERT]

Tom has found the greatest niche. Interesting things are everywhere. I'm just glad someone interesting finds these interesting places

[kristopherdetar]

Well spoken man about this barrier. Enjoyed this presentation !

[Miz]

In just four months, this has become one of Tom's most popular videos. Good Job.

[Dalton_Boardman]

Loved how he explained how a fish could get knocked out and essentially wake up like someone would in a ditch after a bender.

[noanswer]

There's something magical about reading the words "US ARMY ELECTRIC FISH BARRIER" on a GUI, and also knowing that it's powerful enough for just standing near it to be at least mildly concerning for a human.

[ThatCoalSoul]

Tom really did show us all the world
...enjoy your break mate but your content deserves the label
...blod-ey brilliant!

[Thepersianpopinjay]

I think stories like this are such good examples of unintended consequences. Both the problem and it’s possible solutions come from long lists of potentially spiraling unintended consequences

[SofronPolitis]

For anyone interested, a similar barrier has been proposed for the Suez canal in Egypt, to prevent fish from the Indian Ocean come to the Mediterranean. This migration is apparently facilitated by rising sea temperatures, and invasive species are already making a dent on the fish of the great Med. Most of them are inedible too (or even toxic to humans) so this is also a potential economic disaster for millions of people.

[reddevilfan]

I'm loving this "Tom Scott tours the midwest" series!

[a.e.jabbour]

This was really fascinating! Thanks!

So many interesting stuff everywhere. Just need to learn about it. :)

[karlmcaidey]

This is one of the smartest thing I've seen since a long time, one idea that makes everyone happy