CHICAGO — For many tourists, a trip to Chicago isn’t complete without seeing the city’s architectural landmarks from a cruise on the Chicago River.
Now the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says a “potential scenario” would close the river to boats as part of the fight against Asian carp.
No architectural cruises? No water taxis on the Chicago River?
The president of Shoreline Sightseeing, Chip Collopy, says he’s worried about the trial balloon floated a few days ago by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers which could involve closing the river to traffic while the locks are closed – as part of carp eradication efforts.
“The architectural tours are becoming sort of a must-do thing when you come to the city. And there’s a number of different companies that offer this. We would all be in real serious shape if we weren’t allowed to do business this summer.”
Shoreline Sightseeing has been in business since 1939.
“Seventy percent of our income comes in in eight weeks – the last week of June until Aug. 15. That’s when we make our living.
“If we were closed for half of that, what is that? Thirty-five percent that we would lose,” says Collopy
A spokeswoman for the Corps of Engineers says shutting down the river to navigation is just a “potential scenario” at this point.
Read the original article from WBBM News Radio.
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