A presidential memorandum protecting the Great Lakes from invasive carp has garnered praised from Michigan’s governor.

President Donald Trump signed a memorandum Friday, May 9, directing his administration to prioritize the Brandon Road Interbasin Project, which is meant to keep invasive carp out of the Great Lakes.

“After years of advocacy, state funding and good old-fashioned teamwork, the president took a huge step today and announced that his administration is going to continue to help us build this project,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a video published to social media.

The project, approved in 2020, is a cooperative effort between Michigan, Illinois and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It will be located near Joliet, Illinois, and act as a “pinch point” to deter invasive species of carp from entering the Great Lakes, according to a press release.

The invasive carp, also called Asian carp, threaten other fish for food and habitat, reducing numbers of whitefish, perch and walleye, while also menacing inland lakes and rivers if they were to colonize the Great Lakes basin. Elected officials and advocates have long worried the invaders could devastate the Great Lakes fishery, valued at $7 billion annually.

Silver carp, a type of Asian carp, can consume up to 40% of their weight per day and reach up to 60 pounds. They would be likely to populate near shore areas and large rivers, which could reduce sport and commercial fishing opportunities, according the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Trump’s memorandum sets a deadline for July 1 for Illinois to acquire land to begin construction, as well as instructs involved federal agencies to streamline their permitting and environmental review processes. It also instructs the Environmental Protection Agency to prioritize removal of carp currently in Illinois waterways.

“It’s a huge, huge deal for Michiganders and millions of people in our country who rely on the Great Lakes for their water and their work,” Whitmer said. “…We’re proving once again that Michigan wins because we show up. We talk to anyone, and we work together to get things done.”