keep invasive carp out of the Great Lakes has become the latest political battle in the ongoing struggle between the Trump administration and the state of Illinois.

>> State officials say they can no longer count on the federal government to pony up the funds they committed to.

For the billion-dollar Brandon Road The Illinois Department of Natural Resources pressed pause on a groundbreaking that was set for today.

Patty, what Lee joins us now with more on this.

Patty, remind us what this project entails Yeah.

So a quick recap on invasive carp.

They've been slowly working their way up.

The Mississippi and right now the Chicago waterway system is kind of the only thing between the invasive carp.

>> And then getting into the Great Lakes.

>> Where they could easily out compete, our native fish, the fish, a car can get up to 100 pounds a 3rd of their way today.

>> Destroyed the ecosystems and take a long all of the money we make from boating and fishing with them.

So it's a huge concern and they've identified pinch point on the Des Plaines at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam where they're basically throw kitchen sink of tactics to keep these car at bay, whether it's bubble curtain acoustics, you name it.

That's the point where our best shot is at keeping these car from getting into the Great Lakes.

So that's what the project is.

Okay.

That's what the project is.

But tell us why the funding it's such a flashpoint and what has caused Illinois officials to be concerned about it.

Yet this funding funding for this project has always been an issue.

>> Because just because the carp have to get through Illinois to get into the Great Lakes, Governor Pritzker's always been adamant that that doesn't mean Illinois should pay the whole price for this.

And Michigan doesn't really think they should be paying for it either.

>> So they always wanted the feds to get involved, which they finally did.

They find the allocated some 274 million dollars.

But they have in recent weeks, you know, with held other funds that were supposed to come to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources over 100 million dollars in projects that the funds are now paused on.

So Eleanor officials a little bit nervous that the same could happen with this and again, doesn't want to put the state on the hook for this billion dollar project.

So groundbreaking was supposed to happen today.

Officials are like we're going to kind of wait and see how things play out.

Maybe we'll try this again in May.

Hopefully, yes, I'm sure like a point of frustration and concern for the folks who worked on this.

Yes, because I remember what a big deal it was when this was announced.

It's a scary thing.

If these car to get into the Great Lakes and people have wanted this project to happen for so long, the funding finally they're all the pieces finally in place.

And now just that nervousness again, is it or isn't it going to happen?

All right, Patty, what we I'm sure you'll keep an eye on how the rest of it plays out.

thanks.