The Corps of Engineers Problem
- Underfunding
Excerpts from a
letter from Charles M. Hess, Chief, Operations
Division, Navigation and Operations Branch, US
Army Corps of Engineers to Senator Robert Byrd -
25 September 2001
"With the
current budgetary restraints, the Corps is
challenged to continue business as usual, and,
must balance operational flexibility in the
navigation projects with several other
missions needs. One impact of limited
resources is a growing maintenance backlog, which
is in excess of $800 million. The inland
waterways infrastructure is experiencing more
than $350 million of this maintenance backlog
which impacts the locks and dams on the
Monongahela River.
Our Corps
districts are trying to find ways to keep our
projects functional within the constraints
imposed by the reduced funding and staff levels
in the field. They have assessed the operational
requirements and levels of service that must be
provided to ensure an efficient and effective
waterborne transportation system within the
constraints of a reduced budget."
The Waterways
Journal carried a good story on the problem
in their 23 September 2002 issue. See Waterways Funding Faces Numerous
Obstacles
Captain George Boyle's report on the
National Waterways Congressional visit day, March
2004
Recently we have
found other organizations are recognizing that
their problems with Corps of Engineers
maintenance of Navigation works are not just a
local problem, but are part of a national set of
priorities.
It would be nice
to be able to write of a national coalition
in support of a solution, but that has not yet
been organized. We are at present, however,
moving toward a conjunction of efforts.
This page provides
links to work of, and news about, other
organizations seeking to solve the Navigation
Problem.
These
organizations include:
Publications with
a direct interest in the crusade include:
Anchors Aweigh Magazine