River Coalition Fights Cutbacks At Upper Allegheny, Mon Locks

Anchors Aweigh
June 2002

It’s not looking good for recreational boaters, tow operators or any business that capitalizes on the Allegheny River for their livelihood if the 2003 budget for the Corps of Engineers is passed.

Commercial, but more so, recreational boaters, have already been forced to deal with the curtailed hours and poor conditions of the upper most locks on the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers. The situation can only get worse as the corps feels the crunch imposed by President Bush’s 2003 Budget.

To fight back, a group of recreational boaters and commercial interests formed the non-profit organization The River Navigation Coalitio (RNC), which represents commercial and recreational interests as they apply to the navigable infrastructure of our rivers.

The coalition is currently investigating every possible alternative — federal, state, city, and private resources — with the main objective being to keep the Allegheny and Mon rivers in the Headwaters District open for navigation. The goals of the collition are:

• Keep the locks and dams operational for commercial and recreational navigation,
• Promote economic growth pertaining to recreational and commercial navigation as it applies to communities bordering the rivers,
• Promote recreational boating and lobby for equal recognition in government funding,
• Maximize the hours of operation of the locks for all users.
• Promote commercial navigation by keeping the navigable channels open.

The coalition needs the help of fellow boaters. Annual membership dues is only $5 for and individual, and only $20 for a goup,

For more information, e-mail Capt. Mike Ferris at CaptMike41@aol.com, phone him at 412-855-6012, or send your check or money order to: The River Navigation Coalition, R.D.#1 Box 1981, Leechburg, PA 15656.