Monongahela River Recreational Users, Corps of Engineers Discuss Water Quality

The groups discussed ways to improve the quality of the river.

The State Journal
27 September 2010
By Mike Krafcik

MORGANTOWN -- A panel of water quality experts along with the Pittsburgh District Corps of engineers discussed recent water quality issues affecting the 128 mile long Monongahela River.

It was discussed Monday night as part of the CERRUS (Corps of Engineers and River Recreational Users Summit)

"The whole watershed is all interconnected, so when you change water quality from one area or have a drought in a particular area- you affect all aspects of the system," said Barry Pallay, of the Upper Mon River Association.

Many of the issues on the docket concerned the river's Total Dissolved Solids, or TDS levels, as well as Maintenance of the river's locks and dams The lack of commercial traffic between the Hildebrand and Opelika lock and dams worries some watershed groups.

"The locks and damns between Hildebrand and Opikeska as well as Morgantown are invaluable infrastructure that West Virginia needs as we look towards the future," said Pallay.

The Army Corps of Engineers says without any commercial use of the two dams. The less it will get for its budget and less resources it will have to maintain the river.

"Without that use up here we're looking for other mechanisms to continue to build up the industry or look at other revenue engines this industry has," said Col. Butch Graham, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

One of those revenue sources is Marcellus Shale Drilling. Experts say it would require a lot of water and would need to dispose of large amounts of it.

It has billions of dollars of potential, but the environmental effects need to be watched carefully.

"It's a challenge to everyone, huge demands, very great difficult with sediment and erosion control," said Pallay.

With the river providing an economic engine, as well as drinking water to more than 1 million residents. Organizers say collaboration between both watershed and governmental groups is paramount.

"We are going to have to work together if we're going to have a win-win in this area to support the industries we need, and the recreation we need and the drinking water," said Pallay.