Recreational Allegheny River Boaters May Be Up the River
Leader Times
25 February 2011
By Renatta Signorini
About 200 people were given some bleak options for the Allegheny
River's future Thursday night -- minimal to no lock service for
recreational boaters.
It didn't sit well with some, but most participants at a public meeting
held Thursday by the Army Corps of Engineers understand that funding
cutbacks means less service.
"This is our down time you're taking from us," said Becky Hitrik of
Adrian, who added that she'd be willing to pay a fee to use the lock
system. "We're asking for two days a week for five months. We're just
asking for some time to have fun."
Last night's meeting at the West Kittanning fire hall was the second
this week held by the Army Corps of Engineers to hear from residents
and officials where service cuts and the closing of locks are proposed
along the Allegheny River. The corps will decide by March 31 where to
make changes necessitated by less funding in President Obama's 2012
proposed budget. The changes will go into effect Oct. 1.
In the budget, the corps saw a more than 50 percent decrease in funding
for operation and maintenance of the Allegheny River navigation system
-- $8.5 million to $4 million. The river was singled out for cuts
because it is classified as a low-use navigation system.
"I know how beautiful this area is and I know how much (the river)
means to you all," said Col. William Graham, district engineer.
Funding is allocated based on commercial usage, of which the Allegheny
River sees little. From 2000 to 2009, more recreational boaters moved
through the river's navigation system than commercial vessels, by about
a 3-2 margin, according to the corps.
Those figures have led the corps to address different ways to provide
the services they can on a limited amount of funding, resulting in the
public meetings. The first was held in O'Hara on Tuesday evening.
"If you look across the country ... the Allegheny River simply does not
stack up," said Kathy Griffin, deputy chief of operations.
"The bulk of the commercial traffic is in the lower locks. Above (Lock)
5, it's primarily recreational traffic."
Dave Sneberger, chief of locks and dams branch presented the following
options last night:
• Close Lock 5 in Schenley to Lock 9 in Rimer to recreational boat
traffic while leaving Lock 2 near the Highland Park Bridge through Lock
4 in Natrona open at all times.
• Cut hours for Locks 2 through 4, reduce hours further for Locks 5
through 7 (Kittanning) and close Locks 8 and 9 to recreational traffic.
In both instances, commercial vessels could pass through the system by
appointment.
"Unfortunately, none of these options allow us to do anything on locks
8 and 9," Sneberger said, adding that some staff will have to be
reassigned and no one is losing a job. "We just don't have enough
bodies."
While those options were presented, corps officials encouraged the
public present to brainstorm and propose different ideas.
Graham said the options have been refined as suggestions pour in.
Many speakers shared their ideas during the two-hour meeting attended
by local residents, business owners and legislators.
Some of the ideas included instituting a fee for people using the
river, having volunteer workers man the locks or introducing a
toll-like format when passing through the channels.
The county commissioners passed around a sign-up sheet for people
interested in participating on a public-private partnership task force
to keep the locks running for all traffic.
Commissioner Patty Kirkpatrick encouraged those at the meeting to act
quickly and formulate a plan.
"Short-term, the economic vitality of Armstrong County is affected by
this decision," she said.
Eric Valetti of Wattersonville agreed with the notion of privatization.
"We have no choice but to privatize the upper locks on the upper part
of the river here," Valetti said. "We gotta take this seriously or
we're going to be stuck on ponds."
Plenty of meeting attendees raised their hands to show interest in
participating on a task force and contributing to the cost of keeping
the locks viable.
"I think a lot of people are willing to pay, as long as we can be
guaranteed that our money stays on the Allegheny," said Scott Miller of
East Brady.
State Rep. Jeff Pyle, R-Ford City, said the closure of the locks could
affect the county's ability to profit from the Marcellus shale gas
formation and any future commercial ventures.
"It's not a river anymore," he said. You're creating five ponds. It's
not practical, it hurts us."
Corps officials said organizations such as Arts on the Allegheny that
hold events in Kittanning Riverfront Park, if they give the corps
enough notice, could still have use of the lock system for boaters
wanting to attend.
Having that access is important to tourism, which tourist bureau
director Miranda Shoemaker said is the top industry in Armstrong County.
"We market the river, that is a huge pull," she said. "To stifle that
will stifle an economy."
Important dates
March 14 - Deadline for comments
March 31 - A decision due by the Army Corps of Engineers
Oct. 1 - Changes go into effect
To submit comments, e-mail or call 412-395-7500.
Renatta Signorini can be reached at rsignorini@tribweb.com or
724-543-1303, ext. 219.