Morgantown Dam to Release River Trash Wednesday
Volunteers ready to clean up debris
Morgantown Dominion Post
14 June 2011
By Alex Lang
Anyone with a boat who wants to go out and help can contact Tim Terman
at 304-292-5087.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to release the trash from behind
the Morgantown Lock and Dam this week, and for the first time local
residents will be on the Monongahela River to try to collect it.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District Area Lockmaster Robert
Smith said the plan is to release the drift at about 8 a.m. Wednesday.
There is enough flow to release the trash without losing the upper
pool, Smith said.
This is the first time the Upper Monongahela River Association has been
informed before the Corps released the trash, Smith said. Tim Terman
and BOPARC representatives plan to use boats to collect the trash,
Terman said.
“If we didn’t do it, it would just stay there or float down the river,”
Terman said.
The plan is pull items from the Monongahela River one-by-one, he said.
There is no money available to purchase equipment to remove large
quantities of debris.
Terman, who has become locally known for picking up garbage along the
riverside, said trash collectors will leave wood in the water, but will
remove debris such as soda bottles, cigarette lighters and tires.
The trash isn’t only aesthetically unpleasing, Terman said, it can also
affect wildlife. For example, a bird might get tangled in a piece of
garbage.
Smith said there is more trash behind the dam right now because of
recent heavy rains.
Corps of Engineers spokesman Jeff Hawk said officials release the
debris when there is high water and the gates need to be opened anyway.