UPPER MONONGAHELA COMMITTEE FOR BETTER BOATING
DONALD C. STRIMBECK
P. O. Box 519
Granville WV 26534-0519

Representative Alan B. Mollohan
2346 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington DC 20515-4801

RE: LOCK HOURS

Dear Representative Mollohan:

By now you will have received Wally Venable's letter (Enclosure 1) of 16 March to you, written on behalf of those of us informally gathered together as the UPPER MONONGAHELA COMMITTEE FOR BETTER BOATING. Wally is Professor Emeritus, engineering, WVU, and a longtime boater, active in many organizations that promote boating, Mon river rails-to-trails, etc. Wally's plea provides a solid philosophical understanding of the lock hours problem, and, lays the foundation for solving this problem.

My purpose with this letter to you is reinforce Wally's letter with backup information and suggestions that we have developed over time. And, may I point out that the even more informal name for our group is the UPPER MONONGAHELA RIVER RAT DENIZENS!!

We are asking for your consideration and assistance, and the help of our entire West Virginia congressional delegation, with our concern that legislation is needed to enhance recreational boating on our nation's navigable rivers. In essence, the problem is that lock hours on several rivers have been or may be severely reduced by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) due to a marked decline in commercial river traffic.

This problem faces those of us who pleasure boat on the Upper Monongahela River in West Virginia. This situation also exists on other navigable rivers (eg, Upper Allegheny).

Specifically, we seek legislation that would place recreational boating and development of river communities on a par with the traditional concerns of flood control, maintenance of river flows, and, commercial use of river facilities (eg, locks). This would enable the COE to keep lock hours adequate for fostering recreational boating and for development of river communities.

The marked decline in commerical traffic on the Upper Mon is an unfortunate result of our changing economy. The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1992 began to affect bulk coal (high sulfur) commerce on the Upper Mon in 1996, based on our anecdotal observations. Commercial traffic in 1996 was perhaps half that noted in the previous two years. And, from 1997 to date, coal traffic is minimal, except for what coal we see going to and from the Vance Terminal in Westover. Other than that coal traffic, existing commerce transiting the Upper Mon locks appears to be petroleum to the Star City terminal, some coal (probably low sulfur), hematite (used in coal preparation plants), limestone, scrap iron, salt (road use), sand, and gravel. We have not been able to get information from the Pittsburgh District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) on river commercial and recreational use of the Upper Mon.

The Upper Mon in your first congressional district, however, has great potential as a national role model on how a navigable river can adapt to the needs of our new economy. For example, ensuring that the Upper Mon is readily available for recreational boating is a "quality of life" issue, important to attracting and keeping folks in the area. These are the folks that use the other booming recreational developments in our area (eg, Mon rails-to-trails), and who work in our high-tech government and private business, research, and higher education institutions, in our first congressional district. I'll return to this theme towards the end of this letter.

The above briefly expresses our concern. I will now shift to background information about this situation. And, our continuing efforts to locate other rivers experiencing the same situation we face on the Upper Mon. Then, I'll discuss some possible courses of action for addressing the matter. I'll then end with some general information pertinent to the situation.

To open backround information considerations, let me state that the COE assures us that they have no plans to alter current lock hours on the Upper Mon. That is, the Point Marion and Morgantown locks will remain open 24 hours per day, all year long. And, the Hildebrand and Opekiska locks will be day shift only, as has been the case since 1985 (with some exceptions, ie, longer lock hours when the COE is doing maintenance work on the Upper Mon). The COE expects these hours to continue through Fiscal Year 2001, provided the president's proposed budget passes without any decrease in funds for these locks.

While this is fine, there are still two problems with these lock hours. First, how long can the COE justify keeping these lock hours, given the drastic decline in commercial transits of the Upper Mon locks, especially Hildebrand and Opekiska? Second, when it comes to boating, the day shift only hours for Hildebrand and Opekiska are a great detriment for fostering recreational boating.

Enclosure 2, "Lock Could Lose 24-Hour Access", is an excellent article that appeared on 16 July 1997 in the DAILY ATHENAEUM, the student newspaper for West Virginia University. This article was the "warning shot across the bow" that caused great concern amongst us UPPER MON RIVER RAT DENIZENS (our informal moniker!). The worst potential consequence pointed out in the article was the possible closing of the Morgantown, Hildebrand, and Opekiska locks to all traffic!!

Enclosure 3, a one-page COE document entitled "Cost Reductions - Navigation," talks about putting the Morgantown locks on day shift only, and, Hildebrand and Opekiska would go to day shift for only five days a week. This document was obtained by us in December 1998.

Enclosure 4, "Meeting Held at Morgantown Training Center", is a 2-page COE document obtained by us in March 1998. Its contents agree with Enclosure 3. These three enclosures thus state the COE case for reducing lock hours on the Upper Mon, due to the collapse of commercial traffic. And, we do not fault the COE for their stance, as current law dictates that the COE operate locks to accomodate commerce. Current law does not allow the COE to justify lock operations on such considerations as recreational boating and development of river communities. That is why we'd like to see Congress change the law so that the COE can peg lock hours to meet these needs.

So, we feel that lock hours should be pegged to promote recreational boating and development of Mon River communities. That is, recognize our changing economy in our first congressional district in West Virginia! Keep the Point Marion and Morgantown locks open all day, every day, all year! And, at a bare minimum, operate the Hildebrand and Opekiska locks from 8am to midnight, for the period 1 March through 30 October. Better yet, keep Hildebrand and Opekiska open 24 hours a day during that period. That would really foster "dinner and dance" cruises, overnight fishing excursions, etc., and, relieve boaters of the worriment of getting through the locks before midnight.

Now, the following six enclosures present anecdotal evidence that reinforces the need for longer lock hours on the Upper Mon.

Enclosure 5, "RE: Monongahela River: Morgantown to Fairmont, WV," is Brooks Javins' letter of 10 June 1999 to Representative Mollohan. Enclosure 6, "RE: Opekiska L&D, Hildebrand L&D, Morgantown L&D," is Brooks Javins' letter of 9 July 1999 to "Northern West Virginia Concerned Citizens, Marion & Monongalia Counties." These two excellent letters lay out the repercussions of reductions in lock hours on the Upper Mon.

Enclosure 7 is the 20 July 1999 letter from the Monongalia County Commission to the COE, concerning Brooks' appearance before the Commission to discuss the recreational boating issue. Enclosure 8, "Monongahela River Thoughts #1," is Brooks' email of 15 January 2000 to Don Strimbeck. Enclosure 9 is John Phillips' letter of 2 February 2000 to Senator Byrd. Enclosure 10 is my (Strimbeck) letter of 20 February 2000 to BOAT/US. Again, these six enclosures provide personal anecdotes as to why we need to keep the Upper Mon locks open to foster recreational boating and river community development.

Enclosure 11, "From the Helm to the Hill, U.S. Representative Jim Saxton", an article in the November 1998 issue of BOAT/US Magazine, has three interesting points. First, Representative Saxton is quoted as saying, ". . . . recreational boating is as much of a commercial enterprise as commercial shipping". (Amen!!) Second, Representative Saxton states that while he hears about fishing issues every day, he hears little "squeaking" about boating issues. And, that "One of the axioms of politics is that the squeaky wheel gets the grease." (We are now, however, "squeaking" about the lock hours issue!) Third, to quote from the article, "To compound matters, Saxton thinks that boating continues to have something of an image problem in Congress where many legislators think that boating is a recreation of the rich." And, he is quoted as saying, "Although boating is a middle-class activity, it's still misunderstood on Capitol Hill. I can't think of a more family-oriented recreation." (I hope we can perhaps help convince Congress that their attention to boating issues is needed. And, further, that recreational boating issues are not partisan issues. Thus it should be possible to put together a nonpartisan coalition in Congress that could further the cause of recreational boating, eg, the lock hours issue, which likely exists in many congressional districts. More on this follows next.)

Enclosure 1 lists congressional districts where recreational boating and river community development may be affected by limited lock hours. This list was developed by Wally Venable. Wally reviewed Quimby's Cruising Guide to locate rivers where reduced lock hours may be inhibiting recreational boating and community development. He then matched these areas with nearby ZIP codes, which, with the internet and "computer magic," he could locate the Congressman for that area.

Enclosure 12 relates to my (Strimbeck) effort to gather anecdotal evidence on the lock hours issue. The letter to HeartLand Boating resulted in the editorial, "Operations must continue on upper Mon locks," on page 11 of the March 2000 issue of HeartLand Boating (see Enclosure 15). The letter also will hopefully appear in the other boating magazines listed, and/or on their websites. The "yachtworld.com" website posting hopefully will also be on "boatscape.com" and "boattalk.com". And, as responses come in, I will keep our West Virginia congressional delegation informed. These responses could lead to citizen support in affected congressional districts, for action on the lock hours problem.

Now, the COE could provide information that we all could use to gain a better understanding of how lock hours reductions (or closings) are affecting recreational boating and development of river communities. Enclosure 13 lists three topics where information from the COE would be helpful. I (Strimbeck) have requested information from the Pittsburgh District on the first topic, and, the third topic, to no avail.

Let me now begin to get to the ending of this letter!! That is, what actions might help to garner information about the lock hours issue, and, help lead to a solution that favors recreational boating and development of river communities?? And, here, I hate to mention the word "study", as in "let's do a study of the matter!" But!! Bear with me!!

Perhaps our West Virginia congressional delegation could ask the General Accounting Office (GAO) to study this matter. I suggest a study at the national level, and, a study that uses Representative Mollohan's first congressional district in West Virginia as a "role model" for other similarly affected districts.

The national study would look at our nation's navigable rivers, and, how commercial use of these rivers has changed, over, say, the last three decades. GAO would also, for the same time period, look at how recreational boating has developed as an important economic contributor to the use of our nation's rivers and development of river communities. The study should also identify those rivers impacted by reduced lock hours, due to a decline in commerical transits of locks. The study should also address how recreational boating and river community development has been affected by the reduction in lock hours (or, lock closings). The study then would present its data, and, conclusions therefrom, with recommendations to Congress. Hopefully, these conclusions and recommendations would lead to at least one course of action, ie, that Congress direct that operation of our nation's locks by the COE equate recreational boating and river community development as priorities equal with their historic mandates of flood control, maintenance of river flows, and, facilitation of river commerce.

Now, the GAO study for Representative Mollohan's district in West Virginia would be a "micro-study" focusing on the same topics as the national study. And, for this study, let me suggest the following "body english," keeping in mind that perhaps Congressman Mollohan's district can be a "role model" for other districts affected by this same problem!!

There are of course many studies, finished or underway, on economic and other development problems in your district. It would be "neat" if these studies could be reviewed to see if there is a thread or theme as to how the Upper Mon fits into achieving the objectives of these studies, ie, the hoped-for improvments each study envisions towards development in the first congressional district, in general, and, for Monongalia and Marion counties in particular, since these counties "host" the Upper Mon.

Here, GAO could get input from the many development agencies within the first congressional district. And, perhaps an agency such as Tom Witt's Bureau of Business Research at WVU could coordinate the gathering and analysis of such information, to assist GAO.

To conclude, we feel that our nation's river facilities (eg, locks) still have an important role in the economy and quality of life for river communities. We must not close or cut back on the use of these river locks just because large-tonnage commerce has declined. We need to keep these locks open on a schedule that assists the needs of our new high-tech economy, and, the recreational and community development needs of the folks living in river communities and working in the new economy. Thus, our rivers and the locks thereon can help fulfill the "quality of life" and community development needs of those employed in our new economy.

And, how our local economy has, and is, changing! Here in Granville, the Arkwright-Osage mines and river terminal closed in October 1995. Humphrey mine, two miles north of me, pulled out their longwall mining system in the last year or so. Production has declined, and, Humphrey is using continuous mining equipment for coal with perhaps a four life span before Humphrey closes. Sterling Faucet has closed in the past year or two. And, we could go on, as to how mining and manufacturing have declined in our area.

The positive developments in our area are offsetting these adverse economic declines. What we have as great "positives", to name some examples, are the I-79 Hi-Tech Corridor from Morgantown to Fairmont to Clarksburg and points south, high class educational facilities such as West Virginia University, Fairmont State College, etc., the FBI Center (thanks to Senator Byrd!), excellent and growing medical facilities and teaching hospitals, a developing "retirement industry", eg, The Village at Heritage Point, extensive federal research facilities, eg, NIOSH, ALOSH, National Energy Technology Laboratory, etc., and so on!

And!! The folks that work in these institutions enjoy new or pending "quality of life" facilities. Using the Morgantown area as an example, we see such facilities as the Riverfront Park, rails-to-trails (from the PA-WV border to Fairmont), recreational enhancements at Cheat Lake, the pending Anker Park development, Coopers Rock State Forest, Seneca Glass Museum, etc etc.

The economy of the communities surrounding the Monongahela River in West Virginia is changing from coal mining and manufacturing, to high-tech endeavors. "Quality of life" is important to those working in these new occupations. Recreation, in general, and recreational boating and river community development on the Upper Mon, thus is needed to attract and keep folks in our area. The same situation exists for other river communities in our country.

So, we ask that Congress will ensure that recreation and river community development will be given equal status by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with their other charges, ie, flood control, river flow maintenance, and, facilitation of commerce, when the COE administers river facilities (eg, locks).

An administrative note for closing! Enclosure 14 is my "Mon Contacts List". Those of us working together on this lock hours matter include myself (Don Strimbeck), address, etc., as at top of this letter. And, Wally Venable, address as per Enclosure 1 (and as per item 19.0 on Enclosure 14). The three other members of our working group (again referring to Enclosure 14) are Barry Pally (item 35.0), Betty Wiley (item 36.0), and Brooks and Bunny Javins (item 11.0).

Congressman Mollohan, we hope that you can help us keep viable one facet for "quality of life" on the Upper Mon! That is, keep the locks open on a timetable that will foster boating recreation and river community development!! By so doing, your congressional district could be a "role model" for other congressional districts with similar problems for river use.

We look forward to working with you on this matter. We ask that our entire West Virginia congressional delegation assist you. And, we are sure that you will find help from representatives and senators, on both sides of the aisle, who will assist you in what should be a bipartisan effort leading to better use of our navigable rivers in today's economy and lifestyle!

Sincerely,

Encls:

1.0 Venable letter to Mollohan, 16 March 2000. (Note! Text of copy herein varies slightly from actual letter Wally mailed on 16 March.)

2.0 Daily Athenaeum, 16 July 1997.

3.0 Cost Reductions, COE.

4.0 Meeting at Morgantown Training Center, COE.

5.0 Javins letter, 10 June 1999.

6.0 Javins letter, 9 July 1999.

7.0 Monongalia County Commission letter, 20 July 1999.

8.0 Javins email to Strimbeck, 15 January 2000.

9.0 Phillips letter to Senator Byrd, 2 February 2000.

10.0 Strimbeck letter to BOAT/US, 20 February 2000.

11.0 BOAT/US Magazine, November 1998, re Representative Jim Saxton.

12.0 Strimbeck letter to HeartLand Boating, 23 February 2000.

13.0 Information on lock operations that the COE might furnish.

14.0 Mon Contacts List (Strimbeck).

15.0 "Operations must continue on upper Mon locks," page 11, March 2000 issue of HeartLand Boating.