URL for this article is http://www.dominionpost.com/a/news/2003/01/02/aw/
The Dominion Post
January 2, 2003
By Evelyn Ryan
Delays in passing the federal budget for the current year have local recreational boaters on pins and needles.
They believe that the budget will mean major cuts to the hours Morgantown, Hildebrand and Opekiska locks and dams are open.
It all depends on how much money the Pittsburgh District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers gets for operating expenses, said Corps Public Information Officer Richard Dowling.
"We are still waiting on Congress," he said. The fiscal year began Oct. 31, but the Energy and Water Resources Appropriations Act, which funds the Corps, hasn't reached a vote in Congress, which returns to session Jan. 7.
"Congress, because of the press of other business, has not appropriated funds for the Corps," he said. "In the meantime, we operate under a series of continuing resolution authorities. These say in essence 'Keep doing what you're doing. Don't start anything new.'"
Dowling said potential cuts reported in July were accurate about the Allegheny River locks, but Mon River locks were not facing those major cuts.
"Even though I can't speculate about the coming boating season until we have a spending plan in place," Dowling said, "I want to be reassuring. I want to repeat our commitment to the users of the Monongahela navigation system that we will continue to provide the best possible service to the commercial navigation industry and also to the recreational boaters."
Meanwhile, while waiting for the budget to finally come through, "we're keeping things running, we're doing maintenance and getting ready for another recreational boating season," he said.
The maintenance schedule is dependent on the budget as well, he noted.
"We're committed to maintaining a first-class system, available for both commercial navigation and recreational boaters."
The Corps oversees the entire navigational length of the Mon, which flows north from Fairmont, where it is formed by the West Fork and Tygart rivers, until it meets the Allegheny at Pittsburgh. The Corps also oversees the navigational stretches of the West Fork and Tygart, and operates the Stonewall Jackson and Tygart flood control dams on the two rivers.
With the development of the Mon River Trail and other rail-trail projects along the Mon, more people are getting a chance to experience the river side.
"It is encouraging to see the increased public appreciation for the riverfronts, for cleaner water, and for recreational activities," Dowling said.
The Corps' must now balance this waterfront popularity with the increased vigilance of public facilities put into place after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
"While we can't talk about specific security measures," he said, "we, along with other federal agencies, are beefing up such things as traffic controls, fencing, and building access and, like all of America, we're being more vigilant about our surroundings."