Budget Cuts Could Affect Boating On Allegheny River

February 16, 2011 12:41 AM

(Source: KDKA)

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NORTH SHORE (KDKA) — Proposed federal budget cuts could have an impact on boating on the Allegheny River.

The Army Corps of Engineers simply doesn’t have enough money to run the Allegheny’s eight locks.

“We can’t hide from the realities that the federal government has more requirements than it has money,” Col. Butch Graham, Pittsburgh District Engineer, said.

Graham says he has $4 million to run the river during fiscal year 2012. That’s half the amount budgeted for this fiscal year, so the Corps is considering two plans.

One would keep the three locks closest to Pittsburgh in full operation. The locks from Freeport to East Brady would be put in “caretaker status.”

“Folks would no longer have the ability to lock through,” Graham said.

The second plan would reduce the operating hours of the lower three locks, leaving open money that could then be used to keep the locks up to Kittanning open for a shift a day or possibly weekends or holidays.

The Corps will be holding meetings in Fox Chapel and Kittanning to get public input next week.

Changes wouldn’t go in effect until this fall.

Budget Cuts Could Affect Boating On Allegheny River

dave

The lock schedule has to be geared towards business. The barges must be able to get through. The recreational user of a boat can drive to there preferred launch.
Marty

Dave, You are obviously not a boat owner.
Whistle Pig

no barges on the Allegheny …
DavyLee

What else is new .. obama gonna flood neighborhoods in the normal areas with no help from loch control .. ” Ill show you to not let me Bankrupt this country ” .
Always penalize the people paying the bill to hold them hostage for crack house construction ! just like the city closes pools and then installs $1200 garbage cans

Don

These dams provide navigation support but don’t provide any flood protection so that’s not an issue.

Freddie

Charge $5 or so to lock thru & keep the locks open. Better yet, quit spending our money in Iraq & spend it here in the U. S,
Amy

That’s great Dave… if you have a smaller boat that can be trailored. Many of us don’t. Boating up river is some of the best that the river has to offer. We moved our boat here from the lake so we could have a variety of travel. This will hurt the way we boat. It’s so nice to have a choice of which direction you want to travel. We would pay a fee to lock through up there. We travel up that way several times a year and have many friends up that way also. I feel really bad for them.