Leaders call for action on low river levels

Five federal lawmakers from Pennsylvania signed a joint letter urging the Army Corps of Engineers to address the situation.

U.S. senators and congressional leaders from both sides of the political aisle have banded together to express their concern about shallow Monongahela River levels in the Elizabeth area.

U.S. Sens Bob Casey, D-Scranton, and John Fetterman, D-Braddock, along with U.S. Reps. Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschent haler, R-Peters Township, Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, and Chris Deluzio, D-Aspinwall, signed a joint letter asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District to address the water level issues that emerged after a partial demolition of Locks and Dam 3 near Elizabeth.

“We continue to call on USACE to prioritize the return of the nine-foot draft for comme rcial barge traffic and request the Corps provide ongoing updates to the regional inland waterway community,” the letter states. “Any additional delays will have steep economic costs for southwestern Pennsylvania. Keeping this waterway safe and navigable in the long run is critical to the region’s economy and way of life.”

The Army Corps has been facing backlash from local residents about low water levels on the Mon River and shoreline exposure since the first controlled demolition to remove the dam July 10. Army Corps officials previously said water levels were supposed to drop only two to three feet.

The demolition of Locks and Dam 3 is part of the Lower Monongahela River Project that started in 1992 and involves facilities in Elizabeth, Charleroi and Braddock. The project is expected to add $200 million annually to the region’s economy.

“This insufficient water depth required the Corps to impose navigation restrictions that have scrambled barge traffic creating delays and trapping vessels above the lock, reduced the raw amount of commodities carried on many barges that do move through the lock by 25% and cost industry several millions of dollars per week by early estimates,” the letter states.

Col. Nicholas Melin, commander of the U.S. Army Corps Pittsburgh District, said issues regarding the river water levels should be resolved by Aug. 28. He called it the Corps’ number one priority.

“Since we identified the potential low water level in the lock chamber at Elizabeth Lock and Dam on the 15th of July, we’ve been working side by side with our industry and congressional stakeholders to return to a navigational depth that is acceptable for full traffic,” Melin said.

Melin added that the locks and dam still is open for recreational and commercial use 24 hours a day, but he says the official channel will not be able to be used for recreational use until Dec. 4.

“We are on track to deliver a 100-foot navigation channel in the middle of the Monongahela River through the dam no later than Aug. 28. That channel will be for industry usage, so industry will move through that channel,” Melin said. “The lock chamber at Elizabeth locks and dam is open for recreational traffic, and recreators should use the

lock chamber until the full channel has opened.”

Melin said that anyone using the lock and dam for recreational use can contact the staff through their radio or simply get the attention of the lock operator.

Melin said the change of water levels is inevitable and is something the Army Corps and community will have to work together in. According to Melin, the Army Corps has also been working with local marinas to advise them on changes and what permitting requirements are available to them to adjust their facilities.

“We appreciate the patience of the community as we complete these final steps in construction, and we’re working hard to accelerate the removal of the dam, to open up that 30 miles of navigational, free navigation, as soon as possible,” Melin said.