Courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh DistrictThe removal of Locks and Dam 3 is part of the Lower Monongahela River Project.
Concerned about potential economic impacts created by shallow water levels at the Elizabeth Locks and Dam on the Monongahela River, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has called on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite work to remove the dam.
U.S. Reps. Guy Reschenthaler, Summer Lee and Chris Deluzio, along with Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman, co-signed an Aug. 5 letter to Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon, commanding general of the Corps of Engineers, urging the agency to accelerate the project.
The water level in the lock became too shallow to accommodate traditional commercial vehicles after initial demolition of the dam on July 10. That prompted the corps to impose navigation restrictions, reducing the amount of commodities moving through the lock by 25%.
“As you are aware, there was a miscalculation of the projected interim water depth of the lock following the partial demolition of the dam,” the letter reads. “This misestimate has resulted in significant limitations on commercial barge traffic along the Monongahela River. The Mon River is a vital corridor for commercial barge traffic and recreational boating, and the limited depth of the lock continues to have adverse economic impacts on local businesses and residents who rely on the river.”
Col. Nicholas Melin, commander of the Corps’ Pittsburgh District, said the corps has expedited opening a 100-foot navigational channel from its original target date of Dec. 4 to no later than Aug. 28, while also working to create a navigable path for vessels to use in the interim. That was done by creating an opening in the center of the dam.
“We have a great partnership with industry along the Monongahela River, along with our congressional stakeholders,” Melin said. “We’ve been working hand in hand with them since we discovered there was a water level restriction that was required in our lock chamber at Elizabeth Lock and Dam. We fully understand and take ownership of the impacts that lowering the navigation and restriction has had on industry and we are working absolutely as fast as we can to deliver a fully navigable channel through the center of Elizabeth Lock and Dam no later than Aug. 28.”
Melin explained that the restriction of the navigable depth from nine to seven feet was a move of caution.
“We didn’t want to have the lock chamber be damaged or have an industry vessel get caught within a chamber,” he said. “That would have resulted in a full lock closure. The lock chamber remains open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at that seven-foot navigation restriction.”
He also said removal of a lock and dam typically results in a re-leveling of the water.
“We were expecting a change in the water level,” he said. “As soon as we identified within the lock chamber there was a lower water level than we were expecting we put the navigation restriction into place.”
Acknowledging that the corps has been responsive, the lawmakers stressed they want the issue rectified no later than Aug. 28.
“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 letter reads.
The removal of Locks and Dam 3 is part of the Lower Monongahela River Project. That project was launched in 1994 to modernize locks 2, 3 and 4 in Braddock, Elizabeth and Charleroi.
The completion of the project is projected to boost the regional economy by $200 million annually.
Locks and Dam 3 has been operating since 1907, but the facility is prone to flooding and must be shut down during high-water events resulting in navigational delays.
“Once the dam is removed, there will be 30 miles of uninterrupted river between the Charleroi and Braddock locks and dams,” Melin said. “The sooner that we open this 100-foot navigational channel up, the sooner they can begin accruing those benefits.”
