Rosston Eddy Marina River Chatter Blog

From: Miranda K. Shoemaker (Director, Armstrong County Tourist Bureau)

Subject: URGENT: Allegheny River Lock Closure-Public Meeting-We need your help! (Please forward this to any and all that can help!)

 Armstrong County Residents/Business Owners:  We need your help to save Allegheny River locks from closure!

 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers budget has been cut for 2012. Therefore some drastic changes will be made to the operation of our locks. The 2012 changes have to be decided upon for March 2011. There are two proposed options on how to handle the lack of funding for the Allegheny. These decisions potentially include lock closures to recreational boaters on EVERY lock within Armstrong County.

Armstrong County has 5 of the 9 Locks on the Allegheny River (Locks 5-9). There are proposed options as to what will happen to lock operation in 2012 and a plan must be made by March to satisfy the budget proposals for 2012.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be holding a public meeting next THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24th, 7PM at the WEST KITTANNING FIRE HALL, to discuss the grim outlook and possible scenarios.

As residents, business owners and tourists of Armstrong County we must all be concerned as to what will happen to this important recreational feature. We need as many voices and bodies we can get to attend next Thursday’s meeting. If we do not show we care about the river, no one else can/will do it for us–and we could all lose big if we do not make our case. We must show them our concern for what will happen if the locks are abandoned.

Tourism is currently the #1 industry in Armstrong County. We have lost the industrial giants that once operated here and now we stand to lose a large portion of one of our biggest assets that attracts people to our area. If we lose tourism dollars, we will be hit hard economically.

So, please help us and yourselves, by making your voice heard at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers public meeting next THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24th, 7PM at the WEST KITTANNING FIRE HALL, (401 Arthur Street).

If you are interested in contacting the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, you may email them at celrp-pa@usace.army.mil or call 412-395-7500. If you email please use the subject heading: Allegheny River Locks.

We are encouraging groups with vested interests in our communities, our county and our river, to write emails or letters from your group–to the US Army Corps of Engineers, stressing the importance of the lock operations to our area, both economically and recreationally.

Please email, if you can, because we are running out of time. If you wish to send a letter you can send them to:

Thank you. Please feel free to call us if you have any questions.