Lock service in Harmar and Highland Park could be on the chopping block pending a review of commercial barge traffic this year.
“It could very well happen,” said Mike Ferris, president of the Allegheny River Development Corp. “We don’t know when it would happen, but it will be reviewed this year.”
The Armstrong County nonprofit works with the Army Corps of Engineers to help keep locks open for recreational boating from Harrison to Madison Township, Armstrong County.
The ARDC pays more than $200,000 to keep Locks 6 through 9 open, from Clinton to just upstream from Rimer, and also partially funds the use of Locks 4 and 5 in Natrona and just upriver from Freeport in South Buffalo.
Ferris expects the same help to eventually be needed for Harmar (actually on the Plum side) and Highland Park, if not this year, then soon.
That’s because barges no longer are moving the amount of commodities along the Allegheny that they did decades ago.
From 1993 to 2015, commercial tonnage dropped 92%, according to a 2018 study by the Army Corps.
In 1993, there were 792,000 tons of goods moved through Locks 5 to 9. By 2015, the number dropped to about 58,500 tons.
The Corps considers only commercial traffic, not recreational boating, when determining the level of service at its locks.
Andrew Byrne, Corps spokesman, said there are no immediate changes planned for Harmar and Highland Park. Both locks are currently open 12 hours a day until midnight.
But, Byrne said, he appreciates the work by ARDC to help keep the river available to water enthusiasts.
The ARDC provides money to operate the locks on weekends and holidays because cuts in federal funding left the Army Corps unable to staff certain locks without outside help.
“It’s an excellent partnership,” Byrne said. “The collaboration ensures the Allegheny River can continue being a free and available opportunity for recreational boaters, and we look forward to continuing working with ARDC into the future.”
The closure of the Cheswick Generating Station in Springdale in 2022 was the nail in the coffin for barge traffic along the Allegheny River, Ferris said.
“When we lost that power plant, the tonnage went way down,” he said. It was the last coal-fired power plant in Allegheny County.
Even before that, commercial traffic on the Allegheny lagged behind the Monongahela and Ohio rivers, according to the Port of Pittsburgh Commission. About 4 million tons of items pass through the Allegheny River locks each year — compared with 54 million tons on the Monongahela and 50 million tons on the Ohio.
Ferris is seeking support from nearly 50 municipalities along the river to build clout when lobbying lawmakers for help with grants. A commitment doesn’t mean financial responsibility, he said. It only helps show the demand for service.
Harrison signed on in January, following others, including Lower Burrell, New Kensington, Harmar, O’Hara and Plum. Eleven local governments in all have authorized support.
“Recreational boating and commercial navigation have played a significant role in the history of the Alle-Kiski Valley,” Harrison manager Amy Rockwell said.
“The commissioners are committed to promoting tourism along the riverfront trails, with the Natrona Trailhead project serving as a key initiative the township is advancing to support these efforts.”
The township this spring is planning a $141,000 renovation of shoreline access points in its Natrona section.
Other municipalities that have expressed intent to support the ARDC also stand to benefit from their efforts.
In East Deer, Pittsburgh Brewing Co. constructed a temporary boat dock last summer and plans another one this year for attendees of its summer concert series, car cruise and holiday festivals.
East Deer officials expect about $25,000 in revenue for 2025 from an amusement tax for large events in the township.
Commissioner Tony Taliani supports the ARDC’s fight to maintain lock service.
“I think those locks are vital due to the ongoing development and the economy of dealing with the river,” he said.
Ferris said his group will continue to seek municipal support to plead a better case with legislators.
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“That’s what it’s all about,” he said. “We need everything we can to convince people to help us fund the river. It’s a shame that the metrics are the way they are. But we have people working to get support and show the lawmakers that these are your communities and they think this is important enough not to let it slide by.”