Trump's proposed budget includes spending boost for locks and dams in Pittsburgh area

President Trump’s proposed budget for next fiscal year includes $103.1 million for the civil works program in the Army Corps of Engineers’ Pittsburgh District and would boost funding for local locks and dams.

The proposed budget is part of $6 billion in discretionary funding for the Army Corps worldwide civil works program. Locally, the proposed budget would help maintain the reliability of the region’s inland waterways navigation system, enhance the environment and reduce the risk of flooding in the Upper Ohio River Valley.

“The budget represents a continuing, fiscally prudent investment in the nation’s water resources infrastructure,” said Col. Andrew Short, commander of the Pittsburgh District.

The president’s budget serves as a road map for federal spending. Congress draws up and passes the actual federal budget.

The budget boosts spending on locks and dams on the region’s three rivers, according to Greg Zavacky, chief of programs in the Corps’ programs and project management branch. Proposed spending for the 2021 fiscal year includes:

- $8.2 million for Allegheny River operations and maintenance, a $1 million increase from the 2020 fiscal year.

- $18.2 million for Monongahela River operations and maintenance, a $1.3 million increase from the 2020 fiscal year.

- $35.4 million for Ohio River operations and maintenance, a $1.7 million increase from the 2020 fiscal year.

The proposed budget increases reflect the rising cost of doing business because of inflation, according to Zavacky.

“The budget proposes to maintain the same level of operations and routine maintenance support that we have been sustaining on all three rivers in recent years,” he said.

The only notable addition proposed is restoring funding for dredging operations on the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers to maintain a navigable channel, he said.