House Subcommittee Discusses Locks And Dams

Progressive Farmer:

Navigation outages have tripled since 2000, increasing from 25,000 hours to 80,000 hours a year, according to a soybean checkoff funded study. At least 56% of the existing locks and dams are older than their design life, which is usually 50 years. Thirty-four operating locks are more than 80 years old.

Chairman of the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Bob Gibbs, R-Ohio, said it's clear the panel and most of the committee members at the hearing recognize that funding for inland waterways needs to be fixed, but finding a workable solution is a bigger challenge given the current budget environment.

"What I cannot seem to rectify are the strong support sustaining efforts of the corps while members continue to vote to cut the funds," said Ranking Member Timothy Bishop, D-N.Y, said. "In my view, our infrastructure will only be as good as we are willing to pay for."

Steenhoek explained to the committee that during his three trips to the Panama Canal in recent years, he didn't see the leaking gates or cracking concrete visible at many U.S. locks. And those locks were built in 1914.

"How the money is allocated is just as important as how much money is allocated," Steenhoek repeated several times during the hearing. In the case of the canal, the government of Panama allocated $5.25 billion in 2007. That money was guaranteed for the contractors, enabling them to make large purchases without worrying about receiving their next check.

It was somewhat embarrassing for the government to announce the third set of locks will be completed three months later than initially planned even though the project is under budget, Steenhoek said.

Compare that to the Olmsted Lock and Dam Project, a major topic of Wednesday's hearing. It was initially projected to cost $775 million and take seven years to build when it was authorized by Congress in 1988. Now, the project is projected to cost more than $3 billion and be complete by 2020.

One problem with the Olmstead Lock and Dam Project was very bad advice from consulting engineers. The other problem is inconsistent funding from a dysfunctional Congress full of members like Jim Jordan.  In spite of how badly one project goes, it is extremely important to improve our inland waterway system.  It is a major advantage for midwestern farmers when competing in the world market.  Brazilians would love to have even our outdated system.