AIWA Board Makes D.C. Visit

In March, the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association (AIWA) board of directors traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate on behalf of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW). The trip included 12 meetings with congressional offices and staff from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to discuss the associations legislative priorities for 2019.

The group requested support for $60 million to support additional dredging needs in three areas including for inland waterways, small, remote and subsistence navigation, and navigation in general. The additional funds would be placed in the Corps operations and maintenance budget for waterway maintenance dredging.

The AIWA delegation shared information from the Corps on the operations and maintenance needs of the AIWW. Current estimates show that to return the AIWW to its authorized width and depth are approximately $93 million, which is $13 million less than last year. The cost estimate to keep the AIWW at its authorized width and depth is approximately $49.5 million.