MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Persistence finally has paid off for bass anglers and other recreational boaters who want to access the upper Monongahela River. For the first time since 2012, they will be able to pass through the Opekiska and Hildebrand locks, as well as take advantage of extended operating hours at the Morgantown lock.
This summer, the locks will be open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, for a total of 18 days.
“This agreement is the first of its kind in the nation,” said Tim Mitchem, president of the B.A.S.S. Nation of West Virginia (BNWV). “Basically the agreement we reached allows the Corps (of Engineers) to accept funds from a public entity, in this case the Monongalia County Commission (MCC), to operate the locks.”
A memorandum of understanding outlines when and how the Corps will operate the locks for a specified number of days, he continued, adding that cost averages about $1,000 daily per lock.
“Having these locks open allows the B.A.S.S. Nation of West Virginia to host the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Mid-Atlantic Divisional at Fairmont on the river this year,” Mitchem said. “It also allows local recreational boaters to navigate the river between locks that they have not been able to in years.”
More tournaments already are planned as well, explained the state president, who also is on the board of the Upper Monongahela River Association (UMRA). “And these events bring in much needed revenue to the local economy.”
The commission, supported by BNWV, signed the agreement, along with the Corps and the MCC, following more than 20 months of negotiations.
“One multi-state bass tournament, and we plan to have at least one this summer, can bring $80,000 to the region,” said Barry Pallay, UMRA president.
“It is not possible to have large tournaments without having the locks open. One pool is not large enough.”
About three years ago, the Corps closed the locks to all except commercial traffic by appointment only because of a funding shortage. BNWV then negotiated with the agency to open them for six days each summer, but the agreement came with no guarantee.
With the opening of the locks, Mitchem said that he has been contacted by the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Morgantown, which wants to host B.A.S.S. Nation tournaments.
“Without having this agreement in place, none of this would be possible,” he said. “We’re already receiving support for next year, when we hope to have the locks open for even more days.”