Initiatives | Goals & Objectives

Build a growing community of support through education of its members, prospective members, community groups and relevant government officials.

Issue:

The majority of shippers and users of the waterway are not fully aware of the value of the waterway to their businesses, or the accomplishments of the GICA.

Goal:

Keep membership dues low by significantly broadening the base of membership, and promote understanding of the value of services provided by the GICA. Form an alliance with the Waterways Council to increase awareness and knowledge of the inland barge industry among legislators and the general public.

Issue:

GICA dues and membership are inadequate to support the demands of its expanding role, including the additional navigation responsibilities previously handled by AWO.

Goal:

Increase annual dues and membership to adequately fund the required efforts. Secure membership of customers, suppliers and others who indirectly benefit from the waterway. Provide added value to members by promoting the concept of buying from waterway supporters.

Issue:

The general public is largely unaware of the advantages of inland waterway transportation. Their awareness and support of this industry is essential to its long term success.

Goal:

Tell the "waterways story" in a variety of venues, including Rotary Clubs, Chambers of Commerce, industry/agency conferences, media, etc.

Ensure an adequate, continuous flow of federal funds for both maintenance and construction by consulting with the Corps of Engineers and the Coast Guard, and convincing the appropriate Congressional Committees of the soundness of continued investment in the waterway.

Issue:

Due to budgetary pressure and competing environmental restoration projects such as restoration of the Everglades, Corps and Coast Guard budgets are almost always inadequate to properly maintain the waterway.

Goal:

Ensure budgets for the Mobile, New Orleans and Galveston Corps Districts, and the Eighth Coast Guard District are adequate to properly maintain and mark the waterway.

Issue:

Spare lock gates have not been available on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and tributaries as they have on other rivers, thus increasing delays when the gates are repaired.

Goal:

Working with Corps districts, develop a plan to secure spare gates where they are economically feasible.

Issue:

The Corps is reviewing the efficiency of all shallow draft locks in Louisiana.

Goal:

Ensure this study is completed expeditiously and properly reflects the efficiencies that can be gained by potential improvements. Bayou Sorrel and Calcasieu are prime candidates for replacement. Continue to represent the interests of ports and waterway users in the design and construction of the Bayou Sorrel Lock, and the Calcasieu Lock replacement study.

Issue:

Inland Waterways Trust Fund projects are not receiving adequate funding for completion on an acceptable schedule.

Goal:

Join with the Waterways Council in a focused effort to expedite funding of existing Inland Waterways Trust Fund Projects by participating on the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Project Team.

Identify existing physical hazards and other opportunities to improve the safety and efficiency of the GIWW. Inform members and work with the Coast Guard and Corps to accomplish the needed improvements.

Issue:

Many navigation problems and needed improvements go unaddressed for years, and AWO no longer addresses local navigation issues on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.

Goal:

Provide a coordinated, single voice to identify and monitor navigation problems. Provide members with timely information and relay industry concerns to the Corps and Coast Guard, allowing them to recognize navigation hazards and opportunities for improvement, and accomplish them in a timely manner.

Issue:

Emergency canal closures, traffic restrictions, and planned construction closures can be more timely and effectively communicated.

Goal:

Develop a close, trusting relationship with key Corps and Coast Guard personnel. Continue development of internet-based real-time notification of navigation hazards and shutdowns.

Identify, analyze, address and publicize issues that may affect the waterway, its shippers and users.

Issue:

Legislation, regulation and events that affect the viability and efficiency of the waterway are not always obvious until they have achieved significant momentum.

Goal:

Become aware, soon enough to take effective action, of all issues that may affect the viability and/or efficiency of the waterway or its shippers and operators. Examples are proposed legislation affecting the Laguna Madre segment of the waterway, and various wetlands and erosion protection initiatives which impact the waterway.

Actively pursue innovative, economical and environmentally acceptable methods of maintaining the GIWW, its tributaries and ports.

Issue:

Section 216 Studies along the Texas portion of the waterway threaten to increase the cost of maintenance several fold.

Goal:

Convince the Corps to use real science in finding cost-effective and environmentally-sound ways to continue maintenance of the waterway without threatening its efficiency. Ensure that the average cost per mile for maintenance of the waterway covered by any Section 216 Study does not increase by more than 100% as a result of the Section 216 study or accompanying Dredged Material Management Plan. Suggest more expeditious avenues for project completion such as using Operations and Maintenance funding on selected projects. Examples include the Forked Island Wiggles in Louisiana and the Caney Creek Wiggles in Texas.

Forcefully advocate the value of the GIWW, and oppose initiatives that would unfairly burden its shippers, operators or sponsors with unjustified costs.

Issue:

The Atchafalaya Flood Control Project and the Houma Hurricane Plan may include unnecessary structures and/or unreasonable current diversion that would impede navigation on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.

Goal:

Continue to actively monitor and participate in these studies, ensuring that structures placed in the waterway are cost justified, and do not unreasonably impede navigation or produce unacceptable current flows.

Issue:

As a result of the settlement of a lawsuit with the Lower Laguna Madre Foundation and Audubon Society, the Corps only performs emergency dredging on the GIWW between Corpus Christi and Brownsville. Although navigation has not been affected, the uncertainty of future access negatively impacts the ability of ports to market their services.

Goal:

Convince the Corps to complete the dredged material management plans in a timely manner, and to not unreasonably increase the cost of maintaining this section of the waterway. Proactively advocate the use of the completed dredged material management plan as the best possible alternative for all concerns in managing the Laguna Madre issues.

Issue:

Due to conflicts over where to place dredged material, navigation on the Escambia river remains restricted.

Goal:

Facilitate agreement between the Corps and the state on an acceptable dredged material placement plan, allowing current and continuing maintenance to occur.

Issue:

The Galveston Causeway Railroad Bridge is a hazard to navigation.

Goal:

Secure adequate funds for completion of the Galveston Railroad Bridge Replacement by the end of 2007. Make this a continuing priority item in all funding requests of the GICA to congressional members.

Develop "common sense" methods to preserve, protect, enhance and restore coastal wetlands and other valuable environmental resources by reaching consensus with responsible governmental agencies and private sector groups.

Issue:

Louisiana's Coast 2050 Program, the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service's proposal to designate thousands of acres of Gulf Coast wetlands as critical Piping Plover habitat, listing of the Alabama sturgeon as endangered, and similar initiatives threaten to impede waterway maintenance - either directly or by siphoning funds for environmental restoration purposes.

Goal:

Ensure that waterway maintenance is not threatened by monitoring these efforts, actively engaging in specific procedures to ensure the use of "sound science," and, if necessary, coach the appropriate parties to secure funds that are not charged against waterway maintenance.

Issue:

Coastal erosion in Louisiana and Texas is fast becoming a national issue. The waterway can be positively or negatively impacted by projects which intend to address these issues.

Goal:

Maintain a close relationship with groups which guide erosion protection initiatives that may impact the waterway. Continue to foster relationships with America's Wetland, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, Coastal Louisiana 2050 and Coastal Texas 2020.

Assist in new business development which adds value to the waterway, ports, and waterway-dependent businesses.

Issue:

Container on barge, military transport, and location of new industry along the waterway are fast becoming new avenues for use of the waterway and port facilities.

Goal:

Continue to support new business inquiries and facilitate information exchange that leads to expansion of waterway usage and added value to ports and local communities.