About Us

Written by Brad Pickel

Wednesday, March 23, 2011 04:44 AM

AIWA

The Voice of the Waterway

The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association proudly represents the interests of commercial and recreational users of the waterway. AIWA is the only organization dedicated to ensuring the future of the AIWW and, as such, we have earned the reputation of being “The Voice of the Waterway.”Our members hail from 39 states and Canada and include both commercial and recreational users.

The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW) extends 1200 miles from Norfolk, Virginia to Key West, Florida. Some lengths consist of natural inlets, salt-water rivers, bays, and sounds; others are man-made canals. Congress authorized the creation of the AIWW in 1919 and the entire waterway was completed in 1940. The US Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for maintaining the waterway. read more

The historical significance of the AIWW has been well documented. read more

Be an advocate for the AIWW – Join AIWA today!

Association Leaders have successfully:

• Lobbied Members of Congress annually to increase maintenance funding for all segments of the Waterway. This has resulted in Georgia receiving maintenance dredging funds for the first time in 7 years and the funding of a regional dredged material management plan for the Waterway.

• Drafted legislation for a Federal dedicated funding source for the Waterway from existing user tax revenues. This legislation has been submitted to the appropriate Congressional committees.

• Worked with the five Waterway states to increase their participation in this joint Federal/State project. This has resulted in North Carolina and Georgia initiating economic studies of their portions of the Waterway. Florida and North Carolina are providing funds to support Federal maintenance dredging of the Waterway while Georgia is considering the same.

The Association's is working to:

- Create a federal dedicated funding source for waterway maintenance.
- Recover gas tax fees paid for by commercial users of the waterway that are being spent elsewhere.
- Advocate for increased partnership funding by the waterway states.
- Develop economic studies in South Carolina and Georgia.
- Advocate for better data collection on the use and economic activity of the waterway.
- Continue to promote, market and communicate with all organizations and communities about the critical importance of the waterway.

For more information about the AIWA, Click on the icon below which will lead you to our press kit.

Last Updated on Thursday, January 24, 2013 01:34 PM