>>ISSUES

The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW) is a commercial water

highway serving Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia 

and Florida.  Construction of the Waterway was completed in 1940 

and it has become  valuable for commercial, military, recreational 

and dredging industry traffic, generating billions of dollars of 

commercial, recreational and personal income annually.  The 

authorized depth for most of the AIWW is 12 feet, however, 

there are areas that can be as low as 2.5 feet, creating a serious

navigation safety issue for users.

FEDERAL BUDGET AND MAINTENANCE

The US Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for maintaining 

the AIWW.  The Corps receives its annual funding from the 

Energy and Water Development Appropriations subcommittee.  

The federal budget becomes more challenging every year and 

funding priority is given to inland waterways based on the amount 

of cargo carried annually on barges.  The Corps maintains the 

annual Waterborne Commerce Statistics database that is the 

documentation the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 

uses to develop the President’s budget.

What OMB does not take into consideration is the many other 

vessels that use and rely on the AIWW.  Commercial fishing 

vessels, sport fishing vessels, recreational vessels, National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) vessels, US Department 

of Energy contracted vessels, research vessels and dredging vessels 

are not documented.  As a result OMB annually develops a budget 

that is inadequate and has caused major shoaling problems in the AIWW.

ENVIRONMENT

 Energy Efficient

The most energy-efficient way to move commodities such as coal, 

grain, iron, steel, aggregates, petroleum and chemical products is to 

use the nation’s navigable rivers.  Barges can move one ton of cargo 

576 miles per gallon of fuel. A rail car would move the same ton of 

cargo 413 miles, and a truck only 155 miles.  (courtesy of the 

National Waterways Foundation)

 Clean Air

 Summary of Emissions - Grams per Ton-Mile (National Waterways Foundation)

 ECONOMIC VALUE

North Carolina

A 2006 North Carolina Report to the North Carolina Sea Grant Program, the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR) and the North Carolina Beach, Inlet and Waterway Association (NCBIWA) on the Economic Impacts and Economic Benefits of Recreational Boating Along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW) in North Carolina

• $257 Million annual sales
• Over 4000 jobs
• $124 Million in wages
•  $35.6 Million in federal taxes and fees
• $21.4 Million in state taxes and fees

Georgia

 A Study conducted by Georgia Marine Business Association (GAMBA) of their members indicated that $33million total revenue generated by the AIWW to GA businesses on the waterway

Florida

Results of a 2006 study completed by the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND)

• $18 Billion total economic output
• $6 Billion total personal wages
• 203,519 total job$38.4 Billion total property values