The federal government on Monday awarded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District $205.2 million for the 2025 Fiscal Year (FY) to do work within the Cumberland River Basin in Tennessee and Kentucky.
The work will support infrastructure, navigation, flood risk management, hydropower, recreation, and environmental stewardship.
“This significant investment empowers us to continue delivering solutions that benefit communities, infrastructure and the environment throughout the Cumberland and Tennessee River basins,” said Lt. Col. Robert Green, commander of the Nashville District.
“From maintaining aging infrastructure to ensuring safe and efficient navigation, our dedicated team is ready to execute this important work,” he added.
For its 2025 FY Work Plan, $173 million will go towards operation and maintenance. This funding will assist with dam safety inspections and repairs. Furthermore, the money will support lock operations, environmental compliance, and recreation facility management at multipurpose reservoir projects.
The remaining $32.2 million will be used for continued construction of the Chickamauga Lock in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
“The Chickamauga Lock project is one of our highest construction priorities, and continued investment in fiscal 2025 keeps us moving toward a modern, reliable navigation system for the region,” said Craig Carrington, deputy for project management.
This money will benefit efforts to replace an old and structurally deficient lock serving the Tennessee River’s commercial navigation.
In addition, the Tennessee River got $52.84 million for its navigation and maintenance issues.
“These rivers and reservoirs are critical to commercial navigation flood risk management, hydropower generation, and recreation across the region,” said Tim Fudge, chief of operations for the Nashville District. “O&M funding allows us to continue delivering these critical missions safely and efficiently.”
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Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network. Email tips to Zachery at [email protected].