Big Slackwater Towpath Restoration: Summary and Status

Restoration of the closed section of the C&O Canal towpath at Big Slackwater is a top priority for the C&O Canal Association and for many other organizations and individuals that support the C&O Canal National Historical Park. This web page provides facts and news about this important project.

The Problem: Erosion has caused the National Park Service to close several miles of the towpath, forcing hikers and bikers to make an unsafe 4.7-mile detour along public roads. This Big Slackwater closure is the only gap in the historic towpath between Georgetown, D.C., and Cumberland, Md.. It is also disrupts the continuity of the new trail that connects Georgetown with the environs of Pittsburgh, Pa.

The Location: Big Slackwater is a section of the C&O Canal NHP in Washington County, Md., between Dam No. 4 (mile 84.6) and McMahon’s Mill (mile 88.1). The towpath here historically followed the bank of the Potomac, allowing boats to be towed along a quiet section of the river. This scenic area was a popular section of the Park until recent years, when severe erosion forced NPS to close off public access.

Background: NPS conducted an engineering study of Big Slackwater in the 1990s. The C&O Canal National Historical Park has currently assigned the project its highest priority. This was reflected in a list of "Unfunded Funding Components" distributed at the January 19, 2007, meeting of the park’s advisory commission. The estimated project cost was listed as just over $15 million.

C&OCA Actions: In 2005, the C&O Canal Association began a major effort to support restoration of the Big Slackwater towpath. In August 2006, C&OCA sponsored a boat trip to demonstrate the erosion and the required repairs to federal and state lawmakers, local officials, and the media. The Association has continued to advocate the need to reestablish towpath continuity, and has raised awareness of this issue by such means as a petition drive by volunteers positioned near the downriver terminus of the detour.

In May 2007, a report by the Secretary of the Interior cited Big Slackwater restoration as an example of accomplishments possible under the proposed Centennial Initiative program to improve the National Park System. C&OCA and others expressed support for the inclusion of Big Slackwater in the Centennial Challenge, the matching grant portion of the Initiative; however, the project was not among those initially selected for the Challenge program. It remains unclear whether Big Slackwater will eventually be assisted by the Centennial Challenge, which has not yet been approved or funded by Congress.

In August 2007, C&OCA contributed $15,000 as part of matching funds for a grant to support a new engineering study of the Big Slackwater project. A contract for this "30 percent design study" has been awarded and the study is proceeding.

C&OCA will continue to advocate the timely restoration and reopening of the towpath at Big Slackwater and to work with others seeking the same result. We hope that citizens and organizations that share this goal will make their views known to the media and to elected officials.

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