State Representative Promotes Waterway Safety

Pennsylvania Representative Natalie Mihalek (R- District 40-Allegheny, Washington) held a press conference to promote House Bill 961 that she is sponsoring drawing attention to waterway safety especially as it relates to the dangers of low head dams. Mihalek was joined by Kathy Gentile, widow of Jonathan Gentile, who drowned in May of 2022 on the Delaware River in New Hope, PA when his kayak capsized as he encountered a low head dam. Mihalek was also joined by Kirk Kreider, Acting Chief of the Division of Dam Safety of the Pennsylvania DEP who stated that many of these dams were built in the 1700’s and early 1800s to power grist mills and early industry. Pennsylvania is home to 90,000 miles of creeks, streams and rivers that water enthusiasts enjoy each year. He said Pennsylvania has 265 low head dams and they are the most common dam related to loss of life. Lujane Doughener, a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers spoke of waterway maintenance and a safety victory on the federal level. She said that in 2024, a national inventory of low head dams was included in the Water Resource Development Act providing a resource that can save lives. House Bill 961 is a bi-partisan measure that has been referred to the Game and Fisheries Committee and is awaiting further action.