Community, Latest News

Hildebrand, Opekiska locks to open for boating, fishing season

MORGANTOWN — The Upper Monongahela River Association announced the opening of Hildebrand and Opekiska locks for the 2021 boating and fishing season.

This allows boaters to see two pools of the Monongahela River that are inaccessible without public boat ramps. UMRA has again teamed with local agencies to raise funds and negotiate with the Corps of Engineers to open the locks at Opekiska and Hildebrand for 11 days this summer. Bass fishing tournaments will be held on seven of these days.

The Morgantown lock is always open from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. For only the following dates Opekiska and Hildebrand will open at 7 a.m. and close at 4 p.m: May 22, 23, 29; June 12, 19, 20; July 4, 24; Aug. 22; Sept. 4, 5.

On all three locks the last lock-through will be 30 minutes prior to closing. Call the Point Marion Lock for more information, at 724-725-5259.

Contributors to this effort to make the Mon River accessible for boaters have included the Marion and Monongalia counties’ commissions; the cities of Granville, Morgantown and Westover; the Mon County Development Authority; the Morgantown Industrial Park; and Visit Mountaineer Country Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Info: UpperMonRiver.org.

Tweet @DominionPostWV