It hardly seems like three years have passed since Hurricane Hanna caused a 125-foot breach in the C&O Canal near Old Anglers Inn.

After the storm, I wrote to the Secretary of the Interior to ask that the National Park Service assist in funding repairs to the Canal.  Since then, I have worked closely with NPS staff and representatives from the C&O Canal Trust to pursue funds to repair the breach.  This past spring, I lent my support to the Park's request for state funding that matches federal dollars to put the Canal on the (tow)path to repair.

I am very pleased to report that $1.1M from the state has now been allocated to the Canal for this purpose.  Many thanks to the Governor, our state delegation, and also to Congressman Chris Van Hollen and his staff for their assistance in securing the funding that is the first step in returning the canal to its status as a treasure of Montgomery County.  This past Saturday, I joined Congressman Van Hollen and Matt Logan of the C&O Canal Trust at their Park After Dark event to mark the occasion.