POINT MARION, Pa. -- The Mon River has a large number of groups that support and add life to the river, each a part of Corps of Engineers and River Recreational Users, or CERRUS. Wednesday they met to discuss usage, contents, and health of the Monongahela River.

For instance, have you ever wondered what a stagnant economy would do to river travel? The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says commercial usage of the river's locks and dams is down 20 percent, and not only in our neck of the woods.

"We found in 2009, commercial traffic is down about 20 percent throughout the district," explained Chief of Navigation of the Pittsburgh District David Sneberger. "That's also from other people I've talked to nationwide."

Seventy-five percent of that commercial traffic is coal, said Sneberger.

Recreational use, however, has more than doubled because of the lower price of fuel, according to the statistics. That usage is soon going to include a Waterbus, courtesy of MountainLine Transit. However, the steep $1.5 million price tag means the project will develop slowly.

"We're going to break it down in stages," said Granville Mayor Patty Lewis. "We hope to clear the property this fall, and in the early spring, maybe put the first phase out for bid for the ramp and the dock that will house the river bus."

The CERRUS also got an update about the detrimental Dunkard Creek Fish Kill.

Frank Jernejcic explained that each fish is worth a certain amount of money. For instance, a six inch sucker might be worth $1.50 and a muskie bigger than 30 pounds could reach $50 a pound. The offender will have to pay a fine equal to the amount of the loss, he explained.

"So we will determine the weight of the fish, multiply it by the numbers of fish and the exponential factor for length of the kill, and we come up with a value for the whole area," said Jernejcic.

For more information on the Dunkard Creek Fish Kill, or the CERRUS, visit the links below.