The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommendations on commercial shipping on the Seaway are exciting river activists. Our Amanda Kelley reports.

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NORTHERN NEW YORK -- Commercial ships are almost constantly traveling the St. Lawrence Seaway and some have wanted to bring even bigger vessels to the Great Lakes Region. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have studied the idea and now are offering their recommendations.

Project Manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Adam Fox said, "We ended up concentrating more on the existing infrastructure of the Great Lakes and found that that needed more attention and to no longer consider any expansion to the great lakes shipping."

It's something many in surrounding river communities are excited about.

Save the River Executive Director Jennifer Caddick said, "Seaway expansion would mean significant widening of the seaway channels, deepening and dredging out the river and in portions in the river where the shipping channel is very narrow it could mean moving entire islands out of the way."

One of the main reasons the corps of engineers decided to recommend not to expand shipping on the St. Lawrence was actually because of how much Canada would have to contribute.

Caddick said, "Thirteen of the eighteen locks that ships have to go through to get into the Great Lakes are owned by Canada. I think overall one of the bigger sticking points is that Canada's been reluctant to invest the tremendous amount of funds to change those locks."

Fox said, "The Canadian Government is just most interested in maintaining that system."

This recommendation remains in the public comment period until the end of the month, but so far the project manager says he doesn't expect major changes. It's a victory for those working to protect the river.

Caddick said, "All of that work made a difference and speaking out and getting elected officials involved has forced the Army Corps of Engineers to officially recognize that Seaway expansion is just not the right way to go for the St. Lawrence River System."

To read the entire reconnaissance study done on the Great Lakes Navigation System by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, visit www.lre.usace.army.mil .