In working with the staff of the C&O Canal NHP, the Trust has identified four high priority initiatives. These are multi-year, multi-phase projects that will require significant funding beyond the annual federal appropriation for operations that the park receives.

• Georgetown to Seneca – Includes restoring locks to full operation, renovating lock houses and putting them to use, adding more replica boats, restoring the Seneca Aqueduct, watering from Violette’s to Riley’s Lock, and opening the turning basin above Seneca Aqueduct for recreation.
• Historic building rehabilitation – Includes identifying uses for various historic buildings, and restoring them for those purposes. This overlaps with the first initiative above, but extends the entire length of the park.
• Williamsport – Potential to be the premier educational and interpretive center in the entire park. Includes relocating and enhancing the visitor center, restoring coal operations building and equipment, restoring lock 44 and the Conococheague Aqueduct, watering more of the canal, and restoring the unique railroad lift-bridge.
• Big Slackwater –Involves the sustainable design and restoration of a three-mile section of the riverside towpath, which is subject to damaging floodwaters and wave erosion from motorized watercraft. This section is closed to visitors, forcing cyclists and pedestrians to take a six-mile detour on narrow and dangerous county roads.

The Trust and park staff have identified several other worthy initiatives for the Trust to undertake, such as acquisition of new canal boats; expansion of the Volunteer-in-Parks program; completion of the Western Maryland Rail-Trail; and enhanced internet access to historic photographs, documents, and audio files.