The Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) continues responding to active shoaling in Southwest Pass (SWP) deposited by long-term high river stages (flood event).  There are four industry hopper dredges, two industry cutterhead dredges and one government hopper dredge working in SWP.

 

UPDATED: TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS AT SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):

The Bar Pilots maximum draft recommendation remains at 44 feet (freshwater) as established at 1000 hours on Wednesday, April 17, 2019. 

The Crescent River Port Pilots also increased their maximum draft recommendation to 44 feet (freshwater) on Wednesday, April 17, 2019.   

The Federal Pilots increased their maximum draft recommendation to 44 feet (freshwater) yesterday, Wednesday, April 24, 2019 as a result of improving conditions in Southwest Pass.

 

INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP): 

BAYPORT:  The industry hopper dredge is dredging at the Venice Jump from Mile 10.4 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to Mile 10.1 AHP.  The hopper began working under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #6-2018 on Sunday, March 31, 2019 (Manson Construction has utilized three dredges: NEWPORT to GLENN EDWARDS now to the BAYPORT to complete this contract).  The BAYPORT is now expected to complete this contract on April 29, 2019.

NEWPORT:  The hopper dredge NEWPORT (Manson Construction) is presently dredging from Mile 2.3 AHP to Mile 1.2 AHP.  The NEWPORT is working under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #1-2019.  The NEWPORT began dredging in SWP on November 28, 2018.  The MVN intends to exercise the options on the NEWPORT’s contract to keep the hopper dredge working in SWP until June 4, 2019.

GLENN EDWARDS: The industry hopper dredge is dredging on assignment at the Head of Passes (approximately Mile 0.6 AHP to Mile 0.8 Below Head of Passes [BHP]).  The GLENN EDWARDS resumed dredging in SWP on Sunday, March 31, 2019 under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #7-2019.   The contract should be completed around May 29, 2019.

STUYVESANT:  The industry hopper dredge STUYVESANT (Dutra Group) is dredging on the jetty end of SWP (Mile 17.8 BHP to Mile 19.6 BHP).  The STUYVESANT began dredging in SWP on Thursday, March 7, 2019 under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #6-2019.  This contract should keep the STUYVESANT in SWP until June 9, 2019 (approximately)

 

GOVERNMENT HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):

RED FLAG EMERGENCY CALL OUTS:

 WHEELER:  MVN’s hopper dredge WHEELER is presently dredging in the area of the area of Cubits Gap (Mile 3.5 AHP to Mile 3.0 AHP).  The WHEELER began working under Red Flag Emergency Call Out #4-2019 (30-days) on April 10, 2019.

 

CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):

R.S. WEEKS: The industry cutterhead dredge R.S. WEEKS (Weeks Marine) has completed the assignment from Mile 1.5 AHP to Mile 2.0 BHP.  The cutterhead is in the process of relocating to the Hopper Dredge Disposal Area to resume that assignment once all equipment is relocated. The cutterhead worked on the navigation channel from December 15, 2018 to April 24, 2019.

CAPTAIN FRANK: The industry cutterhead dredge CAPTAIN FRANK is presently dredging at Mile 5.21 BHP.  The cutterhead is working on assignment from Mile 4.9 BHP to Mile 6.1 BHP on the western side of the channel. The cutterhead started dredging in SWP on February 23, 2109.

The Carrollton Gauge (New Orleans) reading at 1100 hours was 16.25 feet with a 24-hour change of + 0.09 feet.

The Baton Rouge Gauge reading at 1200 hours was 41.03 feet with a 24-hour change of + 0.13 feet.

The Extended Streamflow Predictions predict the Carrollton Gauge will remain steady but increase to a new crest of 16.4 feet on May 10^th and then slowly recede to 15.8 feet on May 23^rd.

The graph below is reproduced from NOAA’s National Weather Service website and represents an experimental product to account for the complexity of accurately predicting long-range precipitation.  This forecast projects stage levels based on expected precipitation for 2 days (top) and 16 days (bottom) and was developed within the North American Ensemble Forecast System (NAEFS) computer model and highlights Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts (QPF).  Along with the forecasts, a shaded area is also provided to indicate uncertainty for the forecast each day in the future.   These plots are experimental and not an official forecast product.

 

Please see the attached report for complete details related to dredge assignments.