The Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) continues dredging operations in response to active shoaling deposited by long-term high river stages (historic flood event and record precipitation levels). There are three hopper dredges presently working in the area of SWP and two dustpan dredges working to restore half channel width on the Crossings.  The MVN has delayed the advertisement of Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #12-2019 until next week.

 

UPDATED: TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS AT SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):             

1. The Bar Pilots maximum draft recommendation was increased to 43 feet (freshwater) at 1000 hours today. The official notice from the Bar Pilots is attached.
2. The Crescent River Port Pilots maximum draft recommendation of 44 feet (freshwater) for their route was reestablished after Hurricane Barry.  
3. The Federal Pilots maximum draft recommendation was also increased to 43 feet (freshwater) today.

 The controlling maximum draft for all vessels transiting Southwest Pass as implemented at 1000 hours today, Friday, July 19, 2019 is 43 feet freshwater (Bar and Federal Pilots).

 

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

 STUYVESANT:  The industry hopper dredge STUYVESANT (Dutra Group) continues dredging on assignment at the Head of Passes (Mile 1.5  Above Head of Passes [AHP] to Mile 0.5 Below Head of Passes [BHP]). The STUYVESANT began dredging under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #10-2019 on June 14, 2019.

 NEWPORT:  The hopper dredge NEWPORT (Manson Construction) is dredging from Mile 0.5 BHP to Mile 1.5 BHP.  The NEWPORT is now dredging under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #8-2019.  The NEWPORT began dredging in SWP on November 28, 2018.

 

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

 WHEELER: MVN’s hopper dredge WHEELER continues dredging at Cubits Gap (Mile 4.0 AHP to Mile 2.0 AHP) under Red Flag Emergency Callout #5-2019.  The WHEELER is expected to commence dredging under Red Flag Emergency Callout #6-2019 at the end of next week (projected to be July 25, 2019) for 45-days.

 

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

 C.R. McCASKILL: Weeks Marine’s cutterhead dredge C.R. McCASKILL is expected to start dredging at Mile 2.5 BHP on the western channel toe tomorrow, July 20, 2019 under Southwest Pass Cutterhead Dredge Rental Contract #2-2019.

 CAPTAIN FRANK: Weeks Marine’s cutterhead dredge CAPTAIN FRANK is expected to start dredging at Mile 5.0 BHP on the western channel toe by July 24, 2019 under Southwest Pass Cutterhead Dredge Rental Contract #2-2019.

 

CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) IN THE HOPPER DREDGE DISPOSAL AREA (HDDA):

R.S. WEEKS: The industry cutterhead dredge R.S. WEEKS (Weeks Marine) continues dredging at the HDDA, all material is being beneficially used in the Pass A’Loutre Wildlife Management Area (PALWMA).  Approximately 5.0 million cubic yards of material have now been beneficially placed in the PALWMA from the HDDA.

 

DUSTPAN DREDGE(S) ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:

WALLCE McGEORGE: The industry dustpan dredge WALLCE McGEORGE continues dredging the central 250 feet of channel at Baton Rouge Front (Mile 231.5 AHP).  The industry dustpan dredge commenced dredging on the Crossings on May 9, 2019.

JADWIN: The Corps dustpan dredge JADWIN continues dredging on the central 250 feet at Belmont Crossing (Mile 154 AHP).  The government dustpan dredge commenced dredging on the Crossings on June 27, 2019.

 HURLEY: The Corps dustpan dredge HURLEY continues to undergo repairs at Red Eye Crossing (Mile 224 AHP) and is now expected to return to dredging over the next 48-hours.  The government dustpan dredge commenced dredging on the Crossings on May 4, 2019.

 

The Carrollton Gauge (New Orleans) reading at 1500 hours was 15.95feet, with a 24-hour change of – 0.13 feet. 

 

The Baton Rouge Gauge reading at 1500 hours was 41.62 feet, with a 24-hour change of  – 0.26 feet. 

 

The forecasts now predict the stage to begin a slow and steady fall reaching 13.5 feet by August 16, 2019.

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.

There are 168 bays still opened at the Bonnet Carré Spillway. 

Please see the attached reports for complete details related to dredge assignments and the National Weather Service’s “Consecutive Days Above Flood Stage” table as issued today.