The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is focusing channel maintenance efforts to the Crossings Above New Orleans as Southwest Pass has been restored to authorized channel dimensions. The dustpan dredges: JADWIN and WALLACE McGEORGE and the hopper dredges BAYPORT and GLENN EDWARDS are all working on the Crossings Above New Orleans. The dustpan dredge HURLEY was released at noon today to head upriver to work on severe shoaling on the shallow-draft channel at Victoria Bend (Mile 595 Above Head of Passes [AHP]) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service’s Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) issued today for the Baton Rouge Gauge predicts a drop from 20.4 feet to 13.0 feet on August 15, 2020 – a difference of 7.4 feet.
DUSTPAN DREDGE(S) ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:
The MVN continues dredging to restore or maintain at least the central 250 feet of the channel (authorized width is 500 feet) on the Crossings Above New Orleans as river stages fall.
HURLEY: The government dustpan dredge HURLEY was released from the assignment at Red Eye Crossing (Mile 224 AHP) at 1200 hours today to move upriver to address shoaling on the shallow draft channel (Victoria Bend). The HURLEY commenced dredging on the Crossings on June 29, 2020 and is expected to return to the Crossings around August 3rd.
WALLACE McGEORGE: The industry dustpan dredge is dredging the central 250 feet of the channel at Alhambra Crossing (Mile 192 AHP). The White Castle Anchorage (Mile 191.1 AHP to Mile 190.4 AHP) remains off limits for vessel usage as noted in the attached Marine Safety Information Bulletin issued by the U.S. Coast Guard. The USACE estimates this assignment will be completed by July 24, 2020. The WALLACE McGEORGE commenced dredging on the Crossings on Thursday, May 21, 2020.
JADWIN: The government dustpan dredge continues dredging on the central 250 feet of channel at Philadelphia Point (Mile 183 AHP). The JADWIN began dredging on the Crossings on Thursday, May 21, 2020
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE(S) ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:
GLENN EDWARDS: The industry hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS (Manson Construction) completed the assignment at Smoke Bend Crossing (Mile 175 AHP) and moved downriver to start dredging the central 400 feet of channel at Belmont Crossing (Mile 154 AHP). The GLENN EDWARDS began dredging in Southwest Pass on March 20, 2020 under Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Rental Contract #13-2019. This contract has been extended and the hopper dredge is now expected to complete this contract around July 23, 2020.
BAYPORT: The hopper dredge BAYPORT (Manson Construction) is dredging the central 250 feet of channel at Bayou Goula Crossing (Mile 198 AHP). The MVN continues the efforts to extend the present contract to keep the BAYPORT working on the Mississippi River Ship Channel. The BAYPORT commenced dredging on the Crossings on July 9, 2020.
CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) AT THE NEW ORLEANS HARBOR:
CAPTAIN FRANK: Weeks Marine’s cutterhead dredge CAPTAIN FRANK continues dredging from Orange Street to the area in front of the Jax Brewery in the New Orleans Harbor. The cutterhead commenced work under New Orleans Harbor and Baptiste Collette Cutterhead Rental Contract #4-2019 on June 26, 2020.
GOVERNMENT HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN THE AREA OF SOUTHWEST PASS:
WHEELER: The government hopper dredge WHEELER is in need of repairs that will require some time in dry dock. The WHEELER was scheduled to dredge under Readiness Exercise #2-2020 from July 14 to August 3, 2020. The revised Readiness Exercise dates or plans will be shared when more details are available.
The Carrollton Gauge (New Orleans) reading at 1200 hours today was 6.81 feet with a 24-hour change of – 0.41 feet.
NOAA’s National Weather Service’s Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Carrollton Gauge issued today indicates a slow fall to 4.7 feet on August 15, 2020.
The Baton Rouge Gauge reading at 1200 hours today was 20.90 feet with a 24-hour change of – 1.39 feet.
NOAA’s National Weather Service’s Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Baton Rouge Gauge issued today indicates a slow fall to 13.0 feet on August 15, 2020.
