The Big River Coalition would like to thank all veterans and government agencies for their service to our country this Veterans Day.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) continues working to maintain channel dimensions and on Phase 2 of the Mississippi River Ship Channel (MRSC) deepening project. The USACE officially began Phase 2 of the deepening project on October 8, 2021 with the government dustpan dredge JADWIN.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER SHIP CHANNEL DEEPENING PHASE 2:
The USACE with input and alignment from representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, pilot associations and navigation industry formalized a plan to revise the logistical approach to Phase 2 of the MRSC deepening operations. The adjusted Phase 2 assignments will deepen the four southernmost (downriver) of the Crossings Above New Orleans. Specifically, a reach of the Ship Channel from Smoke Bend (Mile 175 AHP) to Fairview Crossing (Mile 115 AHP). The hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS was expected to work on deepening at Fairview Crossing. However, updated channel surveys indicated sufficient depth to accommodate the deeper channel authorization and the GLENN EDWARDS will work on other projects until needed again on the MRSC. Two of the four lower Crossings have either been deepened or did not need dredging to accommodate the deeper channel dimensions and a third is expected to be completed next week (Smoke Bend). The USACE estimates that the Phase 2 dredging operations could be completed by early December (2021).
DUSTPAN DREDGES WORKING ON DEEPENING THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:
JADWIN: The dustpan dredge JADWIN continues dredging to deepen the Mississippi River Ship Channel to 50 Feet at Smoke Bend (Mile 175 AHP). The JADWIN began Phase 2 of the MRSC Ship Channel deepening to 50 feet on October 8, 2021, this assignment could be completed next week.
HURLEY: The government dustpan dredge HURLEY completed the Phase 2 deepening assignment at Belmont Crossing (Mile 154 AHP) yesterday afternoon of November 10, 201. The HURLEY is expected to start the Phase 2 deepening assignment at Rich Bend (Mile 158.8 AHP) later today. The HURLEY started work under Phase 2 of the Ship Channel deepening to 50 feet at Belmont Crossing on October 10, 2021.
The USACE has confirmed that the NOBRA and Federal Pilots can open up Belmont Anchorage (Mile 154.0 AHP to Mile 152.9 AHP) to normal vessel usage at this time since dredging at Belmont Crossing is complete and all equipment now is clear of the Ship Channel.
DUSTPAN DREDGES WORKING ON CHANNEL MAINTENANCE on the CROSSINGS:
WALLACE McGEORGE: The industry dustpan dredge WALLACE McGEORGE continues dredging full channel dimensions near the Arlington Lights (Mile 226 AHP). The WALLACE McGEORGE is working on normal channel maintenance, the dustpan began dredging on the Crossings Above New Orleans on May 20, 2021.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER STAGE UPDATES:
The Carrollton Gauge (New Orleans) reading at 1300 hours today was 4.92 feet with a 24-hour change of + 0.52 feet. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Carrollton Gauge issued today forecasts a slow fall in stages to 3.5 feet on December 9, 2021. The highest crest recorded on the Carrollton Gauge in 2021 to date is 15.44 feet at 1700 hours on April 16, 2021.
The Baton Rouge Gauge reading at 1300 hours was 15.18 feet with a 24-hour change of + 0.44 feet. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Baton Rouge Gauge issued today forecasts a slow fall to 8.7 feet on December 9, 2021.
