Shortly after distributing today’s 60-Day forecast, I received a question about the scheduled closure at the IHNC Lock. The Project Manager from MVN confirmed Monday’s closure has been cancelled. It was left below with note that the closure has been cancelled and will be rescheduled, sorry for the confusion.
The Corps’ Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) District’s Lock and Waterway Status 60-Day Forecast as issued today (Friday, April 10, 2020) is attached.
The updates to the status report are highlighted in bold listing conditions on the Bayou Boeuf, Old River, Calcasieu, Bayou Sorrel, Leland Bowman and the Port Allen and the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Locks, the East and West Calumet Floodgates and the Calcasieu Salt Water Barrier.
BAYOU BOEUF LOCK:
The replacement of the Bayou Boeuf Lock’s Chamber Guide Wall is underway and is scheduled to be completed in October 2020 with full details reproduced below:
“As of Wednesday, 11 Sep 2019 Bayou Boeuf Lock is closed to navigation from 7 am until 7 pm (Daylight Hours), Mondays thru Thursdays until approximately 26 Oct 2020 to construct the new south side chamber guide wall.”
OLD RIVER LOCK:
The Old River Lock requires the following procedures as repairs to the Bulkhead Lowering Carriage are conducted, the work has now been extended until September 30, 2020:
“The following procedures currently in effect have been extended through approximately 30 Sep 2020.
Due to repairs on the Lock Emergency Bulkhead Lowering Carriage, tows entering the Lock are urged to use extreme caution while approaching and entering the lock chamber. While approaching the Lock, the following are required for passage:
- Tows are to enter the Lock at DEAD SLOW speed.
- All tows are restricted to no longer than 1100’ in length.
- All tows will line up along the floating guide wall before proceeding.
- Two line-handlers with life vests and bumpers will be required on both approach and exiting of the Lock.
- Vessels must be moored by bow and stern lines to floating timberheads.”
The Old River Lock will be closed to navigation commencing on April 12, 2020 or once the Red River Landing Gage reaches 60.5 feet in order to install flood protection plates on lock gates due to High River conditions:
“The Old River Lock closure to navigation originally scheduled for 10 April 2020 or once the Red River Landing Gage reaches 60.5 feet has changed to 12 April 2020, same gage stipulation. The closure is necessary to install the flood protection plates on top of the lock gates and remove all electrical equipment from the lock gate machinery recesses. The Lock will reopen once the Mississippi River recedes below 60.5 feet at the Red River Landing Gage.”
The East and West Calumet Floodgates remain closed due to heavy siltation in the channel:
“ Continuing until further notice, East and West Calumet Floodgate will remain closed to navigation due to heavy siltation in the channel making it unsafe for navigation.”
CALCASIEU LOCK:
The Calcasieu Lock will be closed to navigation with intermittent scheduled daylight closures to complete wall repairs:
“Beginning on Monday, 30 March 2020, the intermittent closures to navigation at Calcasieu Lock will now occur, Monday thru Friday from 6:30 a.m. until 6:00
p.m. through approximately 15 May 2020, each day for completion of the new wall construction and armoring work.”
CALCASIEU SALT WATER BARRIER:
The Calcasieu Salt Water Barrier will be closed to navigation for a schedule closure to remove the navigation gate:
“Calcasieu River Saltwater Barrier Structure will be closed to navigation due to gate removal operations beginning at 7:00 a.m. on 4 February 2020 and continuing through 7:00 p.m. on 8 February 2020.”
BAYOU SORREL LOCK:
The Bayou Sorrel Lock will be closed to navigation during daylight hours to conduct chamber and guide wall repairs:
“Bayou Sorrel Lock will be closed to navigation beginning on 02 March 2020 and continue through 02 May 2020 from 7:00 am until 5:30 pm, each day 7 days a week, for necessary repairs to the guide walls and chamber walls.”
PORT ALLEN LOCK:
The Port Allen Lock will implement the following high-water restrictions for vessel transits when the Baton Rouge Gauge is over 38 feet:
“Mariners are advised that when the Baton Rouge river gauge reaches 38.0′ and rising, the following high river stage restrictions will be in effect at Port Allen Lock, until further notice:
-Vessels are not allowed within 100 ft. of the lock’s gates when tied-up inside the lock chamber.
– Maximum single tow length will be limited to 1,000 ft.
– Multi-vessel locking shall not exceed 950 ft”
INNER HARBOR NAVIGATION CANAL (IHNC) LOCK:
THIS CLOSURE HAS BEEN CANCELED AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED!!!
The IHNC Lock is scheduled to be closed to navigation in order to demolish a dolphin during daylight hours on April 13th.
“Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Lock will be closed to navigation on Monday, 13 April 2020, between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., due to dolphin demolition work.
