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: HURLEY, JADWIN and WALLACE McGEORGE and the hopper dredges BAYPORT and GLENN EDWARDS are all working on the Crossings Above New Orleans.  The long-term river stage levels are projected to recede sharply after a short and ongoing rise. 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  25.5 feet to 16.0 feet on August 6, 2020 – a difference of 9.5 feet.

 

TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS IN THE AREA OF SOUTHWEST PASS:

 

The Crescent Pilots maximum draft recommendation was increased to 47 feet freshwater effective immediately as issued on July 5, 2020. The Crescent Pilots previous draft recommendation was set at 46 feet (freshwater) on May 30, 2020.

 

The Bar Pilots increased their maximum draft recommendation to 47 feet (freshwater) on July 1, 2020.

The controlling draft for all vessels transiting the area of SWP is 47 feet (freshwater).

 

INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN THE AREA OF SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):

 

BAYPORT: The hopper dredge BAYPORT (Manson Construction) completed dredging in SWP last night and moved upriver to help restore or maintain the central 250 feet on the Crossings Above New Orleans. The BAYPORT began dredging in SWP on June 18, 2020 and will work on the Mississippi River Ship Channel for at least 30 days to complete hours on Calcasieu River Hopper Dredge Rental Contract 19C0076. The MVN has started the process to extend the length of this contract.

 

CUTTERHEAD DREDGE(S) AT THE NEW ORLEANS HARBOR:

 

CAPTAIN FRANK: Weeks Marine’s cutterhead dredge CAPTAIN FRANK is presently dredging at the Harvey Lock forebay but is expected to return to the New Orleans Harbor after completing work at the lock forebay. The cutterhead commenced work under New Orleans Harbor and Baptiste Collette Cutterhead Rental Contract #4-2019 on June 26, 2020.

 

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

 

The MVN is dredging to restore or maintain the central 250 feet of the channel (authorized width is 500 feet) on the Crossings Above New Orleans as river stages are predicted to fall.

 

HURLEY: The government dustpan dredge HURLEY continues dredging the central 250 feet at Red Eye Crossing (Mile 224 AHP). The HURLEY commenced dredging on the Crossings on June 29, 2020.

 

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 WALLACE McGEORGE commenced dredging on the Crossings on Thursday, May 21, 2020.

 

JADWIN: The government dustpan dredge continues dredging the central 250 feet of channel at Belmont Crossing (Mile 154.2 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) continues dredging the central 250 feet at Sardine Point Crossing (Mile 219 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) has moved upriver to the Crossings from Southwest Pass. The BAYPORT started working to restore the central 250 feet at Fairview Crossing (Mile 116 AHP) earlier this morning.  The MVN has begun the process to extend the present contract to keep the BAYPORT working on the Mississippi River Ship Channel.

 

The Carrollton Gauge (New Orleans) reading at 0900 hours today was 7.93  feet with a 24-hour change of + 0.22 feet. 

NOAA’s National Weather Service’s Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Carrollton Gauge issued today indicates a rise of approximately 1.0 feet over the next five  days before beginning a steady fall to 6.1 feet on August 6, 2020.

 

The Baton Rouge Gauge reading at 1000 hours today was 24.84 feet with a 24-hour change of + 0.49 feet. 

NOAA’s National Weather Service’s Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Baton Rouge Gauge issued today indicates a rise of approximately 1.0 feet over the next five days before beginning a slow fall to 16.0 feet on August 6, 2020.