The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is focusing channel maintenance efforts on the Crossings Above New Orleans as Southwest Pass has mostly been restored to authorized channel dimensions. The dustpan dredges: JADWIN and WALLACE McGEORGE and the hopper dredge BAYPORT are all working on the Crossings Above New Orleans. The USACE hopper dredge WHEELER has ceased dredging and is transiting to the USACE Dock at the New Orleans District in response to the approach of Tropical Strom Marco.
TRANSIT RESTRICITIONS FOR SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
The Bar Pilots rescinded their high-tide based transit restriction for vessels with draft of 46 feet or greater on Friday, August 21, 2020. The Official Notice is attached. The Bar Pilots first implemented this transit restriction on July 31, 2020.
The Bar Pilots are ceasing vessel operations today due to the weather impacts of Tropical Strom Marco.
The U.S. Coast Guard issued Port Condition Yankee at 0600 hours today and anticipates increasing to Port Condition Zulu at 2200 hours tonight. Zulu will cease all vessel operations with limited waivers. However, the dredges working on the Crossings were given a waiver to keep working until the storm impacts forced them to seek safe harbor.
DUSTPAN DREDGE(S) ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:
The USACE 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 continue to fall.
WALLACE McGEORGE: The industry dustpan dredge continues dredging the central 250 feet of the channel at Baton Rouge Front (Mile 232.0 AHP). The WALLACE McGEORGE commenced dredging on the Crossings on Thursday, May 21, 2020.
JADWIN: The government dustpan dredge continues dredging full channel width (500 feet) at Belmont Crossing (Mile 154.0 AHP). The JADWIN began dredging on the Crossings on Thursday, May 21, 2020.
HURLEY: The government dustpan dredge HURLEY ceased dredging on the Crossings and is transiting upriver to conduct dredging operations at Winchester (Mile 901 AHP). The HURLEY commenced dredging on the Crossings on June 29, 2020 departed for Victoria Bend on July 18 and resumed dredging on the Crossings on August 3, 2020. The dustpan dredge began the transit upriver today (August 23, 2020) to dredge on a shallow draft portion of the channel. The HURLEY is expected to return to dredging on the Crossings in approximately two weeks.
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE(S) ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:
BAYPORT: The hopper dredge BAYPORT (Manson Construction) is dredging the central 250 feet of channel at Medora Crossing (Mile 212.0 AHP). The hopper dredge is expected to complete this contract on approximately September 15, 2020. The BAYPORT commenced dredging on the Crossings on July 9, 2020.
GOVERNMENT HOPPER DREDGE(S) IN THE AREA OF SOUTHWEST PASS:
WHEELER: The USACE’s hopper dredge WHEELER is transiting upriver to seek safe harbor at the New Orleans District dock in response to the approach of Tropical Storms Marco and Laura. The WHEELER is scheduled to work in SWP under Readiness Exercise #2-2020 until September 1, 2020, the date of completion may be extended based on the impact of the Tropical Storms and down time for some minor repairs that also had the hopper dredge offline.
The Carrollton Gauge (New Orleans) reading at 1200 hours today was 4.78 feet, the 24-hour change feature was unavailable.
NOAA’s National Weather Service’s Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Carrollton Gauge issued today indicates a quick spike to 7.0 feet due to the impacts of Tropical Strom Marco then expects stages to resume a slow fall to 3.0 feet on September 20, 2020.
The Baton Rouge Gauge reading at 1200 hours today was 15.02 feet, the 24-hour change information was unavailable.
NOAA’s National Weather Service’s Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Baton Rouge Gauge issued today indicates a quick spike to 15.5 feet due to the impacts of Tropical Strom Marco then expects stages to resume a slow fall to 9.7 feet on September 20, 2020.
