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 working on the Crossings Above New Orleans. The USACE hopper dredge WHEELER has ceased dredging and will remain at the USACE Dock (New Orleans District) until the impacts of Tropical Storms Marco and Laura have cleared the area.
TRANSIT RESTRICITIONS FOR MISSISSIPPI RIVER SHIP CHANNEL:
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) issued Port Condition Zulu at 2200 hours last night, Sunday, August 23, 2020 in response to Tropical Storm Marco. Port Condition Zulu effectively halts all vessel movements with a few exceptions, unless a waiver has first been secured from the USCG. The dredges working for the USACE on the Crossings were given a waiver to keep working until 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 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 ceased dredging operations at Belmont Crossings (Mile 154 AHP) and is relocating to Alhambra Crossing (Mile 190.5 AHP) to commence dredging operations. The USACE does not intend to close the White Castle Anchorage at this time. 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 on 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) continues 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 will remain docked at the New Orleans District dock for safe harbor during the impacts 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 1100 hours today was 5.58 feet with a 24-hour change of + 0.77 feet.
NOAA’s National Weather Service’s Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Carrollton Gauge issued today indicates a quick spike to 6.0 feet due to the impacts of Tropical Strom Marco then expects stages to resume a slow fall to 3.5 feet on September 21, 2020.
The Baton Rouge Gauge reading at 1100 hours today was 14.46 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 predicts that stages will continue a slow fall to 9.0 feet on September 21, 2020.
