The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is working to resume dredging operations after the shutdown for the passing of Hurricane Laura. The dustpan dredges, JADWIN and WALLACE McGEORGE and the hopper dredge BAYPORT are all in the process of returning to normal dredging operations on the Crossings Above New Orleans.
INNER HARBOR NAVIGATION CANAL LOCK (IHNC) UPDATE:
The USACE continues to lock the Tropical Storm Marco and Hurricane Laura queue of shallow-draft traffic through the IHNC Lock and will concentrate on clearing the traffic through the lock before resuming daylight closures. The preparation work for the dewatering is set to begin with daylight closures (0600 hours to 1800 hours) at the IHNC Lock resuming on Sunday, August 30, 2020. The complete dewatering is scheduled to start on Friday, September 4, 2020 and last until November 3, 2020 (subject to change). Dredging the alternate route through Baptiste Collette should be completed prior to the dewatering. The USCAE released the attached Navigation Bulletin detailing the plans for the daylight closures and the dewatering, please review the attachment for complete details. The U.S. Coast Guard is working to ensure that all Aids to Navigation are also restored and properly aligned prior to the dewatering to mark the alternate route channel.
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 on the Crossings as river stages continue to fall (authorized channel width is 500 feet).
WALLACE McGEORGE: The industry dustpan dredge is expected to resume dredging operations on the central 250 feet of the channel at Baton Rouge Front (Mile 232.0 AHP) tomorrow. The WALLACE McGEORGE commenced dredging on the Crossings on Thursday, May 21, 2020.
JADWIN: The government dustpan dredge commenced dredging operations on the central 250 feet of channel at Alhambra Crossing (Mile 190.5 AHP) at 1100 hours this morning. The USACE does not anticipate the need to close the White Castle Anchorage during the present assignment at Alhambra Crossing. 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 now dredging on the shallow-draft channel at Winchester (Mile 901 AHP). The HURLEY commenced dredging on the Crossings on June 29, 2020 departed for Victoria Bend on July 18, 2020 and resumed dredging on the Crossings on August 3, 2020. The dustpan dredge began the transit to Winchester on August 23, 2020. 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 industry hopper dredge BAYPORT (Manson Construction) continues dredging the central 250 feet of channel at Medora Crossing (Mile 212 AHP). The hopper dredge is expected to complete this contract in mid-September. The BAYPORT commenced dredging on the Crossings on July 9, 2020.
The Carrollton Gauge (New Orleans) reading at 1500 hours today was 4.73 feet with a 24-hour change of – 0.75 feet.
NOAA’s National Weather Service’s Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Carrollton Gauge issued today indicates a slow fall to continue before a slight rise to 5.0 feet in two weeks and then to resume a slow fall to 3.1 feet on September 25, 2020.
The Baton Rouge Gauge reading at 1600 hours today was 12.93 feet with a 24-hour change of – 0.96 feet.
NOAA’s National Weather Service’s Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Baton Rouge Gauge issued today predicts a slow fall tocontinue before a rise to 15.7 feet in two weeks and then to resume a slow fall to 10.6 feet on September 25, 2020.
