The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) continues Fiscal Year 2024 (FY 24) channel maintenance dredging with the industry hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS (Manson Construction) working under the first of the two early award hopper dredge contracts (Awarded in Fiscal Year 2023 for Work in Fiscal Year 2024). The second early award hopper dredge contract was awarded to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock and is expected to be worked by the DODGE ISLAND the dredge completed work on the Calcasieu River and has been temporarily released from this contract.
USACE HOPPER DREDGE(S) WORKING IN THE AREA of SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
WHEELER: The USACE hopper dredge WHEELER is scheduled to dredge under Readiness Exercise #3-2024 in SWP from April 16 to April 29 (2024). The WHEELER is expected to complete a total of five Readiness Exercises in Fiscal Year 2024.
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGES WORKING IN SOUTHWEST PASS:
GLENN EDWARDS: The USACE awarded the first of the two annual early award 2023/2024 hopper dredge contracts, Southwest Pass Hopper Dredge Contract #2-2023 to Manson Construction for the large hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS. The GLENN EDWARDS continues dredging in SWP from Mile 3.5 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to Mile 1.0 Below Head of Passes (BHP). The industry hopper dredge began work in SWP under this contract on March 4, 2024.
DODGE ISLAND: The USACE awarded the second annual early award hopper dredge contract Southwest Pass & Calcasieu Hopper Dredge Contract #11-2023 to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock. The DODGE ISLAND completed the assignment on the Calcasieu River and was released from this contract for approximately 3 to 4 weeks to work on another contract. The DODGE ISLAND will most likely return to complete this contract in Southwest Pass later this year. The channel is in good condition which allows flexibility for the dredge to work other locations by design (regional contact).
MAXIMUM DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS PER PILOT ASSOCIATION:
(UNCHANGED SINCE July 7, 2023)
The updated maximum draft recommendation for each Pilot Association as adjusted due to the Mississippi River Ship Channel Deepening and a temporary reduction to 49 feet by the Bar Pilots are detailed below:
Associated Branch Pilots of the Port of New Orleans (Bar Pilots): The Bar Pilots returned their maximum draft recommendation to 50 feet (freshwater) on July 6, 2023. The Bar Pilots originally increased their maximum draft recommendation to 50 feet (freshwater) on March 16, 2022, prior to the temporary reduction from May 22 to July 6 (2023).
MAXIMUM DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS PER PILOT ASSOCIATION:
(UNCHANGED SINCE July 7, 2023) (continued)
Crescent River Port Pilots Association (CRPPA): The CPPRA raised their maximum draft recommendation to 50 feet (freshwater) in coordination with the Bar Pilots on July 7, 2023, after also reducing their maximum draft to 49 feet (freshwater).
New Orleans Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association (NOBRA): The NOBRA returned their maximum draft recommendation to 50 feet (freshwater) from Mile 175 AHP to Mile 88 AHP on July 7, 2023. The maximum draft recommendation from Mile 175 to 180 remains 47 feet and from Mile 180 to Mile 233.8 it remains 45 feet.
Associated Federal Pilots and Docking Masters of Louisiana (Federal Pilots): The Federal Pilots increased their maximum draft recommendations to the following to match the draft adjustment to 50 feet by the other Pilot Associations.
- 50 feet from Sea Buoy to Mile 175 AHP
- 45 feet Mile 175 AHP to 232.4 AHP
- 40 feet Mile 232.4 AHP to 233.8 AHP
The controlling maximum freshwater draft for the MRSC from Mile 175 AHP (Smoke Bend) to the Southwest Pass Sea Buoy is 50 feet (freshwater) unadjusted since July 7, 2023.
Mississippi River Stages and Forecast Updates:
The Carrollton Gage (New Orleans) reading at 1500 hours today was 6.85 feet with a 24-hour change of + 1.05 feet. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Carrollton Gage issued yesterday forecasts stages will slowly fall to 5.3 feet on April 12 and then begin a rise to 9.9 feet on April 25 and then resume a slow fall to 7.2 feet on May 7 (2024).
The Baton Rouge Gage reading at 1200 hours was 24.30 feet with a 24-hour change – 0.78 feet. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Baton Rouge Gauge issued yesterday forecasts stages will slowly rise to 30 feet on April 23 and then resume a slow fall to 21.8 feet on ay 7 (2024).
*THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE’S LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER FORECAST CENTER IS IN SLIDELL, LA, AND LOST POWER WHEN THE STORM SYSTEM MOVED THROUGH THE AREA. The 28-Day Forecast may not be updated today, but there is no doubt that the stage forecasts will be trending upwards once the forecasts can be updated. Extreme Weather including at least one tornado impacted the Slidell area today, lots of forecasts depend on the National Weather Service efforts, we confirmed the Center and staff are okay but are working on backup power and to restore full capabilities.
