The update below was shared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Project Manager for the Mississippi River Ship Channel on the progress of the saltwater sill to the first targeted elevation (-55 feet). Completion of the first targeted elevation to the -55 feet elevation is expected later today. 

“The saltwater sill -55 ft construction is wrapping up today.  Once complete, Weeks plans to move the buoys approximately 300 ft west of their current locations (see attached).  This will provide more width for the one- way navigation channel while Weeks is on standby and we are monitoring salinity.  Weeks will let us know when the buoys are moved and provide new coordinates.”…  

Additional details will be broadcast when the construction to -55 feet is completed later today and then on the impacts of moving the buoys over and the continued

monitoring of the saltwater wedge. The latest river stages indicate rises that may help keep the saltwater wedge downriver until the elevated stages primarily generated by precipitation from Hurricane Helene retreat. The USACE will continue to monitor and predict the location of the saltwater wedge and use that information to determine if the sill height needs to be augmented to -30 feet with the navigation notch remaining at -55 feet.