The Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) continues to respond to the shoaling in Southwest Pass and on the Crossings Above New Orleans created by the extended high river stages of early 2018. The MVN is actively dredging on the Crossings Above New Orleans with all three dustpan dredges working to restore at least the central 250 feet of channel. Federally authorized channel dimensions on the Crossings Above New Orleans are 45 feet by 500 feet.
The MVN’s hopper dredge WHEELER is scheduled for the following Readiness Exercises:
Readiness Exercise #1-2018: ongoing
Readiness Exercise #2-2018: July 17 to August 7, 2018
Readiness Exercise #3-2018: August 14 to August 29, 2018
Readiness Exercise #4-2018: September 11 to September 26, 2018
The MVN may adjust the schedule based on channel conditions at the time, the locations will be determined by shoaling in the channel between Southwest Pass and the Crossings Above New Orleans.
The Carrollton Gauge reading at 1400 hours today was 5.26 feet, with a 24-hour change of + 0.05 feet.
The Baton Rouge Gauge reading at 1500 hours today was 17.38 feet, with a 24-hour change of + 0.19 feet.
Please see the below for complete details on dredge locations.
DUSTPAN DREDGES ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:
HURLEY: The Corps’ dustpan dredge HURLEY continues dredging to restore full channel dimensions (500 feet) at Missouri Bend at Mile 222 Above Head of Passes (AHP). The dustpan dredge began dredging on the Crossings on Wednesday, May 16, 2018.
WALLACE McGEORGE: The industry dustpan dredge WALLACE McGEORGE continues dredging the central 250 feet of channel at Granada Crossing (Mile 205 AHP). The WALLACE McGEORGE commenced dredging on the Crossings on Friday, May 11, 2018.
JADWIN: The Corps’ dustpan dredge JADWIN commenced dredging the central 250 feet at Philadelphia Point (Mile 183 AHP) on Thursday, June 21, 2018. The JADWIN began dredging on the Crossings on Thursday, May 10, 2018.
INDUSTRY HOPPER DREDGE ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:
GLENN EDWARDS: The industry hopper dredge GLENN EDWARDS (Manson Construction) has completed this contract and departed the Mississippi River Ship Channel. The hopper dredge began dredging in SWP on April 17, 2018.
CUTTERHEAD DREDGE AT THE NEW ORLEANS HARBOR:
MIKE HOOKS: The MVN issued a contract to Mike Hooks, Inc. to dredge in the New Orleans Harbor and is coordinating the cutterhead assignment with the representatives of the Port of New Orleans. The cutterhead dredge MIKE HOOKS will respond to this contract, the dredge is continues working under contract directly for the Port of New Orleans. The cutterhead continues working between the Nashville Avenue Terminal Complex and Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal and may at times extend out a maximum of 1,000 feet channelward.
CUTTERHEAD DREDGES WORKING IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
G.D. MORGAN: The industry cutterhead dredge G.D. MORGAN (Weeks Marine) continues dredging from Mile 2.5 AHP to Mile 1.5 Below Head of Passes (BHP) on the right descending bank (westside) and is presently at Mile 0.96 BHP. The cutterhead continues to respond to Southwest Pass Cutterhead Dredge Rental Contract No. 2-2018. All material removed will be beneficially used and strategically placed to create new land alongside the western boundary of SWP.
GOVERNMENT HOPPER DREDGE WORKING IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
WHEELER: The MVN’s hopper dredge WHEELER is presently dredging from Mile 6.7 BHP to Mile 9.6 BHP in SWP under Readiness Exercise #1-2018. The hopper dredge began dredging on June 19, 2018 and Readiness Exercise #1-2018 is scheduled to be completed on July 10, 2018.
