The Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) continues to respond to the shoaling, created by the extended high river stages of early 2018, in Southwest Pass and on the Crossings Above New Orleans. 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 Carrollton Gauge reading at 1100 hours today was 5.57 feet, with a 24-hour change of – 0.19 feet.
The Baton Rouge Gauge reading at 1200 hours today was 18.15 feet, with a 24-hour change of – 0.35 feet.
The graph below is reproduced from NOAA’s National Weather Service website and represents an experimental product based on the complexity of accurately predicting long-range precipitation. This forecast projects stage levels based on expected precipitation for 2 days (top) and 16 days (bottom) and was developed within the North American Ensemble Forecast System (NAEFS) computer model and highlights Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts (QPF). Along with the forecasts, a shaded area is also provided to indicate uncertainty for the forecast each day in the future. These plots are experimental and not an official forecast product.
DUSTPAN DREDGES ON THE CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS:
HURLEY: The Corps’ dustpan dredge HURLEY is currently dredging to restore the central 350 feet of the channel at Red Eye Crossing (Mile 224 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 continues dredging the central 250 feet at Philadelphia Point (Mile 183 AHP). The JADWIN began dredging on the Crossings on Thursday, May 10, 2018.
CUTTERHEAD DREDGES WORKING IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
G.D. MORGAN: The industry cutterhead dredge G.D. MORGAN (Weeks Marine) has now completed dredging under Southwest Pass Cutterhead Dredge Rental Contract No. 2-2018. The cutterhead’s last assignment was from Mile 2.5 AHP to Mile 1.7 Below Head of Passes (BHP) on the right descending bank (westside). All material removed was beneficially used and strategically placed to create new marsh (land) alongside the western boundary of SWP.
GOVERNMENT HOPPER DREDGE WORKING IN SOUTHWEST PASS (SWP):
WHEELER: The MVN’s hopper dredge WHEELER continues dredging from Mile 6.7 BHP to Mile 9.6 BHP in SWP under Readiness Exercise #1-2018. The hopper dredge began dredging under this Readiness Exercise on July 19, 2018 which is scheduled to be completed on July 10, 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 is presently undergoing repairs (dry dock). The cutterhead is expected to resume dredging and complete the work for the Port of New Orleans by July 15, 2018. The cutterhead will begin work under the contract for the MVN upon completion of that work for the Port of New Orleans.
