LAMA’s report on the Corps’ Mississippi River Maintenance Forum meeting held by conference call yesterday (Thursday, December 6, 2018) and the corresponding agenda are attached.
Please review the attachments for complete details.
RE: CORPS’ MISSISSIPPI RIVER MAINTENANCE FORUM MEETING NOTES
Maintenance Forum Notes December 6, 2018
The Corps’ Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) holds monthly meetings to discuss channel conditions and related issues directly with the maritime industry. These meetings are usually scheduled for 0900 hours on the first Wednesday of the month. LAMA encourages our members to attend these meetings, which are open to the public with advanced notice of attendance. The agenda for this meeting as provided by the MVN is attached.
1) Introductions
2) Southeast Waterways Update:
Tiger Pass: The MVN last surveyed Tiger Pass on February 22, 2018, the survey could not be completed because of the extreme shoaling on the jetty end. At that time, the Corps utilized survey data and calculations to approximate that a total of 3.2 million cubic yards (mcy) of material had accumulated in the shallow-draft channel. The MVN was recently awarded $9.5 million for dredging in Tiger Pass in the Corps Fiscal Year 2019 Work Plan. The $9.5 million is intended to be utilized to dredge the channel, preliminary estimates indicate the dredging could start in June or July of 2019. The MVN is contemplating using shallow-draft or possibly drone type survey equipment to provide more detailed surveys to assist with the dredging project.
Baptiste Collette: The Corps previously received $13.9 million in supplemental funding that is expected to be sufficient to fund dredging operations ($6.5 million) and to perform rock work to fortify the jetties and channel boundaries ($7.4 million). The MVN performed surveys on November 16, 2019 that indicated 2 mcy of material had shoaled in since the previous survey. The MVN was also awarded an additional $3 million in the Corps Fiscal Year 2019 Work Plan and is working to properly prepare for a cutterhead dredge contract to restore full channel dimensions with work expected to begin in early 2019. The MVN will issue a contract for the rock work and expects operations to commence in the first half of 2019. The Baptiste Collette foreshore rock channel borders will be repaired along with the jetties, the jetties could also be extended.
3) Mississippi River Conditions Update:
Current Stage New Orleans: 10.5 feet
* Projected to reach 9.7 feet on January 2, 2019.
Current Stage Baton Rouge: 28.0 feet
* Projected to reach 24.0 feet on January 2, 2019.
* NOTE: The long-term Stage Forecasts are attached and based only on future rainfall over the next 48-hours only.
A. Crossings Between Baton Rouge and New Orleans:
The latest surveys for the Crossings are included in the attached agenda. The surveys indicate the
Crossings are in good shape based on the elevated river stages.
B. New Orleans Harbor:
The Port of New Orleans reported no concerns based on the latest surveys.
C. Southwest Pass (SWP):
The MVN continues to work the industry hopper dredge NEWPORT in the area of Southwest Pass, the hopper dredge is presently working from Mile 12 Below Head of Passes (BHP) to Mile 14 BHP. The MVN reported shoaling in several areas and the Bar Pilots reported concern of the Ship Channel narrowing at Mile 10 BHP amd Mile 14 BHP. The Corps has relased the cutterhead dredge R.S. WEEKS from the HDDA contract so that it may respond to shoaling in SWP and will open bids for a second Hopper Dredge Rental Contract next week.
D. Head of Passes, Hopper Dredge Disposal Area (HDDA):
The industry cutterhead dredge R.S. WEEKS has removed approximately 2 mcy of material from the HDDA since starting the project on November 3, 2018. The contract calls for Weeks Marine to remove 12 mcy of material from the HDDA. The material is being beneficially used in the Pass-a-Loutre Wildlife Management Area on the eastern side of the Ship Channel. The beneficial use of material removed from the HDDA is expected to restore approximately 1,000 acres of new marsh in this critical deltaic environment. The R.S. WEEKS is expected to start working on the Ship Channel in Southwest Pass by December 15, 2018.
E. Southwest Pass Stone Foreshore Dike & Jetty Repair:
A contract was awarded to EFT Diversified, Inc. on July 16, 2018 to make repairs to the foreshore rocks and the jetties that protect the deep-draft channel in Southwest Pass. The rock placement operations have begun and the contractor coninutes to work closely with the Pilot Associations to assist in maintaining navigational safety.
6) Next Meeting:
The next Forum meeting is scheduled for 0900 hours on January 9, 2019, at the MVN District Assembly Room A.
