The Corps’ Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) District’s Lock and Waterway Status 60-Day Forecast as issued today (Thursday, May 16, 2019) is attached.
The status report includes present conditions on the on the Calcasieu, Bayou Boeuf, Old River, Freshwater Bayou and Bayou Sorrel Locks, the East and West Calumet Floodgates and the Calcasieu River Saltwater Barrier. Updates are listed in bold.
The Calcasieu Lock continues to be impacted by long-term intermittent scheduled closures due to Chamber Guide Wall repairs, full details are reproduced below:
“Calcasieu Lock is closed to navigation intermittently Monday through Friday from 6:30 am until 6:00 pm each day or as indicated by the Corps. This schedule will continue until approximately 15 July 2019.”
The Bayou Boeuf Lock scheduled repairs to the Chamber Guide Wall Replacement remain on hold until high river conditions recede, full details are reproduced below:
“The construction on the bayou boeuf lock replacement guidewall has been postponed until further notice. The lock will remain open for passage of navigation traffic until the current high river conditions improve.”
The Old River Lock is closed to navigation due to high water conditions:
“Old River Lock is closed to navigation due to high river conditions. The lock will reopen once the Mississippi River recedes below 60.5 feet at Red River Landing Gage.”
The Freshwater Bayou Lock will be closed during daylight hours due to scheduled rock placement, full details are reproduced below:
“Commencing on or about 15 April 2019, Freshwater Bayou Lock will be closed to navigation with the exception of small recreational vessels and vessels no wider than 32 feet, from 7:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Starting, each day, through 5 May 2019. Check with operators for the current status. There will be approximately a one week period where the lock will open to navigation until it closes to all navigation weekdays during daytime hours from 7 am to 5:30 pm for chamber guide wall repairs beginning on 13 May and continuing through 13 June.”
The Bayou Sorrel Lock is closed to navigation due to high water conditions:
“Bayou Sorrel Lock is currently closed to navigation due to hitting the closure trigger of 7.3’ on the lock gage as stated in the “High Water Agreement” established to protect businesses and homes south of the structure experiencing high water and placing sand bags to prevent property damage. When the water goes down to 6.9’ and falling on the gage, the lock will reopen to navigation.”
The East Calumet Floodgate remains closed due to heavy siltation being experienced, full details are reproduced below:
“Continuing until further notice, East Calumet Floodgate will remain closed to navigation due to heavy siltation on the west side of the structure making it unsafe for navigation.”
The West Calumet Floodgate remains closed due to high water levels being experienced, full details are reproduced below:
“Continuing until further notice, West Calumet Floodgate will remain closed to navigation due to high water conditions.”
The Calcasieu River Saltwater Barrier is operating in reduced hours based on the impact of high river conditions:
“Calcasieu SWB is operating with reduced hours due to high river conditions. The structure will only be in operation from 6 am to 6 pm each day until further notice. Once high river conditions are no longer present, normal operations will resume.”
Please see the attachment for complete details.
