U.S. Gulf: High-water conditions and elevated flows stifled transit throughout the river system last week.
Bayou Sorrel Lock remained on a modified schedule due to the prohibitive conditions, and was shut down for four out of every 12 hours, shippers said. The move was designed to allow the lock to avoid specific high-water restrictions and flood-control measures.
Bayou Sorrel’s schedule pushed wait times to 6-8 hours for the week, with an average of five boats waiting to lock. Algiers Lock and Port Allen Lock each reported transit delays of 2-4 hours with two boats in line to lock, and passage through Industrial Lock was pegged at about an hour.
The river gauge at Baton Rouge read 31.7 feet and rising on Dec. 17, with forecasts calling for levels to hit 32.2 feet on Dec. 31. Baton Rouge flood stage begins at 35 feet. Depths at New Orleans were 12.8 feet and rising, but still below the 17-foot flood stage at that location.
Shippers reported weather-related delays at Houston and the West Canal, resulting in slowed barge pickup and drop-off for the week. Calcasieu Lock reported wait times of roughly an hour, and West Port Arthur Bridge clearance was reduced due to painting and maintenance activities. That work is set to conclude on April 30.
High flows at the Brazos and Colorado Locks tightened tow restrictions. Lockings were limited to a single loaded barge or two empty barges per turn, sources said, and unpredictable conditions at Brazos led some shippers to restrict passage to daylight hours only.
Shippers reported Brazos wait times at 4-8 hours for the week, while transit through the Colorado Lock system was put at 3-6 hours.
Lower Mississippi River: Shippers described high-water operating conditions on the Lower Mississippi River last week, leading to restricted tow sizes and longer transit times.
Near-flood-stage levels of 37.35 feet in the Vicksburg area on Dec. 29 led to daylight-only navigation for the week. Flood stage at Vicksburg begins at 43 feet. Memphis levels were reported at 27.16 and rising, and were predicted to reach 31.5 feet on Dec. 31.
Upper Mississippi River: Rising Mississippi River levels saw the Corps monitoring 19 levees for potential breeches last week. The rare winter flooding pushed the river to near-record depths on Dec. 29, registering nearly 20 feet above flood stage in some areas, according to reports. The Chester and Cape Girardeau gauges were forecast to crest slightly below record levels set in August 1993.
Water above the 38-foot mark at St. Louis shuttered St. Louis harbor from the JB Bridge to Lock 27, sources said. St. Louis levels were reported at 42.8 feet and rising on Dec. 30, well above the 30-foot flood stage. The Cairo gauge showed 51.6 feet and was expected to tip 54.0 feet by Dec. 31, also well above the 40-foot flood stage.
High-water levels forced the Mel Price auxiliary chamber to close for the week. The Lock 27 main chamber, which was shut down on Dec. 28 due to elevated river levels, was expected to reopen on or around Jan. 3.
The Corps’ annual rock removal project at Thebes, Ill., remains on hold until water levels at Cape Girardeau fall below 15 feet. Forecasts called for the river to crest at 44.9-46.9 feet at Cape Girardeau on Dec. 31. Work will cap tow lengths at 15 barges during daytime navigation, seven days per week. No limits are expected on overnight travel.
Lock 21 is scheduled to close for the navigation season on Jan. 4. Lock 9 shuttered on Dec. 9, and Locks 13, 14, and 17 closed on Dec. 17. Locks 13-21 are expected to reopen for the spring on March 4, followed by Lock 9 on March 17.
Illinois River: Dangerous levels on the Illinois River caused some shippers to cease navigation above Marseilles Lo