U.S. Gulf:
With river levels moving below the 12-foot mark on April 8 at New Orleans, expectations were raised for a swift end to travel restrictions in the NOLA area. Towing restrictions and horsepower minimums were in effect between NOLA and Baton Rouge, La., while river levels remained high. The gauge was reported at 11.58 feet and falling slowly on April 11.
Calcasieu Lock access was unavailable during daylight hours on Monday through Thursday, blocking navigation between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Normal operations were scheduled to resume on May 19.
Brazos Lock is reportedly shut to daytime navigation through mid-April. Locking was described as unavailable from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The actions drove widely variable delays counted up to 35 hours during the week.
The West Canal’s Brazos Lock was shut to daylight travel on weekdays, blocking access daily from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wait times were expected to run 12 hours or more.
In-progress repairs to the Bayou Sorrel Bridge were observed limiting navigation daily between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., and again from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The operation is scheduled to run through late May.
Guidewall construction activities at the nearby Bayou Sorrel Lock were scheduled through May 31, blocking Monday-through-Friday travel between 6:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Most waits were observed in the 5-11 hour range on April 11, falling from 20-44 hours in the prior report.
Overnight travel through Bayou Chene remained unavailable due to floodgate construction, leaving the waterway accessible daily between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., subject to 600-foot maximum lengths. In addition, tows measuring wider than 54 feet were required to travel with an assist vessel. Delays were expected at 6-12 hours.
Atchafalaya River drafts were posted at a maximum 10 feet through the Morgan City, La., area, located at Miles 113-116, due to shoaling. Tow lengths were capped at 600 feet, while an assist vessel was recommended for strings measuring longer than 400 feet. Widths were permitted up to 70 feet. Tows could bypass the restrictions entirely by taking the Port Allen Route.
Unassisted lockages at Algiers Lock were subject to length and width requirements, sources noted, effectively limiting tow lengths to four standard barges or two 30,000 mt tankers per pass. Larger strings were possible when locking with an assist vessel. Delays were noted in the 11-16 hour range for the week.
Construction underway through late 2022 at the Belle Chasse Bridge triggered sporadic delays expected to last up to 12 hours at a time. The bridge is located at Mile 3 in the West Canal.
Most Port Allen Lock movements were delayed in the 9-24 hour range for the week, according to Corps data, while wait times at Industrial Lock ran up to 26 hours. Calcasieu Lock waits were heard up to six hours, and boats passing the Colorado Locks system observed intermittent 5-8 hour waits.
Mississippi River:
Elevated water levels continued to impact movements on the lower Mississippi River during the week, reducing barge counts and prompting daylight-only travel through some urban areas when moving in the downriver direction.
The river gauge at Vicksburg, Miss., was at an action-stage 35.66 feet on April 13. River levels were predicted to climb to 37.6 feet on April 24, while remaining above the 35-foot action stage through at least April 27.
High water levels at New Orleans triggered ongoing towing restrictions and reduced barge counts on movements below Baton Rouge.
The Baton Rouge river gauge was posted at an action-stage 31.58 feet and falling on April 13, with levels expected to return to safe levels on April 16. An April 12 flood warning posted for the region was slated to remain in effect through April 30, however.
Channel reinforcement efforts announced for the lower river’s Mile 807 are expected to run from May through July, prompting expected daytime travel stoppages.
Lock 15 delays were posted up to six hours during the week. Wait times at Lock 25 were observed in the 3-6 hour range.
Illinois River:
Illinois River movements were slowly recovering from the previous week’s high water limitations, which slowed or halted movement altogether. Impacts continued to be felt in the form of travel slowdowns, however.
Additional rainfall boosted water levels on the lower river, with the gauge at Peoria measuring 18.28 feet on April 13, above the 18-foot minor-flood threshold. Levels there were expected to crest at 18.7 feet on April 17-18, while remaining at flood stage through at least April 20. The LaGrange river gauge was also projected to stay at minor-flood stage through at least April 20.
Upriver, the Ottawa gauge was below the flood zone on April 13 but expected to push into action-stage territory in the week ahead, with a 46.1-foot crest expected on April 15-16.
Repairs and maintenance at Brandon Road Lock are scheduled for May 9 through Sept. 8. Navigation will be limited to overnight hours between May 9 and Aug. 14, with tow widths permitted at a maximum 70 feet. Navigation will be stopped completely from Aug. 15 to Sept. 4, followed by a return to daytime shutdowns on Sept. 5-8. Normal movements are scheduled to resume on Sept. 9.
Wickets were reported down at both Peoria Lock and LaGrange Lock due to high water levels, allowing tows to pass without locking through both locations.
Ohio River:
Main chamber repairs in progress since Feb. 22 at Emsworth Lock prompted detours through the auxiliary chamber during the week, which were limited to a single barge per turn, leading to lengthy delays. Lockages were reported in the 4-6 day range during the week, unmoved from the prior week. The project was scheduled to wrap up on April 16.
Daytime travel at Cannelton Lock was reported to be unavailable on Wednesdays and Thursdays through May 26. Additional maintenance proposed for the July 5 through Nov. 11 period would similarly limit primary chamber access.
The main chamber at Belleville Lock is slated to close to navigation from May 2 through June 22 for planned repairs and maintenance, forcing detours through the auxiliary chamber.
A Hannibal Lock repair proposal would see the site’s primary chamber shut down from July 5 through Oct. 8.
Dashields Lock wait times were noted up to 20 hours for the week. Corps data put Cannelton Lock delays up to eight hours.
Extensive delays persisted at Wilson Lock, located on the Tennessee River, due to main chamber work in progress through April 28. Movements have remained possible through the secondary chamber, subject to lengthy delays. Wait times were reported in the 3.5-4.5 day range for the week, falling slightly from 4-5 days reported previously.
Boats passing Kentucky Lock were subject to wait times in the 9-24 hour range, climbing from 4-9 hours one week earlier.
On the Cumberland River, miter gate machinery repairs are expected to substantially impact Cheatham Lock travel from May 16 to Aug. 5. The project is expected to proceed on a repeating two-week pattern, in which work will run for 11 days, followed by a three-day period of resumed navigation.
Arkansas River:
A planned Norrell Lock maintenance effort will prompt a series of transit shutdowns running into January of 2023, sources said. The lock will be closed during daytime hours on June 1-11; June 22-July 21; Aug. 1-10; Aug. 21-Sept. 21; Sept. 30-Oct. 9; Oct. 20-Nov. 18; Nov. 29-Dec. 23; and Jan. 3-31, 2023.