U.S. Gulf/River: Dredging operations to combat shoaling on the upper Mississippi River continued throughout the week at Mile 724-815. Dredges labored site-to-site to clear the navigation channel, which was estimated at just nine feet of depth, though sources pegged Mile 756.5-757.5 as the worst stretch. Workers planned to conclude operations and reopen the channel by Aug. 10.
Shipping operators warned of additional navigational concerns resulting from low water conditions, however. Without any additional rainfall, river levels at St. Louis, Mo., were predicted to drop to (+)2.9 feet by Aug. 19 from current levels of (+)7.5 feet. The stage at Memphis, Tenn., was predicted to fall to (-)0.2 feet by Aug. 8 from (+)1.5 feet, and sans rainfall could continue to trickle down to (-)1.0 feet by Aug. 20.
Also on the upper Mississippi, delays of 16-18 hours were reported at Melvin Price Lock, with an average of eight boats queued for the auxiliary lock throughout the week. Main chamber repairs were expected to wrap up Aug. 12.
Lock 53 on the Ohio River was projected to resume operation on or before Aug. 10, while main chamber maintenance at Lock 52 will commence on Aug. 18. Wait times of 8-12 hours were reported in advance of the closure, and transit delays were expected to increase for boats entering and exiting the Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland Rivers when work begins.
Auxiliary locks will be available during main chamber repairs to the Dashields and Montgomery Locks, slated to go offline Aug. 11 and Aug. 18, respectively, and tow limits continued for southbound transit through the Olmstead Locks and Dam Project.
Marseilles Lock on the Illinois River reported delays of 1-2 hours, while the Peoria and Lagrange Locks, said to have resumed locking as of Aug. 7, reported respective delays of 3-4 hours and 8-12 hours.
In the Gulf area, waits were observed at Industrial Lock (6-8 hours), Bayou Sorrel Lock (4-6 hours), Port Allen Lock (1-2 hours), and Algiers Lock (four hours).