Page 46: of Marine News Magazine (November 2012)

Force made up of the Corp Generals for the Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes and Ohio River divisions; the Coast Guard Admirals of the 8th and 9th districts; and seven senior executives from AWO. ?We?re on a conference call with them on a daily basis, depending on the section of river, to identify where there are problems. We?re talking about how to keep safely moving, setting up cues and what buoys might need to be reset because the river is changing. If industry is seeing a place that needs to be dredged soon, we?re notifying the Corps and Coast Guard because they don?t have the resources to monitor everything,? Muench said. Today, she adds, ?there?s more of an understanding that we?re all doing the best we can. It?s Mother Nature that?s not cooperating. Even if things aren?t perfect, if you understand what the challenge is, that?s workable.? In addition to the communications improvements that came about after the 1988 drought, the Corp completed river work that allowed the water to move quicker to the middle of the channel and kept the silt from building up. Consequently, Muench said, it takes less dredging than it did in the 80s to manage drought conditions. CONTENTIOUS MISSOURI RIVER FLOW The Missouri River comes into the Mississippi just above St. Louis. ?What we call the lower Mississippi could really be called the lower Missouri based on the amount of New Orleans(504) 780-8100 ? Fax (504) 780-8200Norfolk(757) 545-0100 ? Fax (757) 545-8004Houston(281) 452-5887 ? Fax (281) 452-9682www.mcdonoughmarine.comwww.mcdonoughmarine.comLARGEST RENTAL FLEET OF SPUD, DECK AND MATERIAL BARGESBARGES 60 TO 400 LENGTHBARGES 60 TO 400 LENGTH? 16 Fleeting locations inland rivers, Gulf, East and West Coast ? Inland and Ocean towing services LARGEST RENTAL FLEET OF SPUD, DECK AND MATERIAL BARGES?The Corp is still telling us that they cannot and will not release water for Mississippi River navigation even though the President clearly stated that they should be. That?s part of the President?s promise to increase exports.? - Lynn Muench, SVP of Regional Advocacy AWO November 201246 MNMNNov2012 Layout 32-49.indd 46MNNov2012 Layout 32-49.indd 4611/7/2012 1:42:46 PM11/7/2012 1:42:46 PM