Page 27: of Marine News Magazine (February 2016)

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A view of the river mouth in 1985

Credit: Big River Coalition

C CURRENT ONDITIONS

Today, and as the Mississippi River stage at the Carroll- ton Gauge (New Orleans) over the last few weeks crested at just over 17 feet, there is a real need for additional dredges to recover the channel. But, even the most passionate stake- holders often misunderstand the hydrology of this great river, For example, a common assumption is that there is more water at ? ood stage so there is no need to dredge. The one place I know that is not true is in Southwest Pass, the critical entrance to the country’s interior from the Gulf of

Mexico. Typically, the Corps’ Mississippi Valley New Or- leans group (MVN) needs to actively dredge in Southwest 27 www.marinelink.com MN

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