Mississippi

  • The Old River Control Structure and its future implications for the Mighty Mississippi

    Prior to about 1500, the bodies of water now called the Mississippi River and the Red River (also known as the Red River of the South) were roughly parallel along their southern reaches, each emptying separately into the Gulf of Mexico.  About 1500, the Mississippi, which has a long history of meandering, developed a large bend to the west in the vicinity of what is now Point Breeze, Louisiana.  That bend, sometimes referred to as Turnbull’s Bend, connected with the Red River and had the effect of making the Red River basically a tributary of the Mississippi, with only a small portion of its waterflow continuing south.  That southern waterflow is now called the Atchafalaya River.  
    Everything was fine until 1831, because the water basins in that region shifted regularly about every 1,000 years.  The land and its occupants, including humans, adjusted.  The early 1800s saw the rise of the steamboat era.  Time became paramount.  Turnbull’s Bend was a 20-mile detour that only moved the steamboat two miles further as the crow flies. This was unacceptable.  
    Henry Shreve, a steamboat captain and owner, inventor, and engineer, had developed technology to clear snags and obstructions from the river.  In 1831, he dug a shortcut across the narrowest portion of Turnbull’s Bend, shortening the Mississippi by over 17 miles.  The meander lost most of its waterflow and became known as the Old River and carried a relatively small amount of water between the Mississippi and the Red/Atchafalaya River.  When the Mississippi was high, the Old River flowed west.  When the Mississippi was low, the Old River flowed east.  The majority of the time, the Mississippi was higher than the Red/Atchafalaya River.
    Initially, the total waterflow through the Atchafalaya was about 10% of that through the Mississippi, but over time this varied to as high as 30%.  Since the length of the Atchafalaya was noticeably less than the length of the Mississippi from Point Breese to the Gulf and since the Mississippi continued to meander, there was concern that the Mississippi might eventually change course and flow through the Atchafalaya.  This would have the effect of largely cutting Baton Rouge and New Orleans off from the significant waterflow, devastating their economies.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) was called upon to resolve the potential problem.  In 1963, it completed construction of the Old River Control Structure at Point Breeze.  The structure’s mission was to maintain the status quo, keeping the waterflow of the Atchafalaya at 30% that of the Mississippi.  This was accomplished by means of the Low Sill Control Structure for regulation of routine waterflow through operation of a dam and outflow channel and the Overbank Control Structure for supplemental waterflow control when the Mississippi floods.  A navigation channel and lock were also included, allowing tugs and barges to transit between to two river systems.  
    A major flood in 1973 severely tested the Control Structure and nearly caused its complete failure.  Flood waters scoured a 55-foot hole under the south end of the Low Sill Control Structure and part of it collapsed into the waterway.  It took the emergency dumping of 250 thousand tons of rock into the waterway to save the structure.
    An Auxiliary Structure was added in 1986 to reduce pressure on the original floodgates and a hydroelectric facility was added in 1990.  The hydroelectric facility takes advantage of the difference in water levels between the two rivers to generate electricity and has largely eliminated the need for water to flow through the Low Sill Control Structure during normal conditions.  
    The problem with the hydroelectric facility is that it only removes water from the Mississippi.  The silt is filtered and largely prevented from entering the Atchafalaya.  As a result, the ever-present silt remains in the Big Muddy and is distributed through a smaller volume of water, while a noticeable amount of the clean water has been sent to the Atchafalaya River. The additional clear water leads to increased scouring of the Atchafalaya River basin.  The now siltier Mississippi has a difficult time keeping all that silt in suspension.  Much of it descends to the bottom.  As the river bottom comes up, so must the water level at the surface.  This has the effect of requiring levees along the river to be raised.  It also has the effect of increasing the pressure on the Old River Control Structure.  The increased silt deposit is also a reason that dredging of the river in constantly taking place.
    Eventually, nature will prevail and the main river channel at Point Breeze will shift from the Lower Mississippi to the Atchafalaya.  This will have major immediate and long-term consequences for both river basins, their inhabitants, and their infrastructure.  Millions live within the Mississippi River basin south of Point Breeze.  Another million live in the Atchafalaya River basin.  There are billions of dollars of infrastructure in the Mississippi River basin and a substantial amount in the Atchafalaya River basin.  In addition, those living and working in the Mississippi River basin depend on the river with its significant water flow to prevent salt water intrusion into the water table.  The U.S. petro-chemical and grain exporting businesses will be devastated.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers declines to say when this change in the water flow will occur, but does not argue with the proposition that it is inevitable.  The Corps does say that it will continue to operate the Old River Control Structure, holding back the Mississippi’s predilection to move west, so long as Congress continues to appropriate the necessary funds to maintain and upgrade the structure.  There will come a point, though, when Plan B must be considered.
    The Mississippi River and its Old River Control Structure are vital parts of our national infrastructure.  Close attention to their situation is of national importance.




     


  • basis of the news impacting inland waterways operators and barge companies. In the first week of October, numerous barges were reported grounded in the Mississippi River, particularly south of Baton Rouge. This has consequences: barge rates jumped 218% in St. Louis, compared to 2021.Low water was so severe

  • “Year of COVID-19” fraught with the pains of a pandemic and its impacts on our physical and mental health. Yet, as a navigation representative along the Mississippi River Ship Channel (MRSC), I will always be able to see the bright side. In this case, that is life outside of COVID. The Mississippi River Ship

  • “Not only does the top of the river move, but the bottom of the river also moves.” - James Bodron, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mississippi Valley Division, Regional Business Director.Dredging was the Herculean act that allowed much of the U.S. economy to keep chugging along as usual

  • , we’re just getting started. Funding will be the key.In mid-November 2018, concerns began to rise about an unseasonably high river stages on the Upper Mississippi River Basin generated by significant precipitation events. As a navigation representative on the Lower Mississippi River, I have unfortunately learned

  • license-threatening mid-river collision – in an instant.   A Perilous Passing The license-insured river pilot was traveling northbound on the Mississippi River at around 4 knots pushing 15 barges, seven of which were empty. When approaching one of the many railroad bridges spanning the river, he received

  • Ship Channel to support economical and efficient grain exports. The Big River Coalition remains at the heart of that collaborative effort to make the Mississippi River Mightier.    In 2012, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Institute of Water Resources (IWR) released a report under the direction

  • U.S.-Flag dredgers answer the call in the Mississippi River Basin.Major flooding this winter in the Mississippi River Basin has created significant increased shoaling in the Southwest Pass Channel of the Mississippi River. Shoaling is generally described as the river containing elevated levels of sand and

  • Contracts have been signed for the purchase of three new offshore oil field service vessels by Gulf Mississippi Marine Corporation of New Orleans, La. Representing a cumulative investment of $6,400,000, the boats were acquired by Gulf Mississippi Marine from George Engine Company, Inc. of Harvey, La.

  • of Westwego, La. According to Harry J. Collins, president of Koch-Ellis, the new vessel will be operated in bunkering service on the Lower Mississippi River. The P.N. Ellis is a standard SteelShip 56 design measuring 56 feet long by 20 feet wide by 7.5 feet deep. The hull is divided into seven

  • Veteran shipbuilder Robert Ivey has been named to the newly created position of manager of repair services for Mississippi Marine Towboat Corporation, Greenville, Miss., according to MMTC president John Nichols. Mr. Ivey is a Vicksburg, Miss., native, and comes to MMTC from Zapata Offshore in

  • , president of the Offshore Marine Services Division of Pott Industries, St. Louis, Mo., has announced that John P. Kuchta Jr. has joined Gulf Mississippi Marine Corporation, New Orleans, La., as sales representative for the company's North Sea and European activities. Mr. Kuchta, a graduate of

  • MR Feb-24#12  waterways around the Mississippi River to levels not)
    February 2024 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 12

    in Europe during 2022 again caused major disruption to shipping on the Rhine. In the US, it dropped inland Fires and Explosions waterways around the Mississippi River to levels not seen for Retaining the top spot for another year is Fire/Explosion decades, impacting global transportation of crops such

  • MN Nov-23#58  Makes 
Bollinger Mississippi
Leadership Promotions
Bollin)
    November 2023 - Marine News page: 58

    such lowski as vice president of engineering. technical achievements possible. Powers Gunderson Stoik Schneider Joins Hornblower Makes Bollinger Mississippi Leadership Promotions Bollinger Shipyards has hired Na- Hornblower Group has made than Schneider as director of engi- several leadership changes:

  • MN Jun-23#42  since its 
Columbus, Mississippi. “This survey vessel)
    June 2023 - Marine News page: 42

    Waterway,” said Justin Murphree, USACE Operations Project Manager in the Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority since its Columbus, Mississippi. “This survey vessel is custom built opening in 1985. Zaiontz began her time with the authority to survey inland waterways and shallow draft operations

  • MN Jun-23#37  no bid or bid busts at Mississippi River Baton Rouge to)
    June 2023 - Marine News page: 37

    bids have been below the government estimate. •Lesser disruptions from having to move dredges between active projects. •Fewer no bid or bid busts at Mississippi River Baton Rouge to Gulf hopper contracts (which was a past challenge). This effort is saving money: $3.7 million at Mobile harbor, for example

  • MN Jun-23#33 . 
channel, focused on the Mississippi, between St. Louis)
    June 2023 - Marine News page: 33

    year on dredg- Eight dredges were central for maintaining a 9-foot ing in hundreds of navigation projects across the country. channel, focused on the Mississippi, between St. Louis The Corps is responsible for maintaining and improving and Cairo, Ill. The Corps was looking to add three more nearly 12,000

  • MN Jun-23#32  THE 
MISSISSIPPI OPEN
By Tom Ewing
ies)
    June 2023 - Marine News page: 32

    Feature Dredging USACE DREDGING: KEEPING THE MISSISSIPPI OPEN By Tom Ewing ies, during fall and winter 2022 and early 2023. “Not only does the top of the river move, but the The full scope of these U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ bottom of the river also moves.” - James Bodron, (USACE) dredging efforts

  • MN Jun-23#26  (formerly VT Halter) in Mississippi. The 
Ncraft that provide)
    June 2023 - Marine News page: 26

    seas. Lighter (APL) which is being built by Bollinger Mississip- There are large numbers of boats and service pi Shipbuilding (formerly VT Halter) in Mississippi. The Ncraft that provide essential services to the sea smaller of the two is the Yard Repair Berthing and Messing services, the nation and its

  • MN Jun-23#2  Lundquist
32  Keeping the Mississippi Open
 Dredging was)
    June 2023 - Marine News page: 2

    plays a vital role for the Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and other U.S. Marine Corps 26 government agencies, is growing. By Edward Lundquist 32 Keeping the Mississippi Open Dredging was the Herculean act that allowed much of the U.S. economy to keep chugging along as usual as drought conditions threatened to

  • MN Jun-23#Cover  the Mississippi Open
Interview
ACBL)
    June 2023 - Marine News page: Cover

    and Patrol Craft US Building Up a Large Fleet of Small Craft Autonomous Vessels Recognizing and Meeting the Challenges Dredging Keeping the Mississippi Open Interview ACBL CEO Mike Elli

  • MN Aug-23#9  a 176-ton hydraulic self- Mississippi River, will receive)
    August 2023 - Marine News page: 9

    Company, of North Kingstown, R.I., Southwest Shipyard, LP., of Channelview, Texas, on the will receive $704,206 to purchase a 176-ton hydraulic self- Mississippi River, will receive $1.2 million for blasting and propelled vessel transporter. painting equipment upgrades. Main Industries, Inc., of North Charleston

  • MR May-23#50  clean hydrogen hubs. 
Mississippi River region, joined)
    May 2023 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 50

    , which authorized spending of effort to create a corridor for the Gulf of Mexico and Lower $7B on the establishment of regional clean hydrogen hubs. Mississippi River region, joined by port authorities and stake- While the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) expects to fund up holder organizations from Houston

  • MN Apr-23#35  
underway at Bollinger Mississippi Shipbuilding (previously)
    April 2023 - Marine News page: 35

    2025 and 2026; and the Polar Security Cutter program underway at Bollinger Mississippi Shipbuilding (previously VT Halter Marine) in Pascagoula, Miss.—the series’ ? rst vessel Polar Sentinel is scheduled to be launched in 2025. In June last year, Mobile, Ala. shipbuilder Austal USA was awarded a

  • MN Apr-23#5  
the Alabama Rivers, Lower Mississippi, Great Lakes and  6)
    April 2023 - Marine News page: 5

    tow- the global energy, maritime and offshore oil and gas sectors. ing vessels from Maine to Corpus Christi, Texas, including the Alabama Rivers, Lower Mississippi, Great Lakes and 6 Barry Parker Erie Canal. Tug & Barge Solutions exists to help companies Barry Parker of bdp1 Consulting Ltd provides strategic

  • MR Feb-23#21  at Inglalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi and Fast Re-
sponse)
    February 2023 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 21

    non-Navy government shipbuilding ef- forts underway. • The Coast Guard also continues to build National Security Cutters at Inglalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi and Fast Re- sponse Cutter at Bollinger in Louisiana. • The ? rst four hulls of the new Offshore Patrol Cutter are being built at Eastern Shipbuilding

  • MN Feb-23#34  Lines’ 386 passenger Viking Mississippi, de- Logothetis family)
    February 2023 - Marine News page: 34

    that will enable them to “run almost anywhere.” Fla. – now under ownership of entities linked to Greece’s Viking Cruise Lines’ 386 passenger Viking Mississippi, de- Logothetis family. The boats will deploy Tier 4 compliant livered in 2022 from Edison Chouest’s LaShip shipyard in engines, from MAN. Three

  • MN Feb-23#33  begin 
cruises on the Lower Mississippi in 
Spring, 2023. In)
    February 2023 - Marine News page: 33

    , which will be the ? fth in a series of 175 pas- senger ships built at Chesapeake Ship- building, in Maryland) is set to begin cruises on the Lower Mississippi in Spring, 2023. In late 2022, the com- pany began construction on Ameri- can Liberty, the third new Coastal Cat in the company’s “Project Blue”

  • MN Feb-23#5  the Alabama Rivers, Lower Mississippi, Great  6  Morgan Turrell)
    February 2023 - Marine News page: 5

    in Tug & Barge Solutions and has operated to this magazine. towing vessels from Maine to Corpus Christi, Texas, in- cluding the Alabama Rivers, Lower Mississippi, Great 6 Morgan Turrell Lakes and Erie Canal. Tug & Barge Solutions exists to is director of the National Transportation Safety Board’s help

  • MR Dec-22#37  the  the Nile, Mekong and Mississippi Rivers, as well as)
    December 2022 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 37

    use of ships on the rivers of Europe, new purpose-built vessels for hydrogen power for on board operations. Viking is using the the Nile, Mekong and Mississippi Rivers, as well as another small system as a test to determine how hydrogen fuel could new ocean ship, the Viking Mars. be used at a larger scale

  • MN Nov-22#61  map the mouth of the Mississippi River,  performance)
    November 2022 - Marine News page: 61

    the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to hy- and built signi? cant boats like Tobin over many years. High- A drographically map the mouth of the Mississippi River, performance power installations are always fun puzzles to allowing researchers to accurately and effectively obtain solve with talented

  • MN Nov-22#41  awesome year for the Upper Mississippi River  of government)
    November 2022 - Marine News page: 41

    work plan to continue to advance additional projects. for deckhands. According to Marty Hettel, vice president “It’s an awesome year for the Upper Mississippi River of government affairs at American Commercial Barge Line basin,” said Andrew Goodall, NESP program manager. (ACBL), an expanded 1,200-foot

  • MN Nov-22#40  ecosystems along the Upper Mississippi River. Spe-
of navigable)
    November 2022 - Marine News page: 40

    more than 1,000 projects to improve navigation delays and T aging locks and dams throughout America’s vast network restore ecosystems along the Upper Mississippi River. Spe- of navigable rivers. ci? cally, Congress allocated $829.1 million for two NESP But there’s been progress toward modernizing the sys-

  • MN Nov-22#39  to navigation 
on the Lower Mississippi 
River on October 13)
    November 2022 - Marine News page: 39

    Coast Guard Cutter Chena provides aid to navigation on the Lower Mississippi River on October 13, 2022. The Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and industry partners are working together “We need rain” to ensure navigational In August, the Mississippi River Commission (MRC) safety and

  • MN Nov-22#38  but also for the middle Mississippi. “We look to maximize)
    November 2022 - Marine News page: 38

    , or not, development was critical, not just for the Missouri River agricultural products clear the market. Supply chain prob- but also for the middle Mississippi. “We look to maximize lems cause transactions to confront a “negative basis,” i.e., ? ows,” she explained. when a storage facility can’t move

  • MN Nov-22#37  waterways, particularly the Mississippi. In early 
October)
    November 2022 - Marine News page: 37

    Steenhoek, Executive Director of the Soy Transpor- tation Coalition based in Ankeny, Iowa, keeps a close eye on the inland waterways, particularly the Mississippi. In early October, Steenhoek commented that “conditions continue to deteriorate due to historically low water.” He added, “The strength of U