Hurricane Remnants Could Offer Temporary Rain Relief

Rain in the forecast from Hurricane Helene will offer a temporary respite, but the river industry expects “a long October” as low water conditions persist on the Lower Mississippi River.

Randy Chamness, chairman of the Lower Mississippi River Commission (LOMRC), said the channel was drastically impacted September 20-23 at Mile 921 near Hickman, Ky., with seven groundings in that four-day period and closures that stretched as long as 10 to 12 hours.

“We could see some relief, but it can’t get here soon enough,” he said. “We’re in desperate need of rain to get over to the left descending bank here at Hickman, but we need water to do it.”

Restrictions along that portion of the channel were tightened, with daylight only operations implemented for tows wider than 105 feet and tows to be no more than four wide in that reach.

“That one and a half mile stretch alone is causing us to reduce tow sizes by 10 barges,” Chamness said. “That’s big.”

The riverbottom in that area is bedrock on the left descending side, but the right descending side is sandbar. Chamness said LOMRC made a request for the Corps to explore the option of dredging the sand.

“They’re doing the studies now,” he said. “We don’t have confirmation.”

In an advisory released September 25, the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Ohio Valley, with the concurrence of LOMRC, said it had placed a safety advisory on the Lower Mississippi from Mile 869 (Caruthersville, Mo.) to Mile 953.8 (Cairo).

Southbound tows should have drafts no greater than 9 feet 6 inches with barges configured no more than six wide, the Coast Guard said. Northbound tows were limited to the same draft but with barges configured no more than five wide and only four loaded.

Twenty-four hour rolling closures were in place where dredging was taking place, with the Jadwin at Mile 733 (Memphis) and the Hurley at Mile 487 (Stack Island).

On the Upper Mississippi, the Coast Guard reported in broadcast notices to mariners September 25 that dredging was ongoing between Upper Mississippi Mile 323.7 to Mile 324.1 (21 Lower/Orton Island) and Upper Mississippi 529.8 to 530.2, in the area of Smith Bay.

The Lower Mississippi fell to -10 feet at the Memphis gauge the night of September 21 before the forecast began to take into consideration rainfall associated with Hurricane Helene that was expected to allow a slow rise to –3 feet by September 30.

“If that holds true, that will allow us to stay on our current tow size and hopefully gain some draft back,” Chamness said. “We’re just not sure how much.”

One of the worst areas was from Mile 915 north to the confluence with the Ohio River in Cario, Ill., Chamness said, noting that Olmsted Locks and Dam wasn’t able to release much water to help. Most locking rivers are at flat pool, he said, adding, “It’s been very tough going.”

In the Upper Midwest, October is typically the driest month of the year, Chamness said.

“Reducing draft and tow size this time of year is detrimental to industry because it’s our busiest time of year, and with the harvest starting earlier than normal, it’s already put us behind the eight ball,” Chamness said. “It will continue to be challenging for the next couple of months. We know that.”