Corps of Engineers to remove rock from Mississippi River channel

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Dredge Potter, dredging
 a section of the Upper Mississippi River, south of the
St. Louis Harbor.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today the schedule for removing rock formations in the Mississippi River near Thebes, Ill., that pose a threat to navigation as water levels on the river drop.

The agency has awarded two contracts for rock removal work in a nearly six mile stretch of river. Newt Marine, Inc., of Dubuque, Iowa, will remove the rock formation upstream of Thebes; Kokosing Construction, from Fredericktown, Ohio, will remove the rock formation downstream of Thebes.

Work begins Saturday, Dec. 15, upstream of the Thebes railroad bridge. While final blasting plans are still being developed, full operations will begin early next week, with blasting to take place during daylight hours.  The U.S. Coast Guard is coordinating notices to mariners, and river closures are scheduled for 16 hours on working days starting Monday, Dec. 17, between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. each day during the rock removal, with traffic allowed to pass for eight hours.

The work will remove around 890 cubic yards of limestone from the water-starved river to reduce the risk for vessels in the channel during low water. The rocks are part of a large formation that impedes the navigation channel during low water. More rock removal is planned for later dates, but the work beginning Saturday will address areas that will have the most immediate impact on the navigation.

Removing the rock formations are one of many operations the Corps and U.S. Coast Guard are undertaking along the narrowing river to maintain a 9-foot deep channel for river navigation. Dredging has been ongoing since early July to preserve the channel, as well as continued surveys, channel patrols to keep commerce safely moving on the Middle Mississippi.

“The drought across much of the Midwest is making river navigation challenging,” said Col. Chris Hall, St. Louis District commander. “We are taking additional measures and are confident that we will be able to maintain a safe and reliable channel for our partners in the river industry.”

The Corps is in constant communication and coordination with the Coast Guard and the river industry as the drought has reduced water levels throughout the Mississippi River Basin to historic lows.

The Corps of Engineers is working with the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Missouri Department of Conservation to avoid and minimize impacts to the environment. The focus by both the Corps and the Coast Guard, Hall said, is safety during the operation. The Coast Guard has established a safety zone for the affected sections of the river. The safety zone will prohibit access to the river and affected areas along the banks on both sides of the blasting sites.  Safe public access to the work area is limited. Coast Guard, Corps and local safety officials remind anyone planning to be in the area to be aware of posted signage and respect private property.

Coast Guard, Corps and local safety officials remind anyone planning to be in the area to be aware of posted signage and respect private property. Be aware that places newly revealed by low water are unstable.  Signage and other warning notices may not be immediately visible since many were placed when the river was at a higher stage.  Approaching the water at any time should include a life vest.  When in doubt, don’t go out.

For more information, visit www.mvs.usace.army.mil/lowwater.