Dredging on the Mississippi to Keep Barge Traffic Moving

The Army Corps of Engineer dredging operation has had its work cut out for it this year on the Mississippi River.  Unusually, there have been four high water events in 2014 and - as the Late Date blog has noted - the river remains comparatively high and moving fast for this time of year.  

Dredging Operation

The dredging is a complicated process wherein engineers first map the river bottom, then lay out a rectangular area for the cutting operation and then decide how they will move the sand to shore. The sand is either left in place as a mountain of sand which dozers groom into place or it is made available to businesses that want it. A 9-ft deep dredge is the norm for keeping the channels open. This particular operation was a first for the Late Date crew to see in that it had a long pipeline through which the sand was being pumped to an island.

Pipeline from Dredge to Shore

The dredge crew lives on the water for the duration of the operation.  As many of you know, there have been backlogs of barge shipments both north and south on the Mississippi this year.  Dredging operations are on full alert since the heartland not only needs to ship fall harvest to awaiting ships but also must receive cement and salt for construction and (gulp) winter roads. 

Floating Hotel

Barges are economical, efficient and readily available — when the river is clear. Per the Iowa Department of Transportation www.iowa.gov, a grain barge holds 12,500 tons or 52,000 bushels of grain. One barge carries the equivalent of 13.4 jumbo train hopper cars or 58 large semi-trucks. 

An estimated 60 percent of all U.S. grain exports are shipped on the Mississippi through New Orleans and the Port of South Louisiana.