KANSAS CITY, Mo.— The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Kansas City District has deployed Corps personnel and equipment assets to assist several barges recently halted on the Missouri River in close proximity to River Mile 41 in St. Charles County near Chesterfield, Mo.
The Corps was notified Aug. 26 that several barges were unable to navigate the channel as a sand bar had developed causing the channel depth to be reduced in certain areas to as little as 4.5 feet.
Early today, all tow traffic successfully navigated through the recently blocked channel. The Corps will continue to improve, monitor, evaluate and determine the appropriate actions needed to ensure continued navigation in this area.
“The Kansas City District is committed to working with the navigation industry and our stakeholders to ensure this important liquid highway continues to support navigation so as not to halt the flow of valuable commodities throughout the basin,” said Col. Anthony J. Hofmann, Kansas City District commander.
Upon notification of the blockage the Corps immediately implemented the following measures to resolve the issue at RM 41:
-The Corps deployed an in-house labor crew to assist with the opening of the channel.
-The Corps is actively pursuing an emergency contract for dredging work.
-The Corps is conducting a hydrosurvey with in-house survey crews to assess the current conditions and assist all tows through as necessary.
-Towboats will be notified of any impacted area(s).
This is the latest reported instance on the Missouri River since the relentless drought embraced the Midwest throughout most of the summer. The target flows for navigation at Kansas City are being met by releases from the Gavin’s Point Dam. However, below Kansas City the drought is causing reduced inflows into the Missouri River from its tributaries causing a less than minimal service depth of below eight feet in some areas.
For more information please contact the Kansas City District Public Affairs Office at (816) 389-3486.
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Release no. PA-2012-53