Today’s River Information

January 30, 2014

Advisory

- Illinois River Operations – Ice on the Illinois River continues to pose problems with transit.

o LaGrange Lock – zero boats are waiting lock turn

o Bob Stith, in Lemont, will wait for a second boat to arrive prior to leaving based on the current river conditions

o It is not safe for any boat to run by themselves

o Remain hopeful to send tows back into the Illinois river early week of 2/3, we are evaluating on a daily basis

o This is a fluid situation and we will continue to provide updates as information becomes available

- Illinois – Illinois River boats are restricted to a max of 8 barges in tow

- Weather Forecast – Below are the latest forecasted temperatures for Chicago, Peoria, and Pittsburgh:

o Chicago and Peoria stay below freezing for the next 10 days

o Pittsburgh highs are above freezing for the next several days, then dip back down to below freezing

1/31 2/1 2/2 2/3 2/4 2/5 2/6 2/7 2/8

Chicago 22/16 27/8 15/-5 21/11 25/15 18/-9 2/0 15/11 20/9

Peoria, IL 24/19 28/5 14/-6 24/13 23/11 14/-12 7/1 18/9 22/7

Pittsburgh 37/32 44/34 38/22 31/26 33/32 34/10 19/7 26/21 28/24

- Upper Mississippi – Main chamber of Mel Price (UM 201) is expected to remain closed for an indefinite amount of time

o Heavy ice buildup just above the lock has increased transit times through the small chamber

o WA Kernan and Kevin Flowers are waiting lock turn at Mel Price Lock (13 tows, approximately 18-20 hours delay)

- St. Louis –We are not expected to reach -3 until February 7-8

- Thebes –Phase 2 of the rock pinnacle work has resumed

o No formal closures at this time, but expect intermittent delays to traffic from miles 38.5 – 45.5

o Channel restrictions are in place, 15 barge restrictions through area while work is being performed

o 12 hour daily closures towards the end of the week for an indefinite amount of time

o Workers have option to discontinue work as they see fit if river stage at Cape Girardeau is above 10’

- Pittsburgh – Restrictions have been put in place in the Pittsburgh area due to the ice buildup.

o Tow length must not exceed 800’, 12 barge max tow, restriction is in place from the mouth of the Kanawha River (266) through

the Pittsburgh district (0)

o Based on the current forecast a couple of warmer temperatures this weekend

o Ice couplings are recommended in this area

o 100% ice coverage throughout this area

- Greenup Lock – Ohio River 341 – Object blocking the gate, main chamber closed

o Will be closed until further notice, auxiliary will be utilized, minor delay

- Olmstead Lock site- Ohio River mile 964- operations to set the 5th Lower Pier Dam Segment Jan 27- Feb 4

o No wake zone in this area, expect no more than 3 hours delay

- Lock 52 – The river stage has dropped quickly over the weekend on the Lower Ohio, outlined below

o 7 boats at the lock, 7-10 hour delay

- Tennessee – Wilson Lock (259) main chamber closed to repair gates

o February 24 - 27

- Lower Miss – River will be closed daily Monday = Friday 06:00 – 18:00 at Spanish Moss (LM 534)

o Expected to begin on February 7 and end around March 1

- Gulf Operating Conditions

o Recent ice events have slowed activity at fleets and docks

o Tiger Fleet (Baton Rouge) and Armant Fleet (150) are currently closed

o Highs are expected to be in the 50s today; operations should restart in most areas this afternoon

- Gulf – Industrial Lock (between East Canal and New Orleans) delay

o 18 boats at the lock, 18-20 hour delay

- Bayou Sorrel – PA 36 - 19 boats, 20-22 hour delay

- West Canal – Colorado Locks (441) will have intermittent closures from January 27 – March 14

o Monday – Friday from 07:00 – 17:00

o Exact closure times will not be known until 24 hours in advance

Lock Closures & Delays

Lock Name Phone Mile Point Start Date Est. End Date Description

Upper Mississippi Mel Price 618-462-1713 UM 201 12/30/13 6/1 Main chamber closed

Ohio River Greenup 606-473-7441 OR 341 1/28 TBA Main chamber closed

Tennessee River Wilson 256-764-5223 TR 259 2/24 2/27 Main chamber closed

West Canal Colorado 979-863-2318 WC 441 1/27 3/14 Closed weekday daylight

Current Loading Drafts

Illinois River (LaSalle South) – 9’0”

St. Louis South - 9’0”

Cairo South – 1’6” FB

Ohio River (Kenova) S/B to Gulf – 10’0”

Current River Stages

Area 24 Hr Change Current 1/31 2/1 Flood Stage (ft) St. Paul 14

Dubuque 17

Morris -0.5 5.94 5.5 5.5 16

Peoria 0 11.90 11.8 11.8 18

St. Louis +0.1 -1.73 -0.5 -0.5 30

Cape Girardeau -0.9 7.67 7.8 8.3 32

Thebes -0.9 6.07 33

Pittsburgh -0.1 16.73 16.6 16.6 25

Cincinnati 0 27.40 26.8 26.5 52

Evansville +0.6 15.27 15.3 15.3 42

Paducah +2.9 16.17 13 12.9 39

Cairo -2.5 13.57 14.5 14.3 40

Memphis -1.8 4.01 2.2 0.6 34

Muskogee -0.2 18.54 28

Little Rock +0.1 7.53 7.4 7.4 23

Vicksburg -1.9 23.40 22.2 20.7 43

Baton Rouge -1.3 21.81 21.2 20.3 35

New Orleans -0.6 7.51 7.9 7.7 17

Ottawa (mile 238-240 Illinois River) Upper Peoria Lake (mile 178-179 Illinois River)

South Chicago Georgetown Ohio River mile 38

S/B just below Marseilles Lock, Illinois River mile 245

Pittsburgh Point Starved Rock Area Illinois River mile 231

M/V Gene Herde, ice was forming from spray from the water Coyotes crossing the Illinois River

Ice at Powhatan – Ohio River Mile 110 East Liverpool, Ohio Mile 43

Mel Price Lock Upper Miss mile 201 M/V Bob Stith Chillicothe Bridge Illinois River mile 182

M/V Leo Lutgring above Marseilles Lock IR 248 Artco Fleet, Ottawa Illinois River mile 237

M/V Kevin Flowers at Marseilles Lock mile 245 Emsworth Lock Ohio River mile 6