Corps of Engineers to reduce operating hours at four South Louisiana locks in 2013

Published Nov. 7, 2012

NEW ORLEANS – Beginning December 30, 2012 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans district is reducing service hours at the Schooner Bayou Control Structure, the Calcasieu River Saltwater Barrier, the Berwick Lock and the Calumet Floodgate.

 

Reduction in levels of service is a result of a nationwide effort to maximize constrained funding and provide consistent levels of service throughout the Corps’ Inland Marine Transportation System consisting of 12,000 miles of inland waterways and 200 locks and dams. The cost savings from these efforts will be applied to dredging functions and maintenance of locks to reduce closures and improve system reliability.

 

Detailed lock operating hours are as follows:

 

Schooner Bayou Control Structure (SBCS)

Current: 14 hours per day, 7 days a week, from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. 

New: 12 hours per day, 7 days a week, from 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

 

SCBS is a feature of the Mermentau River Operations and Maintenance project and will continue to perform its function of minimizing salinity in the Mermentau Basin.

Calcasieu River Saltwater Barrier (CRSWB)

Current: 16 hours per day, 7 days a week, from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. 

New: 12 hours per day, 7 days a week, from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

 

CRSWB is a feature of the Calcasieu River and Pass Operations and Maintenance project and will continue to perform its function of minimizing salinity north of the structure.

 

Note: CRSWB will remain open until mid-night from Thursday through Sunday for the 2 weekends in May that coincide with the annual Contraband Days Festival, and will remain open until mid-night each year for July 4th upon request of local government.

Berwick Lock

Current: 24 hours per day, 7 days a week

New: 16 hours per day, 7 days a week from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.

 

East & West Calumet Floodgate (only operating during high water conditions)

Current: 12 hours per day, 7 days a weeks from 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

New: 8 hours per day, 7 days a weeks from 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

 

 

 

Note: West Calumet Floodgate will be operating when the flood side stages are between 2.5 and 5.5 NGVD. This controls the water levels along Bayou Teche and the controlled passage of commercial and recreational traffic through the floodgate.

 

Berwick Lock and Calumet Floodgate will continue to perform their dual function of providing flood risk reduction in the lower Atchafalaya River/ Bayou Teche and serving as a navigation link to lower Bayou Teche.

 

Public Comments:

Interested persons may submit comments or request additional information on the proposed change in service hours. Comments & requests for additional information should be addressed to:

 

For questions/comments regarding Calcasieu River Saltwater Barrier or Schooner Bayou Control Structure:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - New Orleans District, ATTN: CEMVN-OD-F / Mrs. Tracy Falk

Post Office Box 60267

New Orleans, Louisiana 70160-0267. 

 

Mrs. Falk also can be reached by email at tracy.a.falk@usace.army.mil.

 

For questions/comments regarding Berwick Lock and Calumet Floodgate:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – New Orleans District, ATTN: CEMVN-OD-D / Mr. Mike Lowe

Post Office Box 60267

New Orleans, Louisiana 70160-0267

 

Mr. Lowe can also be reached by email at michael.h.lowe@usace.army.mil.

 

For more information on the New Orleans District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers please visit our website, www.mvn.usace.army.mil.

Contact
Rachel Rodi
504-862-2587
rachel.rodi@usace.army.mil

Release no. 12-064