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Office of the Division Engineer UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY DIVISION 1124 Syndicate Trust Building 915 Olive Street St. Louis 1, Missouri APPENDIX A TO DIVISION BULLETIN NO. 2 DESCRIPTION OF NAVIGATION CONDITIONS ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER BETWEEN THE OHIO RIVER AND THE GULF OF MEXICO FOREWORD Due to numerous inquiries received by this office for informa- tion concerning general navigation conditions on the Mississippi River below the Ohio River as a part of the Lakes-to-Gulf Water- way, it has been thought advisable to issue this appendix. This lower section of the river is outside the jurisdiction of this office and parties desiring more detailed information should communicate with the proper authorities as listed in Division Bulletin No. 2. The information contained herein has been, in general, obtained from the President, Mississippi River Commission, P. O. Box 80, Vicks- burg, Mississippi, who is also Division Engineer, Lower Mississippi Valley Division. Cairo, Illinois, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The navigation chan- nel of the Mississippi River between Cairo, Illinois and Baton _ Rouge, Louisiana, is now approximately 737 miles. Navigation in this section of the river is safe and easy throughout the year, with exception of periods when the upper portion of this reach contains floating ice and during seasons of exceptionally low stream flow, when for brief periods some difficulty is experienced by large tows. Between Cairo, Illinois and Vicksburg, Mississippi, the project channel 9' deep and 300' wide is maintained. Between Vicksburg, Mississippi and Baton Rouge, Louisiana a channel at least 11' deep and more than 300' wide is available throughout the year, except during lowest unusual stages when the project channel (0° x. 100') is maintained. From December or J anuary to June or July, when high stages of river generally prevail, a navigable channel of at least 14' depth and ample width is available from Cairo, Illinois, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The range between high and low water is 60.5' at Cairo, Illinois, 53.0' at U. S. Engineers' gauge at Beale St., Memphis, Tennessee, and 59.7' at Natchez, Mississippi. Maximum current velocities, which occur during the period of high stages, may be as great as 6 miles per hour. Velocities of 8 to 9% miles per hour in short stretches of constricted reaches and at bridges have been observed during extreme high-water period. At re stages, current velocities range from 2 to 3% miles per our. The navigation channel is maintained by performing main- tenance dredging through the crossing bars during low water and by snagging operations to remove snags from the channel. Main- tenance of the navigation channel is also aided by the stabilization of caving banks, usually with articulated concrete revetment; con- struction of pile dikes to contract the channel and improvement dredging to correct channel alignment. Six fixed bridges cross the Mississippi River between its con- fluence with the Ohio River directly below Cairo, Illinois and Baton Rouge, Louisiana; two located at Memphis, Tennessee, one at Green- ville, Mississippi, one at Vicksburg, Mississippi, one at Natchez, Mississippi, and one directly above Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Con- trolling clearances are 59.5' above extreme high water at Vicksburg, Mississippi and 770' horizontally at Memphis, Tennessee. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Gulf of Mexico. This section of the Mississippi River, a distance of 249 miles by Southwest Pass, is navigable throughout the year. Information on current navigation conditions on the Mississippi River between Cairo, Illinois and Baton Rouge, Louisiana is issued weekly during the low water season and as necessary during high water by the District Engineers, Memphis, Tennessee, Vicksburg, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana through the Engineer De- partment "Navigation Bulletins."' These bulletins may be obtained upon request to the District Engineers or the President of the Mississippi River Commission, Vicksburg, Mississippi. 'The Presi- dent of the Mississippi River Commission also issues annually a folio of navigation maps covering the Mississippi River from Cairo, Illi- nois to the Gulf of Mexico, showing the general outline: of the navi- gation channel and approximate location of the shore aids to navi- gation. These maps may be purchased from the Office of the Presi- dent, Mississippi River Commission, Vicksburg, Mississippi'on the District Engineer Offices at Memphis, Tennessee, Vicksburg, Missis- sippi and New Orleans, Louisiana. 329