USACE Vicksburg District (MVK) Utilizes “Big Juicy” to Improve Navigation in Lake Providence, Louisiana

VICKSBURG, Miss. – Last week, a team from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District’s River Operations Branch completed the removal of approximately 3,500 cubic yards of large rocks and other material from Lake Providence in northeast Louisiana. Special equipment, specifically a Link Belt LS-818 300-ton lattice boom crawler crane named “Big Juicy”, was used to complete this project. Crane Operators Ron Holland and Patrick Jones equipped Big Juicy with a 6CY clam shell to effectively clear the large rocks. “Navigation is paramount to the Vicksburg District’s mission and to the economy of the Lake Providence area,” said MVK’s Commander, Colonel Christopher Klein. “I’m proud of the team members who worked safely and diligently to remove the obstructions that were hindering our ability to keep the waterway open for commerce.” By removing the rocks, the Corps made it possible to dredge deeper, allowing navigation to traverse the harbor at lower water levels. Throughout the process, MVK’s team coordinated with the Lake Providence Port Commission and other stakeholders at the harbor to ensure regular port activities were not interrupted.

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Lower Mississippi River Comprehensive Management Study Public Meeting

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hosted public scoping meetings for the Lower Mississippi River Comprehensive Management Study (LMR Comp) at Stoneville, MS on Feb. 28.. The meetings consisted of a remote overview presentation and followed by an on-site open house to meet with and collect input from the public.

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Vicksburg District Partners with We Work the Waterways

VICKSBURG, Miss. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District partnered with Inland River Ports and Terminals to host a We Work the Waterways event on Feb. 15 at The Jesse Brent Lower Mississippi River Museum. The event is an immersive interaction day to educate high school students in the area on the importance of waterborne transportation and the diversity of career pathways available on the waterways. We Work the Waterways brings the industry to the students; through education, hands-on learning, and engaging with maritime representatives. Over 200 students in the 11th and 12th grade had the opportunity to hear from Vicksburg District River Operations representatives Chris Simms, Gerald Bland and Bert Turcotte how a survey vessel is used to perform channel condition surveys for river navigation. Students from five high schools in Mississippi attended the event.

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USACE Vicksburg District’s Plant Section are support heroes

VICKSBURG, Miss.-- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District’s Plant Section is the logistical muscle behind numerous district operations, but few see its true reach. Headed by Plant Section Chief Paul Richards, the 20-person team is the logistical backbone of the district’s Navigation Branch. Team members support not only district headquarters in Vicksburg, but the Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC) and other districts as needed. The team operates primarily from the district’s Harbor facility found along an arch in the Yazoo River, an area rife with oil refineries and trucking company outposts. This strategic placement provides easy access to the district’s vessel fleet via a steep boat ramp. Critical assets like the Motor Vessel Benyaurd recently received alarm system upgrades through Programmable Logical Controllers (PLCs) installations, which ensure the vessel’s bridge receives electronic alerts from the lower deck, as opposed to the earlier flashing button system. The Plant Section also propels the district into the future, handling upgrades such as carpentry and weather-proofing older vessel interiors as needed.

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The National Inventory of Dams (NID)

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Meet Armor 1

The revetment mission is about to get an upgrade. Armor 1 is a state-of-the-art piece of machinery that will make the task of fortifying the banks of the Mississippi River safer and more efficient than ever. Replacing the nearly 70-year-old Mat Sinking Unit, Armor 1 will revolutionize the way that we manage the mighty Mississippi.

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