VICKSBURG, Miss. – Elevated water levels on the Ouachita River have delayed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District’s emergency repair work at Columbia Lock and Dam, located approximately seven miles upstream of Columbia, Louisiana. Due to unusually severe rain events in February 2019, river stages have been at or slightly above the top of the lock’s walls. Up until this week, the Vicksburg District and Massman Construction Co. have successfully used alternative construction methods to mitigate impacts from the high river stages and avoid suspension of repair work at the site. Massman Construction Co. modified its working platforms to allow repair work to continue despite the higher-than-normal river stages on the Ouachita River. Recent rainfall has now caused river stages to overtop the lock’s walls by over two feet, flooding the site and stopping work. River stages are currently continuing on a flat to slow rise with additional rain in the forecast. The current pool at Columbia Lock and Dam is 13 feet higher than normal pool stage. (Stock Photo)