172 EHL

11378

Sand bar, south side, west of Gulf Beach Bridge causes difficulty in aligning eastbound tows.

Survey and dredge to allow safe alignment of tows with bridge span.

Corps dredged sandbar in April 1995 to make a safer bridge approach and in late 1998, which relieved the problem, however problem has reoccurred.

CLOSED

224 EHL

11385

Bottlenecks between buoys 13-14 and 7-8.

Survey and dredge.

October 1998, reported to Corps for investigation.

July 2001, problem still exists.

A bottleneck does exist at this reach due to Choctawhatchee Bay being naturally wider and deeper than the authorized GIWW project dimensions on either side of this reach. However, recent (July 2002) surveys indicate that project authorized width of 125' and depth of 12' is available through this entire reach.

CLOSED

355 EHL Buoys 7-13

11404

Major shoaling of waterway making tow passage difficult. This area shoals quickly after maintenance dredging.

Possibly look at extending "overdepth" in this area.

Reported September, 2001.

This reach was dredged in March 2002. Higher authority approval for additional advance maintenance is being requested.

CLOSED

362 EHL St. George Bridge

11044

Piling for new bridge is very near existing channel. Traffic can pass, but navigation issues must be addressed in remaining construction of bridge to provide adequate clearance for tows.

Reported to Coast Guard, September, 2001. Coast Guard states the pilings are placed correctly, but shoaling has misaligned the channel. Dredging will be required to correct the problem, which was in turn reported to the Corps of Engineers.

The Corps of Engineers confirmed two shoaling locations, with one more serious than the other. The shoaling area east of the new bridge, on the north side of the channel will be removed in mid-October to November, provided the necessary environmental coordination can be accomplished. The lesser problem, on the north side and west of the new bridge, will be dredged during routine dredging later this winter. When bridge construction is complete, the distance between the fender system should be 150 feet.

UPDATE: The shoal removal east of the bridge was completed in January 2002. The shoaling problem west of the bridge was determined to be minimal compared to other higher priority areas.

CLOSED

Mooring buoys or dolphins are still needed at the following areas for tripping or weather delays.

Petit Bois and Horn Island Pass

Alabama Canal between mile 154 and 158

Choctawhatchee Bay

Pensacola Pass

Big Lagoon mile 177

Santa Rosa Sound mile 211

Grand Canyon mile 255

Panama City

Apalachicola Bay

Dog Island

STATUS Spring 2001: GICA requested FY 2002 funding for mooring buoys in Mobile District ($375,000). As of July 2001, no report on status, but prospects are doubtful at this time.

UPDATE July 2002: two mooring buoys and anchors have been purchased. These buoys are scheduled to be installed at approximately 117 early this fall.

UPDATE March 2003: all mooring problems are closed.

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