Coast Guard Continues To Monitor Rising Rivers - Coast Guard News

New Orleans - Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Burnett, a reservist at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans, observers high water conditions along the Mississippi River, May 15, 2011. Every day Sector New Orleans dispatches teams comprised of pollution investigators, waterfront facilities inspectors, and waterways management representatives, to patrol the banks of the Mississippi River and identify and report all potential public safety, environmental, and navigation hazards. U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Lt Brian Sattler.

U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Lt Brian Sattler.

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard continues to monitor the rising water and is implementing river closures throughout the district, on the Inland River System, Monday.

Coast Guard Captains of the Port are continually reviewing the need for, and implementing, safety zones, river restrictions and marine safety information bulletins to ensure the safe navigation of marine traffic.

River closures by the Captain of the Port are:

Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River

The Mississippi River near Natchez, Miss., is closed from mile marker 350 to mile marker 365 until further notice, and there are two vessels waiting to transit northbound and one vessel waiting to transit southbound.

Morgan City, La.

Port Allen Route from Morgan City to Baton Rouge is closed due to the Port Allen Lock being closed due to high water. There are no vessels waiting to transit.

Coast Guard Sector New Orleans

There are no river closures at this time.

The Coast Guard has been very proactive in coordinating all potential actions with industry through daily River Industry Executive Task Force, New Orleans Port Coordination Team and Lower Mississippi River Commission conference calls.

The Coast Guard has reached out to Coast Guard units outside of the affected area and directed them to remain on standby to assist where severe flooding is possible.

“Higher water poses a greater threat to mariners and flood-control structures,” said Cmdr. Timothy Wendt, chief of Waterways Management for the Eighth Coast Guard District. “We’re working very closely with the Army Corps of Engineers as well as industry partners to facilitate the safe movement of commerce and protect these flood-control structures.”

The Coast Guard is working with the USACE as they manage their responsibilities for flood control and is participating in several conference calls daily to coordinate flood response efforts. The Coast Guard has placed a liaison officer with the Mississippi River Division in Vicksburg, Miss., and a liaison officer in many USACE District offices and USACE emergency operation centers.

Up-to date information on river restrictions and closures can be found at www.homeport.uscg.mil.