ITCS Memo# 2407 - Low Water Advisory for UMR 0.0

To: RIAC
From: RIAC Chairman
Date: 7/11/06
Subject: Low Water Advisory for UMR 0.0 - 185.0
ITCS Memo # 2407

To: ALL MARINERS
From: MSO St. Louis
Date: 7/10/06
Subject: Latest Update to Low Water Advisory for UMR
NAVNOTICE # 688

SECTOR UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER ISSUES THE FOLLOWING SAFETY
ADVISORY:

DUE TO LOW WATER CONDITIONS ON THE UMR, THE U.S. COAST GUARD SECTOR
UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND SECTOR OHIO VALLEY IN CONJUNCTION WITH
RIAC AND THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS HAVE ISSUED THE FOLLOWING
SAFETY ADVISORY:

A. ST. LOUIS GAUGE READINGS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN THE NEGATIVE
RANGE ON THE UMR. WHILE SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT MAY OCCUR FOLLOWING
HEAVY RAIN A DOWNWARD TREND IS ANTICIPATED.

B. HEAVY DRAFT VESSELS ARE ADVISED TO MOVE OFF THE UMR IMMEDIATELY
DUE TO EXPECTED LOW WATER CONDITIONS. BETWEEN UMR MILE 0.0 AND
185.0, MARINERS SHOULD LIMIT THEIR DRAFT TO 9 FEET OR LESS.

C. ALL MARINERS ARE ADVISED TO USE EXTRA CAUTION FOR PREVAILING
CONDITIONS AND REMAIN COGNIZANT OF TOW DRAFTS AS LOW WATER
CONDITIONS DEVELOP.

D. MARINERS SHOULD LIMIT THEIR TOW SIZE TO A MAXIMUM OF 25
SOUTHBOUND BARGES AND 36 NORTHBOUND BARGES WITH A MAXIMUM OF 20
LOADED BARGES NORTHBOUND.

E. MARINERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF SHIFTING CHANNELS AS BUOYS ARE
ADJUSTED FOR CHANGING WATER LEVELS AND POTENTIAL SHOALING
CONDITIONS ALONG BUOY LINES.

F. HEAVY BARGES SHOULD BE PLACED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TOW TOWARDS
THE STERN.

G. MARINERS SHOULD USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN TRANSITING NEAR
FLEETING AREAS AND TO TRANSIT AT THE SLOWEST SAFE NAVIGABLE SPEED
TO MINIMIZE IMPACT.

H. THIS SAFETY ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
LOW WATER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE.