ITCS Memo# 2522 - ILLINOIS RIVER UPDATE ON WATCH PHASE'S

To: RIAC
From: IRCA Chairman
Date: 4/25/07
Subject: ILLINOIS RIVER UPDATE ON WATCH PHASE'S
ITCS Memo # 2522

ADVISORY:
A. ZONES 1 (0.0-9.9) AND 4-6 (MILES 80.3-145.5) ON THE ILR ARE CURRENTLY IN THE HIGH WATER WATCH PHASE OF THE ILR WAP ANNEX.
B. ZONE 3 IS NO LONGER IN THE HIGH WATER WATCH PHASE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FLORENCE (ILR MILE 56.0) AND VALLEY CITY (ILR MILE 61.3).
C. ZONE 17 (MILES 437.1-457.1) AND ZONES 22-25 (MILES 241.4-324.8) ON THE UMR, ARE IN THE HIGH WATER WATCH PHASE OF THE UMR WAP ANNEX.
D. ALL TOWING VESSELS SHOULD PROCEED AT THE SLOWEST SAFE OPERATING SPEED BASED UPON PREVAILING CONDITIONS IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE WAKE DAMAGE.
E. DUE TO HIGH RIVER LEVELS, DRIFT OF DEBRIS MAY BE AN ISSUE WITH NAVIGATION, AND IT MAY DRAG BUOYS OFF STATION AND SEVER BUOYS FROM THEIR MOORINGS.
F. DOWN STREAMING OPERATIONS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED UNLESS THE VESSEL IS EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN 75 FT IN LENGTH AND THE VESSEL HAS A MINIMUM OF 1800 HORSEPOWER.
G. COTP UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER REMINDS ALL MARINERS TO USE EXTRA CAUTION AND TO BE ESPECIALLY VIGILANT DURING ALL BRIDGE AND LOCK APPROACHES IN THESE ZONES DUE TO SWIFT CURRENTS.

QH