Salvage Operators Near Marseilles Dam

A crane known as the HERCULES unloads cargo from one of the submerged barges near the Marseilles Dam in Marseilles, Ill., April 24, 2013. Salvage operations continued to remove the remaining barges. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class John Schleicher.

Salvage operators remove three more barges near Marseilles Dam

MARSEILLES, Ill –Salvage operations continued Thursday near the Marseille’s Dam with three more barges being removed.

A second submerged barge was removed Thursday after its remaining cargo of rolled coils was removed by a large crane known as the HERCULES that the Army Corps of Engineers brought in Wednesday.

Later in the afternoon, two more barges were removed, leaving only three submerged barges near the Dam. Lightering of the remaining three barges will begin this weekend.

"We had a very successful day in terms of removing three more barges from the Marseilles Dam, but most importantly, this has enabled more functional operations at the dam to slow the loss of water in the navagational pool," said Scott Noble, senior vice president, Ingram Barge Company.

As a result of the three additional barges being removed Thursday, two additional gates are operational. This will result in more water retention, keeping water levels at a normal depth for a longer period of time. The anticipated loss of the navigational pool may not occur now until the middle of next week.

A large crane known as the HERCULES offloads rolled coils from one of the submerged barges near the Marseilles Dam in Marseilles, Ill., April 25, 2013. The barge was one of three barges removed today during ongoing salvage operations. Coast Guard photo by Ens. Michelle Simmons.

On Wednesday, the Unified Command announced that due to damage to some of the gates of the dam, loss of the navigational pool between the Marseilles Lock and Dam and the Dresden Dam and Lock was imminent and could be lost by as early as this week.

Loss of the navigational pool means that the Army Corps of Engineers may not be able to sustain a channel depth of nine feet. It does not mean that a portion of the river will be lost completely.

“Today was a very encouraging day of progress,” said U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Matt Sibley, Incident Commander in charge of the Unified Command. “We are excited and remain committed to working toward the ultimate goal of reopening this part of the Illinois River as quickly as possible.” Capt. Sibley is also the commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan.

First Barge Removed From Near Marseilles Dam

MARSEILES, Ill – The first of seven barges resting near the Marseilles Dam was removed under supervision of the Unified Command Tuesday morning.

Salvage efforts on the barge, which is loaded with iron ore fines, commenced at about 10:30 a.m. after the Unified Command approved the safety and salvage plan.

Two tugs owned and contracted by Ingram Barge Company pulled the barge away from the dam during the complex operation. Tugboat M/V Lloyd Murphy, owned by American Commercial Lines and operated by Inland Marine Service, assisted.

Ingram salvage crews are currently working to pump water from a barge in advance of removing some of its cargo of steel coils. These steps will allow the barge to be pulled away from the dam tomorrow.

"Ingram is working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to ensure that all salvage operations are handled in a safe and secure manner," said Scott Noble, senior V.P of ingram Barge Company.

"Today we made substantial progress in removing the first barge safely from the area and we began work on salvaging a second barge."

Representatives from the USACE will now examine the gates to the dam more closely to determine how extensive the damage is.

Removal of additional barges will resume tomorrow.

Last Thursday evening, 14 cargo barges were downbound on the Illinois River approaching the Marseilles Lock canal when heavy currents broke away seven loaded barges and diverted them to the Dam.

There have been no reports of pollution. In addition, members of the Unified Command stressed that there is no threat to additional flooding in surrounding communities.

"Today's events and the commencement of salvage operations is encouraging," said Capt. Matthew Sibley, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan.

"However, this is a challenging process that may take time to complete safely."

A safety zone remains in effect between the Marseilles Lock and Dam and the Dresden Lock and Dam.

For more information, contact the Joint Information Center at 216-389-0420

The Unified Command consists of representatives from Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan, the Army Corps of Engineers and Ingram Barge. 

 

Western River Flooding

Members of the Coast Guard's Western River Flood Punt Team, from Marine Safety Detachment Quad Cities, traverse flooded streets in Forest View, Ill., during rescue efforts, April 20, 2013. The Western River Flood Punt Team supported other local agencies with evacuations and door-to-door  checks on residents. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Alan Haraf.

CHICAGO — The U.S. Coast Guard Western River Flood Punt Team is supporting the Forest View, Ill. Fire Department and other local agencies responding to floods caused by heavy rains throughout the past week.

The Western River Flood Punt Team, from Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Quad Cities, arrived in Forest View on Friday with three boats and a crew of seven. Crewmembers have been going door to door in a 12 block section of town checking with residents who need evacuation or other assistance.

The Western River Flood Punt Team, composed of Coast Guard active duty and reserve members, deployse during inland flood events. Its crews use small, lightweight, flat bottom boats that are suitable for navigating flood waters in urban areas. The trailer-carried boats allow crews to rapidly respond to emergencies hundreds of miles from their home units.

Petty Officer 1st Class Todd George, of the Coast Guard's Western River Flood Punt Team, from Marine Safety Detachment Quad Cities, wades through flood waters in Forest View, Ill., during rescue efforts, April 20, 2013. The Western River Flood Punt Team supported other local agencies with evacuations and door-to-door checks on residents. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Alan Haraf.

Members of the Coast Guard's Western River Flood Punt Team, from Marine Safety Detachment Quad Cities, provide assistance to residents of Forest View, Ill., during flood rescue efforts, April 20, 2013. The Western River Flood Punt Team supported other local agencies with evacuations and door-to-door checks on residents. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Alan Haraf.

NOAA Predicts Drought, Flooding and Warm Weather For Spring

NOAA issued the three-month U.S. Spring Outlook, stating that odds favor above-average temperatures across much of the continental United States, including drought-stricken areas of Texas, the Southwest and the Great Plains. Spring promises little drought relief for most of these areas, as well as Florida, with below- average spring precipitation favored there. Meanwhile, river flooding is likely to be worse than last year across the country, with the most significant flood potential in North Dakota.

"This outlook reminds us of the climate diversity and weather extremes we experience in North America, where one state prepares for flooding while neighboring states are parched, with no drought relief in sight," said Laura Furgione, deputy director of NOAA's National Weather Service. "We produce this outlook to help communities prepare for what's likely to come in the next few months and minimize weather's impacts on lives and livelihoods. A Weather-Ready Nation hopes for the best, but prepares for the worst."

The U.S. Spring Outlook identifies the likelihood of spring flood risk and expectations for temperature, precipitation and drought. The outlook is based on a number of factors, including current conditions of snowpack, drought, soil moisture, streamflow, precipitation, Pacific Ocean temperatures and consensus among climate forecast models.

Spring Flood Risk

After a year of reprieve, the Red River of the North between eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota, and the Souris River in North Dakota have the potential for moderate and major flooding. Devils and Stump Lakes in northeast North Dakota have a 50 percent chance of rising approximately two feet, which would flood 20,000 acres of farmland and roadways.

The melting of late-season snow may cause minor to moderate flooding in the upper Mississippi River basin, including southern Wisconsin, northern Illinois and northern Missouri. The tributaries in the plains of the upper Missouri River basin, specifically along the Milk River in eastern Montana, the Big Sioux River in South Dakota and the Little Sioux River in Iowa may also see minor to moderate flooding. With significant frozen groundcover in these areas, spring flood risk is highly dependent on rainfall and the speed of the snowmelt.

Areas along the middle Mississippi, lower Missouri and Ohio River basins have already experienced minor flooding this year and the threat of minor flooding will continue through the spring. These basins include portions of Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, eastern Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Minor flooding also is possible for the lower Mississippi River basin and in the Southeast, including portions of Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Georgia.

Temperature and Precipitation Outlook

Above-normal temperatures this spring are most likely across most of the continental U.S. and northern Alaska. Below-normal temperatures are favored for the Pacific Northwest and extreme northern Great Plains. For precipitation, odds favor wetter-than-normal conditions in the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley regions. Drier-than-normal conditions are most likely in much of the West, the Rockies, parts of the Southwest, much of Texas, along the Gulf Coast and Florida. Hawaii has an enhanced chance of being cooler and drier than normal.

Drought Outlook

Fifty-one percent of the continental U.S.--primarily in the central and western regions--is in moderate to exceptional drought. Drought conditions are expected to persist, with new drought development, in California, the Southwest, the southern Rockies, Texas, and Florida. The outlook favors some improvement in the Midwest, the northern and central Great Plains, Georgia, the Carolinas, and northern Alaska.

"Weather can turn on a dime, so it's important to stay tuned to the daily weather forecast. Spring weather, such as tornadoes and flash floods, develop quickly and require preparation and vigilance," added Furgione. Get ready for spring weather threats - buy a NOAA Weather Radio, bookmark www.weather.gov to check your daily forecast, and visit FEMA's ready.gov website for preparation and safety information.

Coast Guard Overflight Images Of Winter Storm Flooding In Ocean City, NJ

 Streets are flooded in Ocean City, N.J., Thursday, March 7, 2013, after a winter storm passed through the area. The photos was taken by a Coast Guard crewmember aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Atlantic City during a training flight. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Evan Lyon