MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION BRIEFING PUBLIC MEETING AUGUST 21, 2013 VICKSBURG, MS

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MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION BRIEFINGPUBLIC MEETINGAUGUST 21, 2013VICKSBURG, MS

William B. HobgoodExecutive Director

Ouachita River Valley Association

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PROJECT/STUDY

1. Ouachita-Black Navigation Project, Red River to Camden, AR

2. Ouachita-Black Navigation Project, Red River to Camden, AR – Bank Stabilization

3. Ouachita-Black Navigation Project, Red River to Camden, AR – Little River Addition

4. Ouachita River Levees, LA

5. Arkansas Lakes - Ouachita, DeGray, and Greeson6. Ouachita River Watershed Study, AR and LA

ORVA SUPPORTED STUDIES/PROJECTS

OUACHITA RIVER BASIN, AR AND LA

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OUACHITA-BLACK RIVERS NAVIGATION PROJECT

- Two shift Operation Implemented July 29, 2012 (IMTS Level of Service-2)

- Corps Increased Daily Operations to 20 hours effective Aug 1, 2013 (Jonesville and Columbia L&D).

- FY14 President’s Budget contains $2M for remote control gate operations at Felsenthal/Thatcher L&D’s.

- Request Clearing and Snagging from Crossett, AR to Camden, AR

- Hydropower Initiative

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OUACHITA-BLACK RIVERS NAVIGATION PROJECT

IMTS IMPACTS(July 29, 2012 – July 29, 2013)

No. of Commercial Lockages

No. of Tows Delayed

Average Delay Time

Total Delay Time

Direct Financial Loss

875 127 1.75 hours 220.8 hours $66,200----------------------------------------------------------------

- Shippers Incurring Delays/Financial Losses - One out of seven tows being delayed/15 percent- Recreational craft lockages down 50-60 percent- No new industries located on Ouachita-Black Rivers

ORVA ANNUAL CONVENTIONAUGUST 27-28, 2013

CHARLES O. ROSS CENTERCAMDEN, AR

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ORVA 2013 ANNUAL CONVENTIONAUGUST 27-28, 2013

CAMDEN, AR

PRINCIPAL FEDERAL SPEAKERS

- Senator Mark Pryor - COL John W. Cross, District Engr - Congressman Tom Cotton - Mr. David Freiwald, USGS - MG John W. Peabody, MVD

STATE SPEAKERS-Mike Armstrong, Assistant Director, AR Game and Fish Commission

PRIVATE SECTOR SPEAKERS-Ed Grimm – Senior Vice President, Martin Marine

-- Dr. Keith Ouchley – LA Nature Conservancy

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CONCLUSIONS

1. Navigation Project Faces Difficulty 2. Need MRC Support - Keep Projects Viable - Obtain Authorizations 3. ORVA’s Position - Fully Fund Navigation Project ($11 Million

Annually) - Operate Navigation Project 24/7/365 4. ORVA will “Stay in Fight”