Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: March 28, 2008

Contact:  Lt. Cmdr. Wayne Arguin Jr.
(901) 521-4807

COAST GUARD IMPLEMENTS HIGH WATER PROVISIONS

  MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Coast Guard in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and representatives from the towing industry have implemented provisions contained within the Waterways Action Plan to proactively address high-water conditions throughout the Lower Mississippi River region, today.

The Coast Guard has limited the number of barges a towing vessel is allowed to tow to add increased manuverability to the towboats while manuvering around structures such as loch and dams and bridges.

High-water conditions also exist on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System from the mouth of the White River in Arkansas to the Port of Catoosa in Oklahoma, as well as the Red River to  Shreveport , La.

Coast Guard rescue helicopter and Disaster Area Response Teams are standing by to deploy to any area, which may need assistance.

Recreational boaters are advised to exercise extreme caution during dangerous high-water periods, which can produce strong currents and large debris fields and leave boat ramps normally accessible completely under water.

Additional information , including the current Broadcast Notice to Mariners describing impacts to towboats, can be obtained by accessing the Sector Lower Mississippi River’s website at http://homeport.uscg.mil/lmr

For all questions regarding high-water or DART deployments please contact Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River Public Affairs Officer at (901) 521-4845 during normal business hours or the Sector Lower Mississippi River Command Center at (901) 521-4824.

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U.S. Coast Guard - Saving lives since 1790