Proposed Changes in Levels of Service at Locks and Dams on the Ouachita and Black Rivers

Résumé

It is proposed that the hours of availability at Jonesville and Columbia Locks on the Ouachita and Black Rivers will be increased from the current schedule of 20 hours per day, separated into two 10 hour periods, 5:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m., 7 days per week, 365 days per year to 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. It is also proposed that the hours of availability at Felsenthal and H.K. Thatcher Locks on the Ouachita and Black Rivers will be reduced from the current schedule of 16 hours per day, separated into two 8 hour periods, 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., 7 days per week, 365 days per year to a 10 hour period, 5:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The reduced levels of service are in response to the Inland Marine Transportation System Guidelines for Establishing and Implementing Levels of Operating Service which sets forth criteria for determining hours of availability, based on lock usage data. The intended effect is to provide lock availability that matches existing lock usage by commercial industry. The Vicksburg District will continue to work with industry to optimize the hours of availability and make adj