Capsule News Summary For May 9–15, 2005:
A plan to protect endangered species, meet downstream flow needs and conserve additional water in the main stem Missouri River reservoirs was announced by the Army Corps of Engineers May 2.
The “steady release – flow to target” plan will set releases from Gavins Point Dam at 23,000 cubic feet per second (cfs.) today as the interior least terns and piping plovers begin to nest on sandbars below Fort Randall and Gavins Point dams. The two birds are listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Compared with last year’s regulation, the Corps’ efforts are expected to conserve an additional 500,000 acre feet of water in the three upstream reservoirs. This amounts to about 1 foot of elevation.
In coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Corps will begin aggressive deterrent actions to encourage the birds to nest on high elevation sandbars. These deterrent actions may include metallic streamers, owl decoys, and visual obstruction barriers such as tree fabric placed on the low lying sandbars.
The Corps will reduce flows two out of three days, provided releases below 23,000 cfs. will meet downstream project purposes. This cycling operation will conserve additional water while discouraging the birds from nesting too low. The cycling will end near the end of the month when eggs have hatched and mobile chicks are susceptible to being stranded and flooded. A steady release of 23,000 cfs. will be maintained until an increase is required to meet downstream flow targets….
The American Waterways Operators (AWO) elected Steven P. Valerius, president of Kirby Inland Marine LP, Houston, Texas, chairman during the association's recent spring convention. Dale Sause, president of Sause Bros., Coos Bay, Ore., was elected vice chairman.
In remarks to the AWO board of directors following his election as chairman, Valerius said he plans to make as his top priority the successful implementation of a new towing vessel inspection regime based on a modern safety management system in order to enhance industry safety….
Progressive Barge Line’s annual crawfish boil was something special this year as the Westwego, La.,-based towing company showed off its newly launched 1,600 hp. pushboat Spirit. The boat will push a double-skin fuel barge on the Mississippi River where the company does about 40 percent of the total bunkering work between Baton Rouge and the mouth of the river, said Terry Boffone, company president.
Although the boat has similar lines to Progressive’s Liberty and Freedom, there are differences, some of which are obvious and some more subtle. Progressive had the boat built stronger with thicker steel and enclosed the lazarette to protect the steering gear, which gives the Spirit more of a lineboat look.
“With the extra steel, this will be a 50-year boat,” said Paul Boudreaux, president and chief executive officer of Ashton Boat Construction.
Known for its repair work, this is the first boat to be built at Ashton’s Harvey Canal yard in Harvey, La., as the company recently branched off into new construction….
Attendees at the Inland Rivers Ports and Terminals Inc. annual conference were given the opportunity to visit the new Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) located in New Orleans, La. George Petras, VTS training coordinator, was the tour director for the afternoon.
VTS New Orleans is effectively replacing watchtowers, a method of surveying the river that has been used since the 1930s. According to Petras, VTS is “designed to improve the safety and efficiency of vessel traffic.”
The formation of VTS New Orleans has been in the works for more than 20 years and variations of VTS have existed in New Orleans in the past. However, with recent technological advances, confidence is growing that the center will be successful and permanent.
Using several different tools, the VTS center keeps track of all vessels operating within its area of coverage, currently the Lower Mississippi River at the Algiers Point/Crescent area….
For those already looking forward to next year’s Derby Festival Great Steamboat Race, there will also be a race of a different sort: a political race for mayor of Louisville.
Alan Bernstein, owner of BB Riverboats and the Belle of Cincinnati, said that running for mayor may be the only way for his crew to secure the coveted Gilded Antlers, the prize awarded to the winning boat in the annual race as a part of the Kentucky Derby festivities.
This year the Belle of Louisville once again secured its winnings, despite crossing the finish line after the Belle of Cincinnati. That hypocrisy in the race is all a part of a broad cover-up, says Bernstein.
“I’m going to run for mayor of Louisville,” said Bernstein. “Even if the Belle of Cincinnati did win the race, there is no way we are getting the Golden Antlers. I think that is going to have to be the thing to do to get those Golden Antlers. I think Mayor Jerry Abramson is already shaking in his boots.”
Before the political campaigning can take over, Bernstein said he will have the dubious honor of serving as pooper-scooper behind the mounted police in the annual Pegasus Parade. That “honor” is a direct result of “being convicted of two counts of criminal stupidity and inflicting pain and suffering on the schoolchildren of Louisville” following last years antics that involved the nabbing of the Golden Antlers and the mayor’s horse.
Coming from a man who donned prison stripes with marine logos during the race, signifying his recent conviction, Bernstein would make quite the climb from convict to mayor in a matter of months.
The Belle of Cincinnati was facing an uphill battle at the beginning of the race, as the Belle of Louisville was spotted a head start as Bernstein was forced to complete tax paperwork for the Louisville Metro Revenue Commission….
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