Author: Frederick M. Anklam Publisher: ISBN: Category : Cost effectiveness Languages : en Pages : 168
Book Description
The inland waterways system of the United States as it exists today has a number of problems associated with near-capacity traffic conditions. In many places on the Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri Rivers and their navigable tributaries, there are serious impediments to the free flow of waterborne commerce. This study was conducted to determine the potential for more efficient utilization of existing inland waterways resources and facilities as a possible alternative to heavy investment in major construction. The study was based on distribution of a questionnaire, meetings and discussions with the Civil Works Task Group for Inland Waterways Systems Analysis, and visits to Corps of Engineers Civil Works offices and river sites by the author. The inland waterways system is an intimate interweaving of three significant subsystems: the physical waterway, the towing industry, and commodities. These subsystems and their interrelations are discussed in detail herein. It was determined that there are a number of areas of potential for improvement in the inland waterways system. These areas involve such items as changes in operating procedures of the locks, revisions of the operating rules for towboats approaching and using locks, staffing considerations, additional assistance at heavily trafficked locks, and other such factors.
Author: National Research Council Publisher: National Academies Press ISBN: 0309094364 Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 101
Book Description
For the past few years, the Corps has been working on what is known as the Restructured Upper Mississippi River-Illinois Waterway Feasibility Study, the heart of which is a multibillion-dollar proposal to double the length of up to a dozen locks on the river. The Research Council first reviewed the feasibility study in 2001 during controversies over the accuracy of models being used by the Corps to justify lock expansion based on increased demand for barge transportation. More than 100 million tons of cargo-half of it grain destined for international markets, the other half goods such as construction materials, coal, and chemicals-are shipped along the navigation system each year. The locks, which along with dams allow barges to traverse uneven river depths, were originally designed for "tows" of barges up to 600 feet long, but the length of a typical tow has increased, forcing the Corps to look for ways to relieve congestion. The book finds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has made good progress in broadening its proposed plan for navigation improvements on the Upper Mississippi River-Illinois Waterway system to give greater consideration to ecological restoration. However, the plan still does not provide sufficient economic justification for expanding locks on the rivers because of flaws in the models the Corps used to predict demand for barge transportation. Little attention is paid to inexpensive, nonstructural navigation improvements that could help better manage existing levels of barge traffic. The revised plan has been usefully expanded to include many creative and potentially useful ecosystem restoration measures. These measures, however, should be more firmly grounded in river science principles and more broadly consider ways the river's ecology might affect or be affected by navigation, recreation and other uses.
Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Publisher: ISBN: Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 108
Author: Rosalie A. Schnick Publisher: ISBN: Category : Fishery management Languages : en Pages : 742
Book Description
Large river systems are valuable national resources that provide numerous benefits to travel, shipping, recreation, and fish and wildlife. However, efforts to expand one of the uses frequently come in direct conflict with one or more of the othersThis guide attempts to bring together all scientific data that are available on techniques that have been or can be used to offset or reduce the impacts of development and maintenance of Upper Mississippi River System or other large river systems. Decision makers are thus provided an objective descriptin of options now at their disposal when they attempt to weigh the merits of defects associated with a particular action.
Author: Frederick M. Anklam
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Author: National Research Council
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Author: United States. National Technical Information Service
Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
Author: Rosalie A. Schnick
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Author: Maritime Research Information Service
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