Mississippi River Commission recommends replacement of Bayou Sorrel Lock

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mississippi River Commission, conducted a public meeting recently concerning the final feasibility report and environmental impact statement of the Bayou Sorrel Lock Replacement project in Louisiana.

The project is being managed by the Corps' New Orleans District.

The purpose of the public meeting was for the commission to consider the project report as it pertains to the impacts on the Mississippi River and the Mississippi River and Tributaries project.

The lock is 25 miles south of Baton Rouge.

During the 90-minute meeting, the commission reviewed the project, concurred in the findings and recommendation of the New Orleans District Engineer, and voted unanimously to recommend implementation of the project.

The New Orleans District completed the project feasibility report in December for the $88.5 million replacement of the Bayou Sorrel Lock on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway alternate route, which links Morgan City and Port Allen (Baton Rouge). A feasibility report is required to present a project to Congress for construction authorization.

The 191-page report recommends a lock 75 ft. wide and 1,200 ft. long. The lock at present measures 56 by 797 ft. The greater dimensions would double the lock's surface area to 90,000 square feet and help to reduce delays for towboats and barges.

Rock would be placed along 1.5 miles of the waterway north of the lock, on both sides, to improve erosion control. The Corps would also place 27 mooring buoys in the channel to prevent waiting vessels from damaging the bank.

Flood control would be a major feature in the replacement of the lock, which was built to allow vessels to pass through the East Atchafalaya Basin Protection Levee. The levee has been raised to 8 ft. above the lock and the new lock would close the gap.

The Mississippi River Commission, established in 1879, is responsible for navigation, flood control and other water resources development on the Mississippi River.