Public meeting for input on shallow-navigation on Red River in SW Arkansas
VICKSBURG, MS – Fourth District U.S. Congressman Bruce Westerman’s office has announced a public meeting will be held by the U.S. Army Corps if Engineers, Mississippi Valley Division, Vicksburg District, as part of the preparation process for an Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate extending shallow-draft navigation up to 135 miles on the Red River from its present terminus at Shreveport, Louisiana into Southwest Arkansas.
The existing Red River waterway, known as the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway, (JBJ) is a navigation system that commences at the confluence of Old and Red Rivers and proceeds upstream for 236 miles to the Shreveport-Bossier City, LA area. The JBJ Waterway project consists of a 9-foot deep by 200-foot-wide navigation channel with five navigation locks. The portion of the Red River above Shreveport is presently unsuitable for commercial navigation.
In 2005, the Corps completed a Draft Feasibility Report for the proposed system. At the time of the report, the Corps concluded there were not sufficient National Economic Development (NED) benefits to warrant recommending a project plan to authorize and extend shallow-draft navigation upstream of Shreveport. A recent market analysis and economic updated completed by the Corps showed the potential for improved NED benefits. In addition, the Corps guidance allows the consideration of Regional Economic Development, Environmental Quality, and other benefits to be applied when evaluating the feasibility of proposed water resources projects. Because of the improved economic benefits conditions, the NRD (non-Federal Interest) has initiated an action to proceed with additional study.