May 26, 2021 By Waterways Journal
The Kaskaskia Regional Port District hosted a signing ceremony May 20 signaling the initiation of a feasibility study in partnership with the St. Louis Engineer District. St. Louis District Commander Col. Kevin Golinghorst and Kaskaskia Regional Port District Board Chairman George Obernagel each signed the Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement to enable both federal and non-federal funds to be used for the study, which is aimed at improving navigational efficiency at Terminal #2 near Baldwin, Ill.
The study and potential construction project is being performed under the Corps of Engineers’ Continuing Authorities Program, Section 107, which is one of nine legislative authorities under which the Corps of Engineers can plan, design and implement certain types of water resources projects without additional project specific congressional authorization.
April 16, 2021 By David Murray
The Corps of Engineers has completed its federal interest determination for Kaskaskia Regional Port District (KRPD) No. 2 Harbor, which can now move on to the next step: a full-fledged study to evaluate options for dredging the silted-up oxbow. The Corps’ findings indicate that the project meets or exceeds the parameters to proceed to the next level of study.
When the KRPD first developed the site, it was able to fleet more than 20 barges. The area now is so shallow that no barges are able to be fleeted in this area. The Corps study will evaluate five alternatives to determine the best combination of uses and associated costs.