By Ken Hocke
Work Boat
The Army Corps of Engineers 2020 Work Plan included funding for infrastructure projects in Louisiana, including $85 million to deepen the Mississippi River to 50'.
The launch of the project followed the July 31, 2020, signing of an agreement between the Corps and the state of Louisiana. The final 256 miles of the Lower Mississippi between the Gulf of Mexico and Baton Rouge, La., is in the process of being deepened to 50'. In fact, dredging the ship channel to 50' from the Gulf of Mexico to the Port of South Louisiana in Reserve, La. (between New Orleans and Baton Rouge) is finished.
Between Baton Rouge and the Gulf of Mexico is a stretch of river where more than 50% of U.S. corn and soybeans are shipped to U.S. export markets, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.