Waterways – Dredging and Operational Improvements

Bruce Lambert Institute of Water Resources

US Army Corps of Engineers Outline

Role of Inland Navigation System in U.S. Overview of Dredging in U.S. Current items focusing on improving inland waterway operations Thoughts on future of Inland Navigation Policies

2 Federal Role in U.S. Waterway Transport Major Programs National Development Context 1824 – authority to clear snags and make 1824 – 1936: Nation Building improvements Canal building era to mid-1800s (states) Era of primarily Single Post Civil War – suction dredging, jetties Purpose Navigation Projects 1885: 1st of 46 locks and dams on Ohio

1930s: Present system of locks constructed on Upper Miss, Illinois, 1936 – 1986: Era of Economic Tennessee, other waterways Efficiency focusing on Multi-Purpose Projects 1950s: Construction starts on present-day higher lift locks on Ohio 1969 – 1986: Era of Environmental 1960s-70s: Navigation improvements to Columbia-Snake, Arkansas River Enlightenment, focusing on Multi-Objective Planning 1985: Tenn-Tom Waterway completed 1986 – Present: Beneficiary Pays 1994 – Present: Upper Mississippi River & Era, evolving towards Integrated Illinois Waterway Navigation Study Water Resources Management

3 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Activities

Water Resources Missions ¾ Primary  Navigation  Flood Control & Shore Protection  Ecosystem Restoration  Disaster Response & Recovery

¾ Allied Purposes  Hydropower  Environmental Stewardship  Water Supply  Recreation ¾ Regulatory Programs

4 Fuel-Taxed Inland Waterway System

Sn ake e t t e Columbia m

a l l i U W p pe r M

i s s i s s y i hen p lleg p A i ela ongah is Mon o n li Il a ki s io K a h an M sk O Ky awh iss a a y o K n a uri ree G nd w erla r b e Cum e t se a i s p e W White p n i n

T e l Ar s k s T a a e t ns i s a s n s a

Nearly 11,000 Miles 9 ft & Over n s r O i rio o uachita - ar c M W ra T lk t B a In 186 Lock Sites / 225 Chambers r om e m Red a c w P b i ACF t o a e l n L a A a Moving Over 600 Million Tons l r t l a A About 2/3rds Cost of Rail and Atchafalay W IW l aterway oasta W 1/10 Cost of Truck Intrac f ul Replacement Cost $125+ Billion G 5 U.S. Inland Water Transport, Top Commodities by Tons, 2004

All Others Total 2004 Volume: 626 Million Tons < 1% (568 Million Metric Tons) Manufactured 1% Food & Farm Prod 13% Coal Primary 28% Manufactured 5%

Crude Materials 20% Chemicals Petro & Petro Prod 9% 24%

6 Dredging “Requirements”

Total dredging AtlanticBy Region ¾ $956.5 million, 26.2% ¾ 255.1 million cubic yards Great Maintenance Lakes ¾ $628.9 million (65.8%) 0.7% ¾ 213.2 million cubic yards (83.6%) Inland 10.1% New Work Gulf ¾ $327.6 million (34.2%) 51.4% ¾ 41.8 million cubic yards Pacific (16.4%) 11.6%

7 Federal Versus Non-Federal Channels

All navigable waters in U.S. are responsibility of U.S. Government Once a navigation project is deemed to be a federal responsibility, that responsibility remains with the federal government in perpetuity Excludes private terminals or channels

8 Key Legislation Influencing Navigation Channel Activities

National Environmental Policy Act Clean Water Act/Marine Protection, Research & Sanctuaries Act Coastal Zone Management Act Endangered Species Act Commerce Clause of the Constitution provides supreme power to the Federal Government to protect navigation International Agreements (Great Lakes, London Convention, IMO, etc.) River and Harbor Act Water Resource Development Acts (WRDA)

9 Corps District Responsibility for Dredging

Work of Corps done at a District level - each a self contained office but share resources, people, etc. New Construction or proposed improvements go to Navigation Design Group at each District Operations responsible for maintenance needs Inland responsibilities include locks and dams in addition to waterways

10 Six Step Planning Process for Dredging (Construction)

Step 1 Problem Perception ¾ local community Step 2 Requires for Federal Action ¾ local community with Corps Step 3 Study Problem and Report Preparation ¾ local community, Corps and Congressional request for Reconnaissance report Step 4 Report Review and Approval ¾ Corps District, other Federal Agencies Step 5 Congressional Authorization ¾ Corps Headquarters and Congress Step 6 Project Implementation ¾ President, Corps HQ and Congress, Local sponsor, WRDA

11 Steps To A Maintenance Dredging Project (1 of 2)

1. Notification from Users 2. Survey to verify Shoaling 3. Identification of need, project justification 4. Sampling and Testing 5. Identification of Project Plan (Disposal Plan) 6. Develop Environmental Assessment (or Environmental Impact Statement)

12 Steps To A Maintenance Dredging Project (2 of 2)

7. Coordinate work with Local, State and Federal Resource Agencies 8. Develop cost estimate, budget for project 9. Develop Plans and Specifications 10. Bid Process (more later) 11. Undertake and Complete Construction

Since this is maintenance work, so you do the whole thing over again in a few years!!

13 Dredging Monitoring and Management

Ongoing survey– focus on surveys to assist in understanding dredging needs Moved away from hindcasting to proactive planning and predictions Manage timing of dredging needs to minimize mobilization costs Systematic monitoring of sediment, waves, ecosystem disruption and responses during and post dredging to ensure transparency Need to convey what is really occurring “below the water”

14 Condition Surveys

Cross-sections typically spaced 100 ft or 200 ft C/C

Sections extend outside channel toe to fully develop side slope (150 to 200 ft typical)

15 Seasonal Restrictions/ Environmental Windows Restriction on Dredging or Placement Due to an Environmental Concern ¾ Endangered Species ¾ Fish Spawning ¾ Sea Turtles ¾ Turtle Nesting ¾ Crabs ¾ Birds About 85 % of Corps dredging projects have seasonal restrictions. Significantly increase cost of dredging

16 Consideration Factors for Disposal

Availability Economics Environmental Considerations Dredging Method Volumes Distance to Site Legal and Policy Constraints Material Characteristics

17 Dredging and Disposal Innovations

Evaluations and Cooperative Demonstrations Monitoring disposal areas Economic Versus Engineering Approaches To Examining Dredging Needs Developing improved dredging equipment Predictive models for dredging & placement processes & options DOER http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/dots/doer/dmm.html

Research remains critical to discover innovative solutions

18 Dredged Material Management Plans

Long term (25 year) plan for the dredging and dredged material placement of a project. Work with a non-Federal sponsor to provide dredged material placement sites and possible cost sharing. Developed with participation of environmental resource agencies Working on Regional Sediment Approaches to understand ways to better manage sediment, dredging, etc.

19 Contract Management

Price Estimation for bid formulation Estimate fair price for use of equipment Contract authority extends to prevent abuse of contractor collusion Monitoring insures Federal Government get what was requested Violators subject to federal contracting oversight, which can prevent work on other federal projects Contract also protects both parties from misrepresentation or unapproved contract modifications

20 Does Inland Shipping Matter Today?

Can we say: ¾ Does the system deliver what it promises? ¾ How are users (shippers, carriers) approaching the inland system?

Considerations regarding future use ¾ Alleviate congestion in other modes ¾ “Endless Capacity”? ¾ Integration with other modes, including deep-sea ports ¾ Environmental advantages

21 Challenge: Aging Water Resources Infrastructure

Half of locks more than 50 years old Investments in water resources infrastructure have declined in real terms

Result: more frequent closures for Leaking miter repairs, decreased performance and gates, Lock & costly delays Dam 52, Ohio R. Concrete deterioration at Chickamauga could result in lock failure Crumbling lock wall, Lower Mon 3, opened in 1907

22 Waterway Value Assessment – What is The Effect of Inland River Closures Reliability - Closure Impact Avoidance Plant Closure/Idling ¾ Jobs/Earnings ¾ Lost Output Water Supply Disruption ¾ Industrial/Hydropower ¾ Municipal Road Closures Recreational Losses Environmental Losses

23 Cumulative Economic Benefits Foregone from Construction Delays

Project benefits recoverable at Capability $10,000 funding levels $9,000 $8,000 $7,000 $6,000 $5,000

$Million $4,000 $3,000 $2,000 $1,000 $0 2023 2025 2019 2021 2015 2017 2011 2013 2007 2009 2003 2005

Foregone Recoverable 24 Future Freight Demand in US 1998-2020

Domestic freight traffic expected to increase by 67% General cargo freight by 113% Highway traffic grows from 11 billion to 19 billion tons (17.2 billion metric tons) Rail grows from 2 to 3.7 billion tons (3.4 billion metric tons) How is this cargo going to move? ¾ Little room left to expand highways, especially in urban areas ¾ Rail mileage has been decreasing; much former right-of-way has been developed ¾ Rail capacity constraints in urban areas, tunnel clearances, single-track bridges

25 Reliability – A System Maintenance Approach Goal: Achieve Acceptable Levels of Reliability ¾ Working on redefining acceptable levels of navigation system reliability ¾ Defining Reliability Performance Standards ¾ Applying reliability standard to each project site ¾ Dredging is component of operational needs Clear dialog with stakeholders – partnership critical A risk management methodology as cornerstone to way forward

26 PIANC – Updated on Related Activities

International Guidance on navigation projects from member National Groups Inland Commission (InCom) ¾ Innovations in navigation lock design ¾ Maintenance & renovation of navigation infrastructure ¾ Performance indicators for inland waterway transport Environmental Commission (EnviCom) ¾ Environmental benefit of waterborne transport ¾ Dredged Material beneficial use options & constraints ¾ Management of ports & waterways for habitat

Argentina now a PIANC National Section – many individuals members in region

27 SmartRivers 2007 – Louisville, KY

Sept 16: Welcome Reception & Cultural Tours Sept 17 – 18: Technical Sessions Sept 19: Technical Tours Sept 20 – 21: Related meetings (RNDT, PIANC InCom Working Groups), more tours

28 SmartRivers – Focus Areas

Strategies to develop transportation corridors Improve container transportation on inland waterways Improve lock and traffic management strategies Integrate inland water into intermodal supply chain Improving security on waterways Improve role of ports in intermodal system Economic Development Education of the value of system

29 Thoughts on Improving Dredging Activities

Need to outline who clearly owns the navigation channels – transboundary, riverine, multiple jurisdictions Lack of National Dredging Goals tied to industrial policies or consistent funding vehicles No transparency in project/dredging selection, approval and review processes Monitoring provides assurances but requires partnership between dredger and contracting office Maintenance not properly developed, funded, or conducted –oftentimes different agencies or permits Concerns over environmental laws ¾ Inconsistent permitting and project transparency ¾ Lack of clear regulatory oversight on dredging activities ¾ Research innovation tied to environmental monitoring and cost control

30 But policy is complicated by other factors… Equity: Can’t build everything everyone wants everywhere. Funding: relink construction with life cycle cost management, work with private-public sector to understand responsibility for true project costs Project determination: Balance project needs with relevant policy goals. Education: Failure to understand investment needs (new and ongoing work) over different timeframes

31 Conclusion?

Waterways critical component of economic growth in past and hopefully into the future Improving navigation different from past years ¾ Multiuse - Environmental concerns ¾ New capital and maintenance investments are critical to maintaining and managing world-class waterway system. ¾ Public Private partnership in planning and operations Navigation system in becoming more accountable ¾ Need transparency in policies, objectives, monitoring ¾ New tools can help improve understanding of system Need to “relink” transportation to economic growth ¾ Information, Institutions, Infrastructure

32 Bruce Lambert

Senior Economist, Institute for Water Resources, US Army Corps of Engineers

Secretary, PIANC USA

703-428-6667 [email protected]