Notice to Navigators: Illinois River

By Dede Smith | February 18, 2022

IRCA: Dam Drop at Peoria Update

 

See below for an update on Peoria Lock.  I have received word of gorging in the Peoria Lake Narrows as well as expected gorging near Chillicothe.  The river is on the rise but temps will continue to remain below freezing until Sunday.  However, the weather forecast shows a warm-up with above-freezing temps for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday of next week.

 

I will schedule an IRCA call for Monday afternoon for an update on conditions.  In the meantime, please continue to share pertinent information and I will provide updates as I receive them.

 

Jeremy “Shot” Tardy
Western Rivers Boat Management, Inc.
Office:  270.444.4772
Mobile:  270.933.8056
Email:  tardy@westernriversboat.com

______________________________________________

 

Jeremy,

 

This morning river levels at Peoria Lock and Dam are not responding as expected and reports are indicating ice jams are the issue.  As of now the levels are sitting at the mid point of raising the wickets back up and were creeping down but in the last couple readings seem to be holding to slightly rebounding.

 

We do have reports of ice gorging from Henry all the way down to the US 150 bridge at Peoria which would possibly explain the issues.

 

Further information from personnel at the lock is that ARTCO is sending boats up to the gorge to assist tows stuck in the ice.

 

Upstream at Henry the river has climbed just shy of 2.5 feet in the past 24 hours with high flows and all the locks up to Dresden Island are in high outdraft/output conditions.

 

During yesterday’s dam raise the crew at Peoria Lock experienced equipment issues that will prevent them from immediately raising wickets if levels begin to take a downward trend and I am working on contingencies if such a situation occurs.

 

As for now I would like to keep reminding mariners that at the lock there are no impacts to navigation at this point and that they be vigilant in cutting their engines as they float over the wickets due to lower water levels over the pass.

 

I will update you as conditions warrant.

 

Douglas Morgan
Chief of Locks and Dams (Acting)
US Army Corps of Engineers
Illinois Waterway Project Office
O: 309-676-4601
C: 309-781-8591
Douglas.S.Morgan@usace.army.mil

Posted in Navigation Notices: Illinois River