Ohio River: River Miles 967-975 Low Water Conditions Draft Advisory

By Tessa Andres | October 17, 2022

Notice Number: 201431/2022-049
Date: 10/14/2022 06:37 thru 12/31/2022 06:37

Ohio River Miles 967-975: The navigation channel between Ohio River Miles 967 and 975 is experiencing unusually low water conditions. Mariners must take note of the conditions to determine the allowable draft depth at various gage readings.

The depths of water in this stretch of river, as indicated in a survey performed on October 12, 2022, are shown in the attached file titled “Notice 2022-049, Mile967-975_based on 6 Cairo gage and 8 Olmsted Lower Gage._Survey Date 12 Oct 2022”. The depths in this drawing correspond to an assumed straight line slope in the river between a Cairo gage of 6.0 and Olmsted Locks and Dam Tailwater gage of 8.0. (Note that these gage levels are different from the customary gages used to generate maps in this stretch of the river; previous maps have used Cairo gage of 7.5 and Olmsted Locks and Dam Tailwater gage of 9.0.)

The table below shows approximate depths of water at the shallowest points in this stretch of river (around mile 968-969) for the corresponding gages listed. This is based on the attached survey results from October 12, 2022. Draft advisory is for 1’ of clearance under the keel. Actual gages and slope in the river may vary, and more refined interpolations for various combinations of variables may be possible, but this table provides an approximation only.

Cairo Gage Olmsted Tailwater Gage Depth of Water in stretch between miles 967 and 975 Draft Advisory             (1’ clearance under keel)
9.0 ft 11.0 ft 11.5 ft 10.5 ft
8.5 ft 10.5 ft 11.0 ft 10.0 ft
8.0 ft 10.0 ft 10.5 ft 9.5 ft
7.5 ft 9.5 ft 10.0 ft 9.0 ft
7.0 ft 9.0 ft 9.5 ft 8.5 ft
6.5 ft 8.5 ft 9.0 ft 8.0 ft
6.0 ft 8.0 ft 8.5 ft 7.5 ft
5.5 ft 7.5 ft 8.0 ft 7.0 ft
5.0 ft 7.0 ft 7.5 ft 6.5 ft
4.5 ft 6.5 ft 7.0 ft 6.0 ft
4.0 ft 6.0 ft 6.5 ft 5.5 ft
3.5 ft 5.5 ft 6.0 ft 5.0 ft
3.0 ft 5.0 ft 5.5 ft 4.5ft
2.5 ft 4.5 ft 5.0 ft 4.0 ft
2.0 ft 4.0 ft 4.5 ft 3.5 ft

Mariners should make note of conditions and exercise caution when transiting the area.

Information updates will be provided as dredging progresses and updated condition surveys become available.

//signed//

Shawn Kenney
Ch. Technical Support Branch

Posted in Navigation Notices: Ohio River