Keeping the Illinois River navigable (VIDEO)

The Corps cutterhead Dredge Goetz will be working on the Illinois River at mile 62.7 this week.

According to the St. Louis District, “All boaters should be aware of the dredge, its pipeline and support vessels in the channel,” the St. Louis District said in the announcement. “Boaters are urged to transit at their slowest safe speed to minimize wake and proceed with caution after passing arrangements have been made.”

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is charged by congress to maintain a 9-foot navigation channel on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers.

In this video, dredgemaster Brian Krause talks about the importance of maintaining the 9-foot navigation channel.