Mississippi Valley Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff (MAJ Sarah Yates, Jay Keen, Kim Day and Dale Whittington) visited the Dredge Jadwin a couple of days ago to observe dredging operations.
The Mississippi River experienced low water levels in 2024, impacting barge traffic and farmers who transport grain and beans down the river.
USACE said that the low water levels stall barges moving up and down the river, especially along the Lower Mississippi River.
The Jadwin’s mission is dredging the Mississippi River to keep shipping lanes open to barge traffic.
First launched in 1933, the dredger is a 274-foot, 2400 horse-powered dustpan type of dredge that is capable of dredging as deep as 68 feet. She has a height of four stories and performs dredging duties on the Mississippi River and its ports along the river from May to December, when required.
Dustpan dredges are unique to the Mississippi River and work to maintain a navigable channel for commercial navigation to move unimpeded.
The Jadwin has a large suction head with high velocity water jets that loosen the silt and sand materials on the riverbed and pump this material through a floating pipeline and is deposited outside the navigation channel near the riverbank.