Victoria Bend Navigation Assessment: Analysis, Modeling, Construction, and Monitoring

Victoria Bend, located on the Lower Mississippi River (LMR) at River Mile 595, is a historically complex reach from a navigation and sediment management perspective, often referred as the worst reach in the LMR by mariners. Numerous river training structures including bendway weirs and both lateral and longitudinal dikes have been constructed throughout the bend’s navigation history. Even with these structures, costly dredging is often needed to maintain a sufficient and safe navigation channel. In 2019, over 30 feet of deposition in the main channel halted river navigation, and the river was closed for approximately 13 days during dredging operations. In response to the closure, the Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory of the Engineer Research and Development Center partnered with the US Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District to conduct an assessment evaluating options to further improve navigation with the goal of preventing the extreme shoaling from reoccurring in the future. The assessment included analyzing historical channel behavior along with developing and utilizing a two-dimensional Adaptive Hydraulics model to assist with evaluating structural alternatives recommended by both mariners and river engineers. In fall of 2020, the recommendations from the assessment led to a first phase construction effort modifying multiple dike structures within the bend. Channel response to the dike construction continues to be monitored through routine surveys. Navigation conditions have greatly improved through the 2021 and 2022 seasons, demonstrating the value of numerical model analysis as a tool to evaluate and assist with developing alternatives to address navigation issues in the Nation’s waterways.