Our navigation mission is to provide safe, reliable, and environmentally sound projects at least cost to taxpayers.
SWD developed, operates and maintains two major waterways. The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System and the Gulf Intra coastal Canal are both among the most cost-efficient waterways in the Nation. More than one-half billion tons of commerce are shipped annually on SWD's waterways making it second in the Corps for navigation. Three of the top 10 ports in the country rely on SWD to maintain their channels.
At their development, they were nothing short of engineering marvels, and they have become integral parts of the Nation’s transportation infrastructure. SWD maintains 1,458 miles of channels, 12 deep-draft ports, 22 shallow-draft ports and 22 locks.
And importantly, we strive to protect valuable natural resources by minimizing the environmental impact of our maintenance dredging. Often times we’ve put dredged material to good use restoring wetlands and marsh habitat, protecting the habitat of the endangered whooping crane in the Arkansas Wildlife Refuge, supplementing barrier islands, building offshore feeder berms, and pumping the material for beach replenishment.
To solve a chronic low-water problem on the entrance channel to the McClellan-Kerr Navigation System, our Little Rock District is currently overseeing construction of Montgomery Point Lock and Dam. Its unique design allows the dam gates to lie on the riverbed during normal river flow conditions. During low flows, the gates will be raised by using a first-of-its-kind design for torque-tube dam gates with hydraulic operators to form a navigational pool. This $242 million project should be operational by November, 2002.
