Huntington District

   The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a Notice to Proceed Jan. 26, 2011, which means construction will begin soon on the local flood reduction project at Island Creek in Logan, W.Va.

   A $5.8 million base contract was awarded to small business contractor Heeter Construction, Inc., of Spencer, W.Va., to begin construction of the local flood reduction project.

   The project will widen Island Creek. When finished, the stream will be opened up to a width of 80 feet for a distance of 3,600 feet upstream from its confluence with the Guyandotte River.

   The project will help reduce flooding in the Island Creek basin, which has been hit with several major floods in the last few years.

   Logan County Commission is the non-federal sponsor of the project with the WV Conservation Agency and the Guyan District, providing 25% of the total construction cost. The construction was authorized by the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-662), Section 401.

   For more information contact Sherry Adams at 304-399-5844 or the Public Affairs Office at 304-399-5353.

     The Huntington District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, along with the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) and Washington and Noble Counties in Ohio, will participate in a project partnership agreement signing on Thursday, Jan. 27, that will officially mark the beginning of the Duck Creek Flood Warning System. The signing will take place at 1:30 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Assembly Room in the Washington County Courthouse Annex.

   The $376,000 project is the result of a study conducted by the Corps in 2005. The flood warning system, along with data from the National Weather Service (NWS), will monitor stream levels and rainfall within the Duck Creek watershed and electronically provide real-time data for the National Weather Service, enabling Washington and Noble County emergency management personnel to make decisions about evacuations and related issues in the event of an emergency.

     The flood warning system will consist of two stand-alone rain gauges, three stand-alone stream gages, and two stream/rain combination gages, computer monitoring equipment, transmitters, and associated equipment enclosures. The Duck Creek watershed covers an area of about 287 square miles in portions of Noble, Washington, Monroe and Guernsey counties. The watershed experiences periodic flash floods along minor tributaries and headwater flooding on major streams.

     In addition to the MWCD and Washington and Noble Counties, project sponsors are the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA), and citizens within the Duck Creek watershed. The MWCD is the cost-share sponsor, contributing 35 percent of the total project cost – $78,341.

     For more information, please contact the Huntington District Public Affairs Office at 304-399-5353 or the MWCD at 877-363-8500.

Notice to Navigation: 

   Notice is given that on or about Feb. 7, 2011, River Salvage Company, Inc. will commence facility maintenance dredging at the Allegheny Energy Pleasant Power Station, located along the left descending bank of the Ohio River, mile 160.5.

   The contractor’s floating plant will consist of the M/V ANNA S., one crane barge, and five material barges. The contractor will be monitoring marine channels 13 and 16. The work will be performed Monday through Saturday, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and is expected to be completed on or about 14 February 2011. The dredged material will be placed at an upland disposal site located along the right descending bank of the Monongahela River at mile 39. 0.

   During non-working hours the contractor’s floating plant will be moored at the work site and lighted according to regulations.

   Mariners are urged to exercise caution when transiting this area.

    There’s a job opening in the Huntington District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a Lock and Dam Operator at the Willow Island Locks and Dam on the Ohio River at Newport, Ohio. 

   Here’s the job description:

This is a developmental position, WY-05 targeted to the grade level of WY-08. Serves as a Lock and Dam Operator performing a variety of tasks incident to the operation and maintenance of a Lock and Dam structure. Under supervision of a higher graded employee, assists in the positioning of tow boats in approach channels and movement into lock chambers. Gives visual inspection to all incoming tow assemblies for safe lockage conditions. Reports any observed malfunctions or unsafe conditions to senior operators. Assists tow personnel in mooring barges in chamber. Operates lock emptying and filling equipment mechanisms. Communicates routine information to tow boats personnel regarding river depths, impediments to navigation, location of other craft, dam gate positions, etc. Performs janitorial duties involved with cleaning of floors, removal of waste and debris, wiping tools and equipment, etc. Brush paints both structural and equipment items with standard colors, and mixtures of paints. Assists equipment maintenance personnel by handing tools removing debris from work areas, pulling-holding repair components.

    For more information, go to this website: http://bit.ly/eOXd6J