A contractor for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is once again dredging the Ohio River navigation channel at Evansville.
According to the Corps of Engineers Louisville district office, half a dozen barges, tugs and dredging vessels set up just south of the downtown area on the Ohio River Wednesday.
A Notice to Navigation filed for the project says the crews will be dredging 24 hours a day, with completion set for next Monday, August 2nd.
Since the operation is dredging in the main Ohio River navigation channel, barge tows wanting to pass through the area have to contact the dredge as they approach.
The navigation channel at Evansville periodically fills with silt and has to be dredged in order to maintain the full navigation channel for barge traffic.
A much anticipated benefit is the sand bar that remains outside the navigation channel for a few weeks after dredging is complete. The sand bar attracts dozens of boaters and party-goers during the hot summer weather.
