From One Extreme To Another !

Greetings From New Orleans !
The commonly used term , " From One Extreme To Another " , has just taken on a new application with the overall conditions not only on the Mississippi River System but especially now in the political arena in our nation's capital as well !
Just a few short months ago the entire Mississippi River system was in near catastrophic flood conditions and this record Spring time record level flood was literally roaring down the entire river system and laying waste and devastation to everything that was in its path ! Now , just a few short months latter , the Mississippi River in the Greater New Orleans area has gone from over 17 feet on the New Orleans , Carrollton River Stage to now under 7 feet on the same Carrollton Gage and is expected to fall out even more !
In practical terms and measures , just what does that mean and what will be the over all repercussions from this falling river stage ?
First of all , for the shallow draft vessels such as tow boats , ferry boats , launch boats and the like , in all likely hood nothing at all ! However , for the sea going ships and ocean going tows that come up the river with deep drafts of thirty feet and more , this could be a very precarious Fall and Winter for these vessels as they make their way to the different oil terminals and refineries !
The reason for this is that , well before all the political wrangling and political posturing by both sides of the isle in Washington , the respective Louisiana State Pilot Associations were informed that there would be a dramatic cut back in the number and time spent on location for both the government and private dredges that are required to dredge and maintain all the deep water crossings between the mouth of the river and Baton Rouge !
Now , after the apparent debt ceiling crisis has been temporarily resolved , it is now any one's guess as to what federal departments will have their budgets cut and what services from these same departments will be cut back as well !
A few months ago , the three Louisiana State Pilot Associations were told in no uncertain terms by the Corps Of Engineers , that their budget for dredging has been dramatically reduced and that the dredging season will only go until October of this year and that the dredges that work the deep water crossings will now only cut a 250' wide channel instead of the traditional 500' wide channel !
Furthermore , we were told that the dredges will no longer maintain a 45' deep channel and will now only dredge to a 40' deep channel . So , basically they are telling us that now the deep water channels will not only be shallower but narrower as well !
Now what does that translate in layman's terms ? First of all , the big deep drafts ships and ocean tows that transit the river to the Exxon/Mobil refinery in Baton Rouge will have to come up lighter in draft and not bring up as much crude oil . Secondly , this action by the Corps Of Engineers will put ALL vessels that make this transit to Baton Rouge in greater danger of either groundings , collisions or both ! Its that simple and if these actions do take place there is a very real possibility that either one way traffic and day time only transits will come into play in order to counter this very restricted and dangerous channel condition !
Furthermore , this will also mean that the Mississippi River system will become not only more dangerous to transit , if it is not already , but just possibly the same respective shippers will decide to send their ships to other " Ports Of Call " and not only NOT call on the Ports of New Orleans and Baton Rouge , but just possibly the United States as well ! If that should take place , just imagine the economic impact that this could possibly have not only on this region but the entire country as well !
In essence the river has gone from one extreme to another and the mentality in Washington , thank GOD has gone form one extreme to another ! Having said that , hopefully the law makers in Washington will realize what spending programs are necessary , such as maintaining this country's waterways and what programs are true " pork barrel and are unnecessary !
So , hopefully in this new age of fiscal responsibility , which I do feel is LONG OVER DUE , I trust that the " Powers That Be " , will appropriately prioritize their budgets on the true economic engines of this country and will no longer throw away the tax payers hard earned money on such frivolous programs as the good senator from Nevada did on a cowboy poetry program !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson