MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is using a 350-foot-long dredge to make the Mississippi River near Memphis easier for barges and boats to navigate.
The Corps is using the dredge to remove sediment from the Mississippi River's bottom as it tries to maintain the river's vital navigation channel. The dredge, called the Hurley, is currently working at Redman Bar just north of downtown Memphis.
Engineers have been dredging sections of the river near Memphis because its low water level could pose a hazard to barges and tow boats that transport material down the river. Officials say the river is running several feet below normal.
The Hurley can dredge to a depth of 75 feet and can remove up to 5,000 cubic yards of sediment per hour.
