Weather, channel depth reduce Arkansas River tonnage

Thank the wet weather and ongoing channel depth issues for a 12% overall decline in tonnage shipped on the Arkansas River during the first five months of 2011 — a decline that included a 21% dip in tonnage shipped between ports on the river.

According to the U.S. Corps of Engineers, January-May tonnage on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System totaled 4.310 million tons, down 12% from the 2010 period. May tonnage totaled just 456,074 tons, down considerably from the average of 963,525 for the first four months of 2011. The May tonnage also was down 44% compared to May 2010.

Tonnage shipped into the Arkansas River system totaled 1.502 million tons and tonnage shipped out totaled 1.88 million during the first five months, down 6% and down 12%, respectively.

“You had 17 days in May where nothing moved on this river,” explained Marty Shell, president of Van Buren-based Five Rivers Distribution. “Lock number 2, which is 13 miles up from the Mississippi (River), was closed to keep Mississippi waters from flooding up the Arkansas (River).”

Shell, whose company employs 25 and operates the ports in Fort Smith and Van Buren, said the lock was opened May 23, but it took a full day to clear debris.

“Barges finally started moving on the 24th, and I’d say we are now working on a 30- or 45-day backlog of shipments. … You’ll probably see higher (tonnage) reports for June and July because we’re trying to get caught up,” Shell said.

The largest year-over-year decline in high volume products shipped on the Arkansas River is in the sand/gravel/rock category. Shipments for the first five months of the year total 996,451 tons, down 37% compared to the 2010 period.

Shell blames most of that decline on the Arkansas River not having a 12-foot depth through all parts of the river. He said 95% of the Arkansas River between Fort Smith and where the Arkansas River dumps into the White River (near the Mississippi River) is dredged at 12-foot. Three sections — Near Conway, Little Rock and between Little Rock and Pine Bluff — are around 9-foot.

Shell said Pine Bluff Sand & Gravel moved most of its quarry production and about 80 jobs from Yell County to a Kentucky location because the Mississippi River has a dedicated 12-foot channel. The company is one of several providing rock to shore up Louisiana coastlines and areas around New Orleans.

“It’s about $5 million to $7 million to get those sections to 12-foot. … I would think that’s worth saving 80 jobs and who knows how many other jobs because we don’t have 12 foot all the way down the river,” Shell said.

Continuing, Shell noted: “I know we aren’t able to recruit some of these big economic development projects because when they (site location consultants) see we don’t have a 12-foot channel, the other states get those super site projects we are not getting. … If we could get those three sections dredged, that would give us another tool in our war chest to go after some of the super site projects.”

Business and government officials in Arkansas have for many years lobbied the U.S. Corps and Arkansas’ Congressional delegation to authorize funding to maintain a depth of 12 foot on the Arkansas River. (Link here for more information about maintaining a 12-foot channel.)

Shipments of building materials total 147,700 tons for the first five months of 2011, down 36% compared to the 2010 period. Shell said this category is in decline because not as much product is needed for the housing sector, with far fewer rail cars heading out of Van Buren to Northwest Arkansas’ housing market than in years past.

Following are the top five categories (in terms of tonnage) of items shipped on the Arkansas River during the first five months of 2011.
• Sand/Gravel/Rock: 996,451 tons, down 37% compared to the 2010 period
• Chemicals/Fertilizers: 854,124 tons, up 3%
• Iron & Steel: 621,880 tons, up 10%
• Soybeans: 589,571 tons, down 10%
• Coal & Coke: 352,466 tons, up 8%