District's fast response clears major obstruction from Dismal Swamp Canal

Posted July 29, 2010
By Jerry Rogers
Norfolk District Public Affairs

07/29/2010 - CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Not since Hurricane Isabel smashed into Virginia Sept. 18 2003, have the operations branch of the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, worked so intensely to remove a major obstruction to navigation on the Dismal Swamp Canal, or DSC.

While conducting a post-storm inspection at 8 a.m., July 21, following an overnight storm that struck the Chesapeake, Va. and South Mills, N.C. border area, the crew of the Corps vessel Elizabeth discovered an enormous tree blocking the width of the DSC.

When Hurricane Isabel battered the DSC seven years ago, a 22-mile stretch of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, and seven miles outward to the Pasquotank River in N.C., Corps volunteers and its contractor, U.S. Facilities, worked 12-hour days for nearly three weeks to clear about 1,000 downed trees. Fortunately, it took U.S. Facilities and the Elizabeth crew a little more than eight hours to clear the canal July 21.

"The temporary obstruction was the largest single tree they have ever removed from the canal. One tree limb weighed over 6,000 pounds and the trunk weighed more than 26,000 pounds," said Dennis Barnes, crane operator onboard the Elizabeth.

Due to the Corps' fast response, only four recreational vessels were delayed on the canal during the removal and cleanup.