The General Irwin passes through

Estiffnulga en route to making

repairs at Chattahoochee dam

ESTIFFANULGA, FL – “I thought it was Gabriel,” said Estiffanulga resident Fran Davis when the US Army Corps of Engineers tow boat, the General Irwin, sounded its air horn announcing its journey up the Apalachicola River at 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29. 

Together, the tug boat and its barge are  bigger than a football field.  They carry a wheelhouse, a generator the size of an 18-wheeler, a large and small capacity crane ( including grappling attachments ) as well as a pick-up truck with still room to land a helicopter. It  only draws 18″.

According to Justin McDonald, Acting Director for Programs and Project Management, US Army Corps of Engineers – Mobile District,  the Irwin was moving upstream to address some remedial work at the Chattahoochee dam.  Spillway valves  there are being replaced with funding from the Inflation Reduction Act.

Dr. John Hallas, Talquin Director of Water Services explains that the Chattachoochee Dam produces seven to eight percent of the power consumed by Liberty County.  

“The rumble from the diesel engines shook the ground, sending four cats, two dogs and one ole lady to find out what was going on,” said Davis, who took in the view of the passing vessel from her back porch.