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Jan 10, 2013
This week the Army Corps of Engineers indicated that the Mississippi River will be able to sustain navigation through the end of January for towboats and barges at a 9-foot draft. The Corps attributed the good news to successful work to remove the rock pinnacles and the release of additional water from the Carlyle Lake Reservoir to augment water depth on the mid-Mississippi.
While this is very good news, the waterways industry continues to express concerns that low water restrictions could re-emerge and the uncertainty of long-term water levels creates costs and inefficiencies for shippers that must make logistical decisions weeks in advance. The waterways operators are urging the Corps to provide assurances that all options to maintain navigation remain on the table.
The American Soybean Association (ASA) remains engaged with the Corps, waterways industry, and Congress to ensure that all appropriate actions are taken to maintain necessary water levels and that sufficient funding will be provided for the Corps dredging and maintenance activities for the duration of FY13 and future years.
