U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Report: 2011 Flood "Exposed Vulnerabilities" On Mississippi River

Bill Raack and The Associated Press — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:33:44 +0000

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the near-historic Mississippi River flood of 2011 caused $2.8 billion in damage and tested the system of levees, reservoirs and floodways like no other flood before it.

A report released Monday by the Army Corps said the Mississippi River and Tributaries system was operated as it was designed to work and was mostly successful in fighting the flood along most of the nation's most important inland waterway. However, the report said the spring 2011 flood exposed vulnerabilities in many system components and the plans used to operate them.

Army Corps Tamps Down Barge Worries On Mississippi

The Associated Press and Rachel Lippmann — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 18:38:44 +0000

Updated at 2:20 pm with comments from Gov. Jay Nixon.

Federal officials say they're confident that they'll be able to keep a crucial stretch of the drought-starved Mississippi River open to barge traffic and avoid a shipping shutdown that the industry fears is imminent.

Mississippi Levels Drop, Barge Traffic Could Halt Mid-January

The Associated Press and Adam Allington — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 12:57:28 +0000

Updated 3:13 p.m. Dec. 28

The Mississippi River's water level is dropping again and barge industry trade groups warn that river commerce could essentially come to a halt by mid-January.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports ice on the northern section of the Mississippi is reducing flow more than expected.

Despite that fact, the Coast Guard remains confident that the nation's largest waterway will remain open.

Illinois Leaders Meet In Alton To Discuss Mississippi Drought

Adam Allington — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 21:10:31 +0000

Illinois politicians and business leaders met in Alton on Monday to discuss ongoing efforts to keep shipping open on the drought-stricken Mississippi River.

The meeting coincides with work by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to remove rock formations from the riverbed just south of Cape Girardeau.

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin called the drought situation “a historic challenge," saying that additional measures may have to be taken to keep commerce functioning.

Army Corps Moving Forward With Plans To Reduce Flow On Missouri River

Adam Allington — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 23:24:14 +0000

Businesses that work and ship on the Mississippi River are seeking a presidential declaration keep water flowing out of reservoirs on the Missouri River.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers closes dams in South Dakota at this time every year to store water to maintain levels later in the spring and summer.

The Missouri River accounts for roughly 60 percent of the water flowing by St. Louis. In a drought-year like this year, George Foster of St. Louis’ J.B. Marine says reducing river levels would risk closing the shipping channel.