High water on the Mississippi River has caused the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expand the number of lock closures, further limiting the movement of commercial barges.
The Corps announced on April 22 that it had closed Mississippi Lock 24 in Clarksville, Mo., and Lock 25 in Winfield, Mo., as well as the lock on the Kaskaskia River “to protect critical components and facilities and be able to restore services as quickly and economically as possible after water levels recede.”
The closures are in addition to eight lock closures that were announced earlier between Muscatine, Iowa, and Clarksville (GM April 22, p.11). The Corps on April 18 said it would close Locks 15-22 in staggered intervals beginning on April 18 and extending through April 21 due to high water fed by torrential rains and heavy snow in parts of the Midwest.
“We are working closely with our partner agencies, including the National Weather Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, state and local agencies, and the navigation industry to ensure safety of people and property, ensure safe navigation, and assist in reducing flood risk to communities and business,” the Corps said.
The Corps said locks at Mel Price in Alton, Ill., and in Granite City, Ill., are not currently anticipating closures, based on the most recent forecasts from the National Weather Service. The Corps had reported earlier that barge navigation south of St. Louis, Mo., was also expected to remain open.
The National Weather Service’s daily river forecast on April 23 showed river levels at or above flood stage on the Mississippi at Cape Girardeau, Mo., and Thebes, Ill., and on the Ohio River at Grand Chain, Ill., and Cairo, Ill. In addition, the outlook showed river levels in the next five days reaching and exceeding flood stage at Brookport, Ill., New Madrid, Mo., Tiptonville, Tenn., Caruthersville, Mo., Osceola, Ark., and Tunica, Miss.
Several barge accidents also caused closures at a number of locks over the weekend. The U.S. Coast Guard closed the Mississippi River on April 21 near Vicksburg, Miss., when 30 barges broke free and one sank after hitting a railroad bridge.
On the Illinois River, the Marseilles, Ill., lock was closed on April 18 after nine barges broke away from a tow in high water and four of the vessels sank. Illinois River lock closures were also being enforced at Dresden Island, Starved Rock, and T.J. O’Brien due to high water.