In the News

In 2021, about 500 million tons of waterborne cargo transited America's inland waterways, a volume equal to roughly 14% of all intercity freight.  These products, valued at over $158 billion, were shipped on the portions of our inland waterways system that generate revenue for capital improvements by a fuel user fee on commercial vessels.  

 

Much of that tonnage travels through some of the 219 locks at 176 sites on the inland waterways system.

 

But the lock and dam infrastructure keeping the system moving is aging - 80% of America's locks have exceeded their engineered design life.

 

 

$16 in annual net economic benefits to the nation are generated by the Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works Mission for every $1 expended.

(Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Large barges depart on the Upper Mississippi River before winter brings the shipping season to a close

December 5, 2023   Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The shipping season on the uppermost stretch of the Mississippi River has officially come to a close.   The last tow of the season, the Motor Vessel Thomas Erickson, departed Lock and Dam 10 near Guttenberg, Iowa on Sunday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District announced Tuesday. It…

Read More View Source
Headwaters Highlights: Elizabeth Locks and Dam crews keep navigation afloat through one of the oldest locks in the Nation

December 5, 2023   Pittsburgh District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

PHOTO DETAILS  /   DOWNLOAD HI-RES 1 of 29 Jesse Krsul, a lock operator for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District, helps a towboat crew lock through the Monongahela River Locks and Dam 3 in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, Nov. 29, 2023. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh…

Read More View Source
History 20 Years in the Making

December 5, 2023   Marine Log

View Source
House committee to hold first hearing on 2024 WRDA bill

December 4, 2023   Politico Pro

A House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee this week will hold its first hearing to craft the 2024 Water Resources Development Act package.   The Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee — led by Chair David Rouzer (R-N.C.) and ranking member Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.) —…

Read More View Source
Upper Mississippi River Shipping Season Ends

December 4, 2023   Radio Iowa

Iowans who like watching the barges and tugs make their way on the Mississippi River will soon start seeing less of it. The shipping season officially ends today  on the Upper Mississippi, and winter maintenance begins on four locks and dams between Hastings, Minnesota, and Guttenberg, Iowa.  …

Read More View Source
Drought & River Transport Impact on Corn Competitiveness (report)

December 1, 2023   National Corn Growers Association

For the second year in a row, drought conditions are impacting transportation on the Mississippi River at the peak shipment point of the year. Shallower river levels mean barge weight restrictions, slower barge traffic, and higher costs to ship commodities on the river. Ultimately, this translates to…

Read More View Source
Infrastructure work on the Mississippi River should bolster grain shipping

November 29, 2023   Ag Daily

Two years of drought in the Midwest have caused the Mississippi River to drop to abnormally low levels. The low river threatens cargo ships that carry 60 percent of all grains produced in the United States.   To help solve the issue, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been working to create safe…

Read More View Source
Lower Monongahela River Project public information session set

November 29, 2023   Observer-Reporter

Courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District  A public information session is scheduled Dec. 12 to update the Lower Monongahela River Project.   The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District is hosting a public information session from 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Elizabeth…

Read More View Source
Pennsylvania congress members advocate for state’s maritime economy

November 27, 2023   Pennsylvania Business Report

U.S. Reps. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) and Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) joined U.S. Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) and other members of the Pennsylvania delegation to outline their concerns regarding the lock and dam system on the Allegheny River. In a letter…

Read More View Source