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Five straight years of low water possible on Mississippi River

A dry end to the summer in parts of the Midwest is raising concerns about water levels on the Mississippi River.

Mike Steenhoek with the Soy Transportation Coalition says another fall with low levels is likely.

“We’re not exactly in a position of strength, and the concern is that we could have five consecutive years of low water on the river. And this October, November, December months are really kind of game time when it comes to moving soybeans and grain via barge on the inland waterway system.”

He tells Brownfield some areas have received adequate rainfall.

“And you’re seeing water levels on the river rebound accordingly. The concern is once that kind of zenith occurs, you’ll see water levels start to relax a bit more. And we could be back in a situation with low water levels on the river.”

Steenhoek says barge operators can respond to low river levels in two ways, either by reducing tonnage per barge or limit the number of barges that form a single unit.

Either way, he says it diminishes the economics of barge transportation.