News

High water continues to impact Ohio River valley barge traffic

The movement of products and commodities by barge remains a challenge on the Ohio River and its tributaries thanks to last week’s heavy rains.

Kyler Davis is with the Army Corps of Engineers Great Lakes and Ohio River Division. He tells Brownfield, “We do have temporary lock closures at McAlpine, Markland, Newburgh, and Cannelton locks and dam on the Ohio River, also the Cheatham lock and dam on the Cumberland River as well.”

Davis says there’s a coordinated effort to minimize flood impacts. “Our water management team is controlling releases in coordination with the Tennessee Valley Authority from Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley to store water and reduce flood impacts on the lower Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.”

Davis says the Ohio River flood waters were expected to crest Wednesday, April 9th at Cairo, Illinois at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers at 52.5 feet, which is considered moderate flood stage.