Coastal Industry is Still Affected by Mississippi’s Declining Water Level
The Mississippi River's water level is continuing to drop, which has a significant impact on the state's heartland's agriculture and business.
The depth is getting close to a historically low last witnessed in 1988, which is causing barge traffic to slacken to a standstill.
There is little to no relief in the forecast, and the river gauge at Memphis is currently at -8.9 feet, 3 feet less than it was over the last weekend.
According to a National Weather Service forecast, the water level at Memphis might reach -10 feet by the end of the month, and the extended forecast anticipates under-precipitation throughout the Mississippi Basin for at least the next 30 days
The Wall Street Journal was informed by Corps of Engineers official Lisa Parker that "there is no rain in sight." The rivers have reached their lowest point.
With capacity limited and per-ton freight costs reaching unbelievable highs, the shallow water has put loading limitations on the barges that transport soybeans, oil, coal, and other commodities up and down the river.
From St. Louis, the tariff heading downward has increased by roughly five times since last October. Because of the daily groundings on the Mississippi's shifting sandbanks, arrival times for traders are uncertain
In certain places, traffic is now only moving one direction at a time due to narrowing routes.