Heavy rains over the weekend were a difference maker for Mississippi River shippers. That’s according to Midwest Grain and Barge Vice President and General Manager Matt Zimmerman. He says the rain was widespread and delivered more moisture than expected. As such – water levels near Cape Girardeau, Missouri were on the rise. In addition to the rain – the Army Corps of Engineers finished the first phase of the rock removal project at Thebes, Illinois earlier than expected. The Corps removed 365 cubic yards of limestone from the channel – deepening the navigable area by two-feet. Commander of the Army Corps’ Mississippi Valley Division Major General John Peabody says the success of the rock removal work – along with the recent and forecast rain – increases confidence an adequate channel can be sustained through the spring. According to the National Weather Service – the water level of the river at St. Louis today (Thursday) will be up nearly two-feet from last Wednesday. That will equal the highest level in almost a month. At Thebes – the water level had jumped nearly nine-feet over the weekend.
Source: NAFB News Service