Mississippi River experiencing lower than normal water levels

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – Mississippi River water levels are unusually low for this time of year, and while they are approaching the threshold to where barges wouldn’t be able to safely travel up and down the river, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers does not expect any halt to river traffic.  

Civil Engineer Liam Wallace said he and his team will do everything in their power to keep traffic flowing. 

“We’re definitely tiptoeing that line,” he said. “Constant communication is definitely the key to make sure everyone is on the same page to avoid accidents and just ensure everyone is able to execute their responsibilities as effectively as possible.” 

In the Cape Girardeau area, water levels are currently hanging around the 10-foot mark, with a minimum of 9 feet required for barges to make their way to and from their destinations. 

“It’s definitely a nervous time because obviously we don’t want to be responsible for any groundings along the river, so it’s a really closely monitored situation on all sides,” Wallace said.

Wallace said the U.S. Coast Guard would have to make the final decision on whether to shut down river traffic, and while he does not anticipate this fate, he did add that it would likely take an extreme weather event to return water levels back to normal. 

“Honestly, the only thing really that could probably bring us back up to normal conditions for this time of year would be a hurricane sweeping up the Gulf Coast, unfortunately,” he said.

And so, they continue to tiptoe that line, and for now and in the near future, barges don’t have to worry about running aground, though Wallace may have his sleep interrupted from time to time. 

“It’s kind of like having a newborn child,” he said.