Floods Halt Barge Traffic

In a stark contrast from last year when near record low water levels on the Mississippi River halted barge traffic, a second wave of spring flooding has again closed several locks along the river. According to the Chicago Tribune, the Coast Guard has stopped barge traffic from northern Iowa to St. Louis leaving numerous grain elevators along the river unable to load barges.

The Coast Guard reports there are eight vessels towing a total of 70 barges stranded due to the high river levels.