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Corps of Engineers releases Minneapolis lock and dam stats for 2018

Published Feb. 1, 2019

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, released the 2018 navigation statistics for the Upper Mississippi River today, Feb. 1.

During the 2018 season, Corps staff supported 802 cumulative lockages at Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam and 655 lockages at Lock and Dam 1.

Of the total lockages, there were 721 commercial lockages at the lower lock and 122 commercial lockages at Lock and Dam 1. These lockages were predominately a mix of commercial passenger vessels and tow boats.

In addition to the commercial lockages, Corps staff locked 109 recreational vessels during 85 lockages at the lower lock and 929 recreational vessels during 529 lockages at Lock and Dam 1. To minimize lockages, the Corps tried to include multiple recreation vessels during a single lockage. There were an additional 0 lockages at the lower lock and 6 lockages at Lock and Dam 1 from various government agencies including the Corps.

There was no navigation at Upper St. Anthony Falls following its closure June 10, 2015. The lock was closed due to the passage of the Water Resources Reform Development Act in 2014. The Act required the upper lock to close within one year of the president signing the law.

The last tow of the season was the Motor Vessel Titletown U.S.A. She passed through Lock 10, heading south, Dec. 1, 2018. The 2018 navigation season started April 11, when the Motor Vessel Michael Poindexter locked through Lock 2 en route to St. Paul, Minnesota.

Navigation statistics fluctuate from year to year, depending on the weather, river flows and the length of the navigation season. The St. Paul District maintains a 9-foot navigation channel from Minneapolis to Guttenberg, Iowa. Keeping this system open is vital to the nation’s economy.

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Release no. 19-008