ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, released its 2022 navigation statistics for the Upper Mississippi River, today, Dec. 9.
During the 2022 season, Corps staff supported 1,154 commercial navigation lockages at Lock and Dam 3, near Red Wing, Minnesota, which was below the 10-year average of 1,546 lockages. The 2022 lockages supported more than 6 million tons, or approximately 3,445 barges of commodities shipped by the navigation industry. During the 2021 season, Corps staff supported 1,274 commercial lockages and the movement of more than 6 million tons of commodities.
In addition to the commercial lockages, Corps staff locked 6,445 recreation vessels during 2,500 lockages. To minimize lockages, the Corps tries to include multiple recreation vessels during a single lockage. There were an additional 17 lockages from various government agencies including the Corps.
The 2022 navigation season unofficially ended Nov. 29, after the Motor Vessel Ashley Danielson departed St. Paul, Minnesota. The 2022 navigation season started March 21 when the Motor Vessel Aubrey B. Harwell, Jr., broke its way through the ice of Lake Pepin to travel 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, Minnesota, to Guttenberg, Iowa. Keeping this system open is vital to the nation’s economy.
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