Corps of Engineers releases Minneapolis locks and dams stats for 2019

ST. PAUL, Minn. –The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, released its 2019 navigation statistics for the Upper Mississippi River today, Feb. 5.

During the 2019 season, Corps staff supported 471 commercial lockages at the Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam and 104 commercial lockages at Lock and Dam 1. During the 2018 season, Corps staff supported 721 commercial lockages at Lower St. Anthony Falls and 122 commercial lockages at Lock and Dam 1.

In addition to the commercial lockages, Corps staff locked 79 recreational vessels during 57 lockages at Lower St. Anthony Falls and 629 recreational vessels during 414 lockages at Lock and Dam 1. To minimize lockages, the Corps tries to include multiple recreation vessels during a single lockage.

Lower St. Anthony Falls and Lock and Dam 1 were closed from May 24 to June 5 due to high water and the Corps locked the first recreational vessel through the Minneapolis locks and dams on June 5. The Corps closed the Minneapolis locks and dams to navigation Nov. 9, due to high flows. There was no navigation at Upper St. Anthony Falls.

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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