Corps of Engineers releases 2020 Minneapolis Locks and Dams navigation stats

ST. PAUL, Minn. –The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, released its 2020 navigation statistics for the Upper Mississippi River today, Feb. 8.

During the 2020 season, Corps staff supported 98 commercial lockages at the Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam and 33 commercial lockages at Lock and Dam 1. Both locks are located in Minneapolis. During the 2019 season, Corps staff supported 471 commercial lockages at Lower St. Anthony Falls and 104 commercial lockages at Lock and Dam 1.

In addition to the commercial lockages, Corps staff locked 77 recreational vessels during 67 lockages at Lower St. Anthony Falls and 1,078 recreational vessels during 608 lockages at Lock and Dam 1. To minimize lockages, the Corps tries to include multiple recreation vessels during a single lockage.

Corps staff locked the first recreational vessel through the Minneapolis locks May 19, 2020. The Corps closed the Minneapolis locks and dams to navigation Nov. 7, 2020, due to the arrival of winter. Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock remains closed to navigation.

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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