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Corps urges caution on the Mississippi River near Guttenberg, Iowa as river levels are higher to aid towboats

Published Nov. 25, 2014

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is holding the pool elevations north of Lock and Dam 10, near Guttenberg, Iowa, half a foot higher than normal to assist towboats dealing with ice.  

There are currently nine towboats, collectively pushing more than 100 barges, that are dealing with difficult river conditions upstream of Lock and Dam 10 due to ice. There were 21 vessels that were blocked by the ice late last week.

The pool elevation at the lock is normally held at 611.3 feet this time of year. Corps officials are allowing the pool to rise 0.2 feet to elevation 611.5 feet to allow for the towboats to better navigate the ice conditions and continue navigating down bound. The current plan is to hold the higher pool elevation for two to three days. 

Corps officials encourage caution to everyone using the river during this time of year due to frequently changing conditions. If you need to be on the water, please wear a life jacket and remember to tell a friend or family member where you are going and when you expect to return.

The nearly 650 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, employees working at more than 40 sites in five upper-Midwest states serve the American public in the areas of environmental enhancement, navigation, flood damage reduction, water and wetlands regulation, recreation sites and disaster response. Through the Corps’ Fiscal Year 2011 $175 million budget, nearly 2,800 non-Corps jobs were added to the regional economy as well as $271 million to the national economy. For more information, see www.mvp.usace.army.mil.

 

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Release no. 14-095