Recreation boats are now allowed to pass through three locks in the Twin Cities.
The locks on the Mississippi River were closed to recreational boats on May 1 due to high water flows. The Corps says the locks are set to reopen at noon Wednesday.
The closures affected the Upper and Lower St. Anthony Falls locks in downtown Minneapolis, and Lock and Dam 1 near Minnehaha Park between Minneapolis and St. Paul.
via AP.
Feeling inspired by spring?
Between July 28 and November 10, 2003, Ron Haines canoed down the entire length of the Mississippi. Eight years later, he wrote it up as a series of blog posts with lots of interesting photos and observations: Lake Itasca to Minneapolis-St. Paul. Minneapolis-St. Paul to St. Louis. St. Louis to New Orleans. He also wrote up his logistics and some of the press coverage he got along the way.
via MetaFilter.
A Bald #Eagle makes a great catch in the Upper Mississippi River National #Wildlife Refuge. twitter.com/Interior/statu…
— US Dept of Interior (@Interior) March 5, 2013
“Crews try to keep shipping channels open, but the Mississippi’s dangerously low water levels already are causing kinks in the supply chain,” via LA Times.
Barge traffic on the Mississippi River by TeamSaintLouis via Flickr
A historic drought and excessive heat reduced water levels and scorched wide sections of the Midwest. Flooding last year may have worsened the situation on the Mississippi by leaving deposits of silt and debris in areas that would normally be clear.
“An old steamboat is now visible on the Missouri River near St. Charles, Mo., and other old boats nestled on river bottoms are showing up elsewhere.
“A World War II minesweeper, once moored along the Mississippi River as a museum at St. Louis before it was torn away by floodwaters two decades ago, has become visible — rusted but intact.
“Perhaps most interesting, a rock containing what is believed to be an ancient map has emerged in the Mississippi River in southeast Missouri. (more…)
“Water levels on the drought-plagued Mississippi River are expected to keep dropping over the next several weeks, according to a new forecast Wednesday that comes amid worries that barge traffic soon could be squeezed along a key stretch of the vital shipping corridor,” via MPR News.
Mississippi River by Sri Dhanush via Flickr
“Many of the St. Cloud area lakes and rivers that drain into the Mississippi River continue to have pollution problems including too many nutrients and bacteria, according to a new report.
“The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency released the water-quality monitoring and assessment report for the 1,080-mile watershed, which includes 907 miles of river and 374 lakes. It covers parts of Benton, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties,” via St. Cloud Times.
“The future of a city sewer system in the Mississippi River town of Dakota is uncertain after residents last week voted out a majority of the city council,” via Winona Daily News.
Photo: Mississippi River by Katy Silberger via Flickr
“The Mississippi River is healthier than its been in years; the fish we like are back and the bald eagle population is booming. But invasive Asian carp, sediment and pollution still pose challenges to the long-term health of the river,” reports MPR News.
