I am sure the USA Army Corp. of Engineers is working on a new channel. My guess would be dredging first with plans in the works for a new way of providing transportation for the freight on those barges. If there is going to be a continued pattern of lack of rain, the idea of securing a new channel may be a foolish pursuit.
October 6, 2022By Elizabeth Elkin, Will Wade and Michael Hirtzer
...Top US barge operator Ingram Barge Co. said low water levels are affecting part of its operating network below Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
“Chronic low water conditions throughout the inland river system have had a negative effect on many who rely on the river,” Chief Executive Officer John Roberts said Thursday in the email.
A barge carries 1,750 tons of dry cargo — the equivalent of 70 trucks. A tow hauling 15 barges can carry more than 900,000 bushels of grains and over 20 million gallons of liquid, according to the US Army Corps of Engineers. Shipping prices have soared in recent weeks....
...The reason for low river levels is simple: lack of rain.
Minneapolis received about a quarter-inch of rain in the past 30 days, below the average of almost 3 inches for this time of year, according to meteorologist Steve Silver of Maxar Technologies Inc. St. Louis received 0.86 inches, less than a third of average, and Memphis has seen a half-inch instead of more than 3 inches.
Many parts of the Midwest and Plains states are experiencing drought, which affects water flowing into tributaries that normally feed into the Mississippi, Silver said.
Things are unlikely to improve anytime soon. There’s less than an inch of rain expected across the region through the end of next week, according to Accuweather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham....
During the pandemic Midwest farm grain elevators found a route at the St. Lawrence Seaway. There were drought conditions along the Seaway last year.
June 20, 2022By Harry Valentine
The international regulatory agency (click here) that oversees water levels on Lake Ontario and downstream along the St. Lawrence River is working to manage the effects of lower than normal water levels in their jurisdiction resulting from drought conditions. This drought follows two years of extremely high water levels in Lake Ontario and along the St. Lawrence River....
The droughts are all a part of the climate crisis. Just because they are called droughts does not remove drought from the climate crisis. If anything the droughts enforce the understanding of the climate crisis. Shipping is the least of the concerns.
...The drought has reduced rainfall over watershed areas of numerous rivers that flow into the St. Lawrence River, including the Ottawa River, which has a hydroelectric power dam located northwest of Montreal. Hydroelectric power dams are located along many other rivers that flow into the St. Lawrence River, which also provide numerous municipalities with drinking water and sustain some agricultural production through irrigation....
...The Lower St. Lawrence River downstream of Montreal is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Canada, which has the authority to decide as to whether or not to install navigation locks along the river to assure sufficient water levels during future drought. Officials may be motivated to maintain the “status quo,” hoping for the return of traditional long-term weather patterns. They will need to establish strategy by which to manage future excess high water levels on Lake Ontario and along the Seaway in a way that prevents excess flooding around the City of Montreal....
