Drought causes transportation headaches along the Mississippi River for the third year in a row

Bridge near Vicksburg, Miss., and a pusher tug headed up
the Mississippi River. (Photo by Justin Wilkens, Unsplash)

A drying Mississippi River is causing transportation headaches and delays for the third year running in what scientists suggest could be a long-lasting change. "Extreme drought conditions in the Midwest are drawing down water levels on the Mississippi River, raising prices for companies that transport goods downstream and forcing governments and business owners to seek alternative solutions," reports Kristoffer Tigue of Inside Climate News. "The situation could signal an emerging reality for the region, scientists say, as climate change alters the planet’s weather patterns."

Despite Hurricane Francine's water dump in the Ohio Valley, Mississippi River levels have dipped since mid-July, which slows traffic. "Load restrictions force barge operators to limit their hauls, which squeezes their profit margin," Tigue explains. "Barge rates from St. Louis reached $24.62 a ton in late August and $27.49 per ton by the following week, according to the Department of Agriculture."

Moving cargo via the Mississippi River is more "efficient pound for pound than ground transportation, business groups say, and gives the U.S. an edge in a competitive global market," Tigue reports. "According to the Waterways Council, a trade association for businesses that use the Mississippi River, a standard 15-barge load is equivalent to 1,050 semi trucks or 216 train cars—meaning domestic farmers and other producers can save significant time and money moving their goods by boat."

Too much rainfall or not enough causes river transportation backups, and over the past several years, weather fluctuations in the Midwest have swung between the two. Drought conditions at harvest time are particularly troublesome. Tigue writes, "While it’s typical for water levels on the Mississippi to drop during the fall months, Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, said the recent years of drought have been a real wake-up call for farmers to diversify their supply chains."

If there's a little good news, it's that this year's drought headaches are not as extreme as those from 2023, when the Mississippi dipped to record lows. Tigue reports, "Deb Calhoun, senior vice president of the Waterways Council, chalks that up to proactive efforts this year by companies and federal agencies, like the Army Corps of Engineers, to mitigate transportation disruptions."