Removal of Rock Pinnacles Set to Begin

Last week, the Army Corps of Engineers announced the contract has been awarded for the removal of rock pinnacles in the Mississippi River with the work commencing as early as December 18.  In a meeting with six Midwest Senators, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy, agreed to expedite the removal process in order to mitigate the negative effects to navigation on the Mississippi River.  

Inland waterways stakeholders have appealed to the Army Corps of Engineers to expedite the removal of the rock pinnacle formations between St. Louis and Cairo, Illinois. These pinnacles, having emerged due to the historical low water levels on the river, reduce the depth and width of the shipping channel utilized by barges.  

Under a standard contract award process, the contractor would not have been selected until early January, and the work itself would have taken 60 days.  It is anticipated the expedited process will result in the work being completed in 30 days.  The river is expected to be closed to navigation between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm daily while the work is being done.   

“This year’s severe drought has not only impacted the ability of farmers to produce, it also is impacting our ability to deliver,” explains Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition.  “Having to load a barge lighter by one foot amounts to 160-200 tons of fewer soybeans, which is over 10 percent of the barge’s capacity.  These are costs that ultimately are passed onto farmers.”