Parts of the Lower Mississippi River Close Due to Low Water Levels

The lowest I've ever seen was 4.5 feet above sea level at the Baton Rouge gauge. It's 4.83 right now. A small rise will happen in the next few days with levels declining again in the coming days. Probably going into the 3 foot territory or lower in the coming weeks,  without rainfall.

It couldn't come at a worse time of the year as the soybean and corn harvests in the Midwest are in full swing. Grain for export at New Orleans loading points will not make it on time.

Shipping companies have declared "Force Majuer" or force of nature or act of God,   which relieves them of their contractual agreements and any liabilities.

The problem is not as acute here as it is further north , from Memphis down to around the Vicksburg area. Some 500 miles of river are closed.

Its affecting coal, oil, and fertilizer transport as well.

I know it's hard for people to understand how low this is.
At times I used to crawfish when the gauge at BR was 42 feet above sea level. Major flood level threat.

That's a 38 foot rise.

I was gonna ask what average is.  What is average for the Mississip at Baton Rouge, (or other spots, if you have it handy.)

So, now not only can farmers, et.al. not get their products to the export ramps, they're not even going to get the insurance $$$ to help cover their losses.
(EDIT:  Oops.  Shoulda listened to the vid before commenting, as I now understand it's the barge companies, not the insurers, claiming "Act of God."  Whew.  That's a bit better.)

Considering that we're low on food and fuel here at home, can they sell it on this market, and make any money?  

This is not good news.  

2cent wrote:I was gonna ask what average is.  What is average for the Mississip at Baton Rouge, (or other spots, if you have it handy.)

So, now not only can farmers, et.al. not get their products to the export ramps, they're not even going to get the insurance $$$ to help cover their losses.
(EDIT:  Oops.  Shoulda listened to the vid before commenting, as I now understand it's the barge companies, not the insurers claiming "Act of God."  Whew.  That's a bit better.)

Considering that we're low on food and fuel here at home, can they sell it on this market, and make any money?  

This is not good news.  

I'd say a good average is about 12-20 feet at BR.

The sandbars are Yuge out there. Great to camp on at this time of the year.
Nice clean, private, "beaches" where you can actually sit in a lawn chair in the river in the water and fish catfish. Lol.

HawkTheSlayer wrote:

2cent wrote:I was gonna ask what average is.  What is average for the Mississip at Baton Rouge, (or other spots, if you have it handy.)

So, now not only can farmers, et.al. not get their products to the export ramps, they're not even going to get the insurance $$$ to help cover their losses.
(EDIT:  Oops.  Shoulda listened to the vid before commenting, as I now understand it's the barge companies, not the insurers claiming "Act of God."  Whew.  That's a bit better.)

Considering that we're low on food and fuel here at home, can they sell it on this market, and make any money?  

This is not good news.  

I'd say a good average is about 12-20 feet at BR.

The sandbars are Yuge out there. Great to camp on at this time of the year.
Nice clean, private, "beaches" where you can actually sit in a lawn chair in the river in the water and fish catfish. Lol.

BTDT.  Well, not there there; just in the situation of fishing from a lawn chair ...until you cain't.  Oh yeah - and not for catfish, either.  
Bass, mostly.  
P.S.  I can't believe your poor soul has gone all these years without the taste of the most savory fish in the water:  WALLEYE!!!  Oh, you po'  boy!  Near bring a tear to m' eye.  sniff~sniff.

P.P.S.  Saw this new bidness advertised last night for dump trucks:  "Been There, Dump That!"  lol  

2cent wrote:

HawkTheSlayer wrote:

2cent wrote:I was gonna ask what average is.  What is average for the Mississip at Baton Rouge, (or other spots, if you have it handy.)

So, now not only can farmers, et.al. not get their products to the export ramps, they're not even going to get the insurance $$$ to help cover their losses.
(EDIT:  Oops.  Shoulda listened to the vid before commenting, as I now understand it's the barge companies, not the insurers claiming "Act of God."  Whew.  That's a bit better.)

Considering that we're low on food and fuel here at home, can they sell it on this market, and make any money?  

This is not good news.  

I'd say a good average is about 12-20 feet at BR.

The sandbars are Yuge out there. Great to camp on at this time of the year.
Nice clean, private, "beaches" where you can actually sit in a lawn chair in the river in the water and fish catfish. Lol.

BTDT.  Well, not there there; just in the situation of fishing from a lawn chair ...until you cain't.  Oh yeah - and not for catfish, either.  
Bass, mostly.  
P.S.  I can't believe your poor soul has gone all these years without the taste of the most savory fish in the water:  WALLEYE!!!  Oh, you po'  boy!  Near bring a teat to m' eye.  sniff~sniff.

P.P.S.  Saw this new bidness advertised last night for dump trucks:  "Been There, Dump That!"  lol  :thumbsup2:

Well, we dont got no eyes here. Lol
If we did, I would eaten a bunch by now. BAMN. Gill or hoop net.

I used to eat a lot of fish when I was young.

I wonder if the low water is having an effect on the riverboat cruises. Last time, many years ago, I did not. I guess 5hose paddle wheelers don't need much water and don't draft too deep. I think the draft limitatations were set at 9 feet in the video.

We would camp on the bars for days and the paddle wheelers would pass very close to us as the channel was very narrow. You could actually talk to the people on the deck.

Mississippi Queen, Delta Queen were about the only cruise boats back in the day.Today there are plenty of outfits. They dock at the historical towns and a bus takes them downtown to sight see and shop.

I'd like to take a river cruise. I'd enjoy it much more than a sea cruise aboard the disease ships.

If I ever hit the lottery , I'll get a small yacht and travel the river myself with a companion. Lol.
And hit a few casinos in Natchez, Vicksburg, and Mamphis.

Down here the MISSISSIPPI river is very wide and deep. It some spots almost a mile from bank to bank.

I had to take an emergency trip to town today. Nothing else to do with no internet or electricity for 6 hours. So it woirked out good.

I swung by the old ferry landing to look at the river . I've never seen it this low.

Then I drove north to an island that we rode 3-wheelers to, on the dry river bottom. . Yes, 3-wheelers. That's how long ago. The river was about 4.5 feet above sea level at Baton Rouge. It was all dry even more than then . You could throw a stone across the remaining channel. 4.3 today.

What most folks don't realize is, ships can only travel north as far as the Port of Baton Rouge. Everything else is barge travel.

But the barges have to get the product at least as far south as BR to be loaded onto ocean going vessels.

NOAA says 3 foot in two weeks. But I've seen other projections closer to 2 feet above sea level .

HawkTheSlayer wrote:Down here the MISSISSIPPI river is very wide and deep. It some spots almost a mile from bank to bank.

I had to take an emergency trip to town today. Nothing else to do with no internet or electricity for 6 hours. So it woirked out good.

I swung by the old ferry landing to look at the river . I've never seen it this low.

Then I drove north to an island that we rode 3-wheelers to, on the dry river bottom. . Yes, 3-wheelers. That's how long ago. The river was about 4.5 feet above sea level at Baton Rouge. It was all dry even more than then . You could throw a stone across the remaining channel. 4.3 today.

What most folks don't realize is, ships can only travel north as far as the Port of Baton Rouge. Everything else is barge travel.

But the barges have to get the product at least as far south as BR to be loaded onto ocean going vessels.

NOAA says 3 foot in two weeks. But I've seen other projections closer to 2 feet above sea level .

That sort of sight is alarming to see.

Quite a sight to see. Even for those who've seen it before.

Shocking