ICE, FALLING RIVER IMPERIL NAVIGATION

A falling river level and ice flows have imperiled river navigation on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.

But Lt. Pat Riley of the U.S. Coast Guard office in Paducah, Ky., said the lower levels and ice haven't yet caused any accidents.

"We've been warning mariners of the ice," Riley said, "and we've had no incidents so far."

Riley said Coast Guard crews have been inspecting the rivers, looking for hazards. And so far, most river traffic is running smoothly, he said.

Should river navigation become too hazardous, the Coast Guard would limit or close barge traffic as a precaution, Riley said. For now, barges are carrying on business as usual despite the difficulties.

Large chunks of ice floating down the Mississippi River has combined with a falling river level for several days to create havoc for riverboat pilots.

The river stage Tuesday at Cape Girardeau was 8.9 feet, according to the National Weather Service in St. Louis. Riverboat pilots say that's low, particularly with ice flows clogging the river channel.

Steve Glenn of Lohr Brothers, a heavy marine construction company, said the ice and lower river stages can cause narrow sections of the channel to freeze over. Also, ice chucks can break and sink buoys that mark the channel.

"Without the buoys, you have to rely on the expertise of the pilots," Glen said. "It can really make for some dangerous navigation."

Riverboat pilots and the Coast Guard hope warmer temperatures and clear skies Tuesday and today will raise the river level and melt some of the ice.

A spokesman for the National Weather Service said the river stage at Cape Girardeau should begin to rise slowly, perhaps three-tenths of a foot by today.