Mississippi River harbors to be dredged in 4 states

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers official says 10 harbors on the Mississippi River in Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee are scheduled for dredging this year.

Col. Jeff Anderson, commander of the Corps' Memphis District, updated stakeholders and area officials on flood and water management projects during a meeting of the Mississippi River Commission in Memphis on Tuesday.

Anderson said dredging of silt and sediment deposits in ports and harbors is important because it clears them for barge traffic, which in turn bolsters commerce.

In Arkansas, the Osceola Harbor and two harbors in the Helena area are scheduled for dredging. In Missouri, dredging will take place at the Caruthersville harbor and at two harbors in the New Madrid area.

Set for dredging in Tennessee are the Wolf River, Memphis and Northwest Tennessee Regional harbors. In Kentucky, the Elvis J. Stahr harbor in Hickman also is scheduled for dredging.

Tuesday's meeting on the Motor Vessel Mississippi was part of the Corps' annual high-water inspection trip. The commission met Monday in New Madrid, Missouri.