Recent dredging helped Southeast Missouri prepare for low-water season

When Mississippi River levels begin to drop, some areas face more problems than others.

This time of year is part of low-water season, which typically lasts through the winter. Southeast Missouri Port executive director Dan Overbey said the river near Cape Girardeau is pretty low, but not low enough to affect river traffic significantly.

"So far, in general, the river's moving pretty well," he said. "I think we're down to around 10 feet at the Cape gauge. ... Out in the middle part of the harbor, we should have about 16 feet of water."

Some spots of the river run more shallow, he added.

The National Weather Service River Forecast Center measured river levels in Cape Girardeau at 10.8 feet Thursday. Gauges to the south measured even lower levels. New Madrid measured the lowest numbers, with -1.47 feet Thursday.

A negative measurement does not mean there is no water. As the National Weather Service explains on its river forecast center website, river stages are calculated from an arbitrary "gage zero" point. The gage zero points were established decades ago, and the river has shifted over time, it explains. Adjusting the points also would mean adjusting flood stages, and since people who live and work around the river already are familiar with those numbers, the gauge points are not adjusted.

At Hickman, Kentucky, the river was at 2.57 feet. Levels in the area were low enough to force the closure of the Dorena-Hickman Ferry.

"The low water means the ferry is unable to use the Missouri Landing," a news release stated. "That has forced the ferry to halt operation until further notice. The ferry will remain closed until the river level rises about 4 to 6 inches on the Cairo (Illinois) gage."

The Dorena-Hickman Ferry connects Kentucky Highway 1354 at Hickman, Kentucky, with Missouri Route A and Highway 77 near Dorena, Missouri.

Overbey said if levels drop off enough in low-water season, docks may begin loading barges a little lighter than usual so the barges don't sit as deep in the water.

Barges typically are loaded to the point at which drafts, the portion of boats that are submerged, go 12 feet below the water.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tries to maintain portions of the river that might restrict those barges, Overbey said.

"Most of the time, there's enough water nobody has to worry about it," he said. "But then, when you get back into low-water season over the winter here, and the water drops down, they do have to start worrying about the spots that get shallow."

Contribution from the corps is part of the reason the Cape Girardeau area and the port are doing pretty well, despite the drop. It provided funding for dredging in the harbor, which was completed Oct. 1.

Dredging is a necessary annual maintenance procedure, Overbey said, to remove the silt the river moves at deposits near the mouth of the harbor. He estimates 6 to 7 feet of silt was removed.

He said the port is fortunate that work has been done.

"The corps came in and dredged the harbor, so we're in better shape," he said. "We've still got a few little rough spots here I think we may have to do a little bit of work on, just to make sure the barges can get in and out and up to the docks and stuff like that, which is not unusual."

So far, Overbey said, there are still some "pretty good-size tows" running smoothly on the river, although a good rainfall would make him feel more comfortable.

srinehart@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

10 Bill Bess Dr, Scott City, Mo.

New Madrid, Mo.

Hickman, Ky.