Report says Mississippi River commerce worth $400 billion

DUBUQUE, Iowa -- A report released at a gathering of mayors in Dubuque finds commerce along the Mississippi River generates more than $400 billion and supports 1.3 million jobs.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service coordinated the report, which was released Wednesday at a gathering of more than two dozen mayors in Dubuque.

The report found the upper Mississippi River area, which comprises parts of Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Missouri, generates $253 billion annually and supports 755,000 jobs. The total figure was devised by combining the upper river report with a report on the lower river released last year.

The top three industries along the entire Mississippi were manufacturing, tourism and agriculture.

Mayors at the three-day meeting say it's vital to work with agriculture to reduce pollutants in the river.