Book Description

The Upper Mississippi River (UMR) 9-Foot Navigation Channel extends from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to the mouth of the Ohio River at Cairo, Illinois, a distance of 857.6 miles. The St. Paul District of the Corps of engineers is responsible for operation and maintenance of the northernmost 243.6 miles. The states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and a portion of Iowa border this stretch of the river. Channel depth is maintained through a series of locks and dams, channel control structures, and by dredging shoals that build in the navigation channel. The typical towboat and barge configuration using this navigation project is 1, 200 ft long, 105 ft wide, and drafts 9 ft.