Page 32: of Marine News Magazine (June 2023)

31 33

Feature

Dredging

USACE

DREDGING:

KEEPING THE

MISSISSIPPI OPEN

By Tom Ewing ies, during fall and winter 2022 and early 2023.

“Not only does the top of the river move, but the

The full scope of these U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ bottom of the river also moves.” - James Bodron, (USACE) dredging efforts was highlighted at the De-

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mississippi Valley cember 1, 2022, meeting of the Inland Waterways Users

Division, Regional Business Director.

Board, in Galveston, Texas.

redging was the Herculean act that allowed James Bodron, with the Crops’ Mississippi Valley Divi- much of the U.S. economy to keep chugging sion, summarized the USACE’s expansive work. “We have a along as usual, at least for Midwest and Central plan to keep the river open,” Bodron explained in December.

D states, as drought conditions threatened to shut The Mississippi Valley Division (MVD) includes six down river traf? c on the Mississippi River and its tributar- USACE Districts: St. Paul, Minn.; Rock Island, Ill.; St. 32 | MN June 2023

MN June23 Layout 32-45.indd 32 5/19/2023 3:11:36 PM