Page 8: of Marine News Magazine (April 2024)

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By the

Numbers

US Inland Waterways: Economic Impact by State

In 2021, nearly 500 million tons of goods valued at more than $158 billion moved on the U.S. inland waterways system, which includes a vast network of 12,000 miles of connecting waterways and 219 locks. The U.S. Department of Transportation Freight Analysis Framework freight forecasts suggest total water tonnage will increase at an annual growth of 0.7% per year through 2040.

Earlier this year, the National Waterways Foundation (NWF) released updated data illustrating the economic impacts of the inland waterway systems within several key states.

Inland Ports, Inland Waterways and Inland Waterways-dependent

Miles of Tons of Freight

Industries Support:

Navigable Inland Public Moved by Inland

State

Waterways (U.S. Ports Waterway ($ Gross State Total Output State & Local

Personal

Rank) Value) Jobs Tax Revenue

Income $ Product $ $ $

Alabama 1,270 (6)1927.8M (5.3B)134K8.4B15.9B35.4B1.7B

Arkansas 1,860 (3)1018.9M (2.4B)71K3.7B7B15.2B452M

Illinois 1,100 (8)1970.3M (17.9B)262K17.7B28.2B67.6B2B

Indiana 350 (24)626.6M (2.7B)140K8.2B16.4B43.8B2B

Iowa 490 (19)38M (1.5B)88K5B9.9B31B349M

Kentucky 1,590 (4)1079M (5.2B)158K10.1B18B40B1.9B

Louisiana 2,820 (2)32216.6M (60.1B)143K9.4B15.3B42.2B989M

Minnesota 260 (27)1011.1M (1.3B)198K15B24.3B48.5B2.2B

Mississippi 870 (12)1617.9M (10B)114K6B9.2B23.8B879M

Missouri 1,050 (10)1641.5M (2.6B)128K7.3B13.4B35.2B570M

Ohio 440 (21)1029.7M (5.2B)162K11.4B25.2B57.6B3.2B

Oklahoma 150 (3)25M (1.6B)78K4.4B6.6B15.5B86M

Pennsylvania 260 (28)617.7M (7.7B)184K14.8B31.9B65.7B4.8B

Tennessee 950 (11)529.5M (5.6B)100K6.5B12B26.4B1.1B

Texas 830 (13)2379.7M (54.9B)305K27.9B54.6B111B7.7B

West Virginia 680 (16)245.7M (3.4B)127K8B17.1B37B1.8B

Wisconsin 230 (29)121.9M (107M)147K10B15.8B34.1B1.2B

Data from 2021, courtesy of the National Waterways Foundation state pro? les (Sources: U.S. Department of Agriculture Inland

Waterways Study (2019); U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waterborne Commerce Statistics; Federal Highway Administration Freight

Analysis Framework; U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics; IMPLAN) 8 | MN April 2024