Dan Burger, lockmaster at Lock and Dam 7, in La Crescent, Minnesota, provides an overview of the importance of navigation on the Mississippi River and the importance of the lock and dam system in maintaining navigation. Shipping on the Mississippi River is vital to the nation's economy. 700 million tons of commodities are shipped on the Mississippi River annually. Commodities include fertilizer, grain, and soybeans. A 15-barge tow carries the same amount of commodities as 1,050 semi-trailers .
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is closely monitoring water levels at its Gull Lake Dam, near Brainerd, Minnesota. Below average precipitation and drought conditions continue to impact water levels.
