Tour of the Upper Mississippi River dredging operations

Mississippi River Commission visited the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District last week, conducting a number of vital inspections and key partnering engagements.

First, the Commission was able to inspect the Mississippi River between St. Paul, Minnesota, and Lock and Dam 2 near Hastings, Minnesota.

MRC heard first-hand the value of dredging on the Upper Mississippi River, and the ability of the Corps dredging program to connect agriculture and commerce of the Upper River to the Lower River and then on to global markets.

The Commission also saw multiple dredged material disposal sites that are engineered to not only improve key ecosystem services, but also act as erosion control against wave wash from high winds.

Next, the Commission was able to visit the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Lake Itasca, Minnesota, and visited one of the original MRC survey markers from 1898.

Finally, MRC was able to discuss the history, purpose, and present-day work of the Commission with the National Conference of State Legislatures (Agriculture Task Force) at Upper St. Anthony Falls in downtown Minneapolis, MN. Engagements such as this help the Commission connect the Upper, Middle, and Lower Mississippi River, emphasizing the vision for “One River, One System.”