This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Jan. 7, 2013 - GRANITE CITY – For U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, blowing up obstructions on the Mississippi River wasn't exactly akin to a Hollywood action movie.
The Illinois lawmaker joined U.S. Rep. Bill Enyart, D-Belleville, and leaders of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Coast Guard Monday to view the removal of rock pinnacles near Thebes on the Mississippi River. The two federal lawmakers were on a boat when they witnessed a charge detonate.
“You could hardly notice it on the surface – it was just a little spray of water and a little ripple,” Durbin told reporters at the Granite City-based America’s Central Port. “But the work continues. Some $9 million being invested by the Coast Guard in an effort to make sure that part of the channel – one of the most challenging parts – is open.”
Durbin and Enyart told reporters that “steady progress” is underway to make the Mississippi River navigable, adding there are “no threats to close down commerce” on the waterway. There’s been concern for months that the low levels on the river would impede barge traffic.
“In fact, several things we’re counting on and hoping for [is that] this warmer weather that’s coming in is going to melt some of the snow and ice north, releasing some water downstream,” Durbin said. “Secondly, we do believe there will be some rain coming in soon. And third, the good work by the Army Corps and U.S. Coast Guard is clearing the river so that we can continue to see the barges going up and down the river.”
However, Durbin said some companies using the barges “are not loading as heavy as they used to so that they sit a little higher in the water.” That reality, he said, means it’s going to be a little more expensive in moving commodities.
“This is all a product of the drought we went through last year,” Durbin said. “We’re praying this year will be much better for the farmer and for the river. But it’s a reminder for those of us who have grown up around here never to take this river for granted. It’s a critical part of America’s future and economy.”
Enyart – who was sworn into office last week – praised "the tremendous cooperation between the Coast Guard, the Corps of Engineers and the maritime industry."
“As the senator indicated, this is not just a local issue or a state issue or even a national issue. It’s indeed an international issue,” Enyart said. “This is where we’re feeding the world. If we can’t get those soybeans and corn down, then the consumers of those agricultural products are in trouble. And until Brazil and Argentina and some of the South American countries’ crops start coming in about 60 or 90 days, we want to make sure that we get those products to market and make those sales so we keep that money flowing into our economy.”
Asked if releasing Missouri River water – a particularly thorny issue during the push to increase the Mississippi River – was a “moot point” due to improving conditions, Durbin said “we don’t have to do it yet.” The Beacon reported last month that the Army Corps of Engineers stated that expedited dredging, blasting and other steps – combined with more favorable rain forecasts – would likely guarantee a deep enough channel to sustain barge traffic on the middle Mississippi River.
“They released water from the Carlyle Reservoir and other sources and things have been flowing pretty well,” Durbin said. “And the Corps of Engineers let us in on the fact that they are holding some water upstream that can be released if things get a little tight downstream. So they have a contingency.”
