Fewer Boats, Barges use Upper Mississippi Locks

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Posted: 10:51 AM Jan 6, 2009 Fewer Boats, Barges use Upper Mississippi Locks The region's locks on the Upper Mississippi River were quieter in 2008, with nearly a third fewer tons of cargo going through than in 2007. And 2007 was well down from the peak of about 10 years before. Reporter: Associated Press

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ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) -- The region's locks on the Upper Mississippi River were quieter in 2008, with nearly a third fewer tons of cargo going through than in 2007.

And 2007 was well down from the peak of about 10 years before.

According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, at Lock and Dam 5 near Minneiska, the 2008 tonnage was down 58.7 percent from its 1996 peak.

Last year's total tonnage at Red Wing; Alma, Wis.; Minneiska and Winona was down about 32 to 33 percent from 2007.

The corps says the number of both commercial and recreational trips through the locks also dropped. For example, at Alma, 9,522 vessels of all sizes locked through last year, compared with 11,497 the year before.

The corps didn't give a reason for the drop. But experts say much more corn is going to make ethanol locally, so much less is shipped down the river. And high gas prices cut into recreational boating.

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