Tow boat season begins, anglers at locks and dams should be cautious
By Ted Pennekamp
The Mississippi River has opened up and the first two tows of the season are expected at Lock and Dam 9 near Lynxville on March 17.
“We are wrapping up major winter maintenance projects at Locks 2, 4, 5A and 6 and expect tow boats will be able to reach St. Paul as early as March 20,” said Patrick Moes, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, Public Affairs.
“We’ve been lucky this year with Mother Nature. There is not as much snow-pack in northern Wisconsin and Minnesota,” said Lock and Dam 9 Lockmaster Brian Sipos. “This week we have our full staff starting.”
With the opening of the river near the dam recently, the walleye fishing season has begun in earnest and Sipos said safety is paramount.
“There have been about 30 boats per day all fishing in the same small area,” said Sipos. “They need to be aware of, and steer clear of, the restricted areas near the dam.”
Sipos said boats are not allowed to go inside of 150 feet from the dam on the downstream side, and not any closer than 600 feet on the upstream side.
“In the past, we’ve had to perform rescues, have had accidents, and even a death,” said Sipos. “Fishermen need to stay out of the restricted areas.”
Sipos said anglers should wear life vests at all times. They should also have ready access to an anchor. In case of an engine failure, an anchor can stop, or at least slow down, a boat being drawn in too close to the dam. An anchor can buy time so that a crew from the lock and dam can motor out to rescue the disabled vessel, he said.
Sipos said anglers are allowed to fish off of the wall of the lock this season, but they should maintain a social distance of six feet and wear masks. Lock and Dam 10 is also allowing fishing from its wall. Fishing from the wall was not allowed in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Economic Impact
of tow boat traffic
Sipos also pointed out there is a huge economic impact due to the lock and dam system on the Upper Mississippi River, and in maintaining the 9-foot-deep navigation channel. “There is great value in the navigation project,” he said. “Every bushel shipped by barge yields a $1 savings for the farmer.”
Sipos explained that during the 2020 season, Corps staff supported 2,077 commercial navigation lockages at Lock and Dam 9 which was above the 10-year average of 1,846 lockages. The 2020 lockages supported 14,167,260 tons of commodities by the navigation industry. During the 2019 season, Corps staff supported 1,565 commercial lockages and the movement of 10,194,156 tons of commodities.
One 15-barge tow is the equivalent of two 108-car trains, and 1,050 large semi-tractor-trailer trucks. Patrick Moes pointed out that if barge traffic ceased, the roads would take a much heavier pounding. There would need to be more road construction. Traffic would be more congested and hazardous and there would be more delays for motorists.
Along with the commercial lockages, Corps staff locked 3,215 recreation vessels during 1,385 lockages. To minimize lockages, the Corps tries to include multiple recreation vessels during a single lockage. There were an additional 24 lockages from various government agencies including the Corps.
The 2020 navigation season unofficially came to a close on Nov. 30 after the Motor Vessel The Colonel departed St. Paul, Minn. The 2020 navigation season started March 18, when the Motor Vessel Miss Doris locked through Lock and Dam 2, near Hastings, Minn., en route to St. Paul.
Navigation statistics fluctuate from year to year, depending on the weather, river flows and the length of the navigation season. The St. Paul District maintains a 9-foot navigation channel from Minneapolis to Guttenberg. Keeping this system open is vital to the nation’s economy.
