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Winter brought months of concern that the Mississippi might shut down, affecting nearly $3 billion in commodities. An oil spill in late January only fueled fears of a shutdown, and barges ran with light loads to avoid becoming grounded in areas of the river with low drafts. The U.S. Coast Guard blasted rock obstructions near Grand Tower, Illinois, and added two feet to the river’s depth in just several weeks.
Today, Mike Petersen with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the river now is a far cry from just one month ago.
