Missouri News

Sandbars ground barges in upper Mississippi River

(WABASHA, Minn., AP) — Mississippi River workers say roughly a dozen barges and their tugboats have been grounded by sandbars in Minnesota.

KTTC-TV reports (http://bit.ly/1nVNGgI) at least nine tugboats are held up near Wabasha after heavy flooding in June washed soil into the river. More barges are stuck near Winona.

A tugboat captain bound for St. Louis says he expects the barges will be stuck for about a week as the river is dredged. He says his boats need about nine feet of water to clear the channel.

The captain says the standstill is a costly setback for industry that relies on the river.

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Information from: KTTC-TV, http://www.kttc.com

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