USA: Lake Providence Port in Danger

The Lake Providence Port could be dry by harvest season, according to thenewsstar.com.

Despite securing $1.2 million in federal disaster funding to dredge the port, low Mississippi River levels are preventing navigation in and out of the harbor.

“The scenario is dire,” said Wyly Gilfoil, executive director at the port. “Farmers may have to dump their corn on the ground unless we can get more dredging or the river rises.”

Kent Parrish, program director for the Corps’ Mississippi River and Tributaries project, said he hopes more dredging can be done before the harvest.

“I’ve been on the phone with headquarters and have been promised more funding, but it’s not in hand,” Parrish said. “We’ve got one dredge working six ports. We’re going to try to keep them all open, but with the river dropping so fast it’s definitely a problem.”

The Lake Providence Port is one of the 20 largest inland ports in the nation, moving an average of 850 tons per year.

[mappress]

Dredging Today Staff, July 2, 2012