Resources

September 22, 2026 River Operating Conditions Tow Size Restrictions Lower Mississippi River north-bound tow size restrictions are in effect for all tows departing Baton Rouge. Lower Mississippi River south-bound tow size restrictions for all barges departing our Great Rivers fleet went into effect on Monday, Sept 7. Upper Mississippi River south-bound tow size restrictions for all barges between Buffalo, IA, and St. Louis, MO. Mississippi River north- and south-bound tow size restrictions for all barges between St. Louis, MO, and Columbus, KY. Illinois River north- and south-bound tow size restrictions for all barges between Channahon, IL, and Ottawa, IL. River Alerts and Closures: UMR 697 has a bar of sand across the river, and boats are unable to pass. A dredge on its way to start working, but as of now the river will be closed until Friday, 9/25. River Conditions: Upper Mississippi: Accumulated rain water is making its way through the system as a bubble of volume. This appears to be a short-lived event instead of an ongoing condition. Illinois: We are seeing increased river levels throughout the IL River. St Louis: STL is on rise followed by an expected quick fall. Ohio: We are seeing elevated levels throughout the Ohio River System. Lower Mississippi: River levels are on the rise, but without additional rain we expect levels to fall out quickly. Below are the 2026 load cut-off dates for barges destined for an Upper Mississippi River destination and unload cut-off dates for barges waiting to discharge on the Upper Mississippi River: Loadings to Upper Miss Origin MM 280 – 635 MM 636 – 838 GIWW/GIWE 9-Oct 28-Sep Upper Ohio 12-Oct 5-Oct New Orleans 12-Oct 5-Oct Tennessee 16-Oct 5-Oct Lower Ohio 23-Oct 12-Oct Chicago 23-Oct 12-Oct St Louis 30-Oct 26-Oct Mid Miss 26-Oct Unload Cut-off dates: Location Date Clinton – St Paul 6-Nov Rock Island 13-Nov Keokuk – South 13-Nov Lock Outages: Arkansas River: -There will be multiple closures on the Arkansas River throughout 2026. Please reach out to MississippiDispatch@IngramBarge.com for additional information. Cumberland River: -Barkley Lock closed on August 10 to make repairs to the miter gates. Traffic may pass by taking the alt. route via KY Lock and Barkley Canal. Barkley Lock is expected to re-open on Sept 30, 2026. Gulf Activity: Calcasieu lock is having daytime closures Mon – Fri from 0700 -1900 until Oct 31.

While we strive to ensure accuracy of this information, at times the situation can be dynamic and changing quickly. Therefore, we recommend that you consult with the appropriate Ingram contact for critical shipments that may be affected by these notices before making decisions.

Last updated: 2026-09-23 06:30:23