The recent drought is not only impacting crops across the Midwest, but the lack of rain is also having an effect on river levels. Levels are getting lower and could soon impact barge traffic.
In the QCA, river levels are considered normal around seven feet. As of Monday, the river was sitting nearly a foot below that, at 6.3 feet. If the river drops to three feet, it could pose some real problems.
Lafarge is a massive manufacturing company with a plant on Rt. 22, along the Mississippi River.
"That's the big reason the plant is here, it's being on the river,"said plant manager Joe Pennings.
The location of Lafarge allows barges to bring materials in and transport products out.
"The river is great to use and we really rely on it when she behaves herself," Pennings describes the river as 'fickle'.
"Sometimes she's too high and we have to use sandbags and pumps just like everybody else. But other times it's dry. And we have to worry about putting less in our barges."
If the river level gets too low, the Army Corps of Engineers will limit the amount of cargo a barge is allowed to take on.
"So, every time the barge goes to the terminal, it's taking less product," said Pennings.
And a lighter load means less money. Lafarge employees are hoping it doesn't come to that.
"It hasn't impacted us yet, but we watch the river, we know the river is going down."
