St. Paul: 4.1 Steady (FS 14.0)

Peoria: 13.5 Falling (FS 18.0) Wickets down as of 5/11

Grafton: 23.4 Crest 8/1 24.4 (FS 18.0)

St. Charles: 22.9 Falling (FS25.0)

St. Louis: 30.2 Steady (FS 30.0)

Chester 31.7 Steady 33.0 7/26 (FS 27.0)

Arnold 27.3 Steady (FS24.0)

Cape Girardeau: 35.7 Steady (FS 32.0)

Cairo: 32.6 Falling (FS 40.0)

Memphis: 17.9 Falling (FS 34.0)

Baton Rouge: 23.5 Steady (FS 35.0)

New Orleans: 7.6 Steady (FS 17.0)

Nasty Thunderstorms Targeting the Midwest (AccuWeather.com Jul 30, 2010; 5:10 AM ET). Severe thunderstorms will target portions of the Midwest again later today as a storm system rolls eastward across the region. Significant flash flooding and tornadoes are among the threats. The nasty thunderstorms will break out across parts of Minnesota, the eastern Dakotas, eastern and southern Nebraska, northern Kansas, Iowa and northern Missouri. High heat will help to fuel the thunderstorms during the afternoon hours. The most widespread impacts of the thunderstorms will be damaging wind gusts of 60-70 mph, large hail and torrential downpours. Flash flooding will likely result from the heavy rain in some areas, washing out roads and farmlands. Houses can even take in water in a few communities. Small streams, rivers and creeks can quickly overflow their banks, while the excessive rainfall can slow the recession of floodwaters along portions of some major rivers of the region.

Driving over a roadway with water over it will put your life and passengers' lives at risk. Blinding downpours will slow traffic at times across stretches of I-29, I-35, I-80, I-90 and I-94. Motorists who travel along these highways need to stay abreast of the storm situation; high winds can overturn campers and semi trucks. Tornadoes can touch down from the strongest storms, wreaking havoc on communities they hit. The highest risk for tornadoes will lie from southwestern Minnesota to eastern Nebraska, where there will be the greatest change of wind speed and direction with altitude.

Beginning July 1, 2010 thru the end of August 2010 work will be performed between 0600 to 1800 daily on the construction of 12 underwater weirs along the RDB between mile markers 765.5 and 767 Lower Mississippi River. Mariners are advised that traffic closures during this period may be necessary.

Great Lakes States Sue Federal Government Over Asian Carp Threat (Circleofblue.org 7/21/10 by Steve Kellman)

The federal government faces a fresh round of legal action regarding the potential threat Asian carp pose to the Great Lakes. Five statesMichigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsinfiled suit in a U.S. District Court Monday, to force the government to take more drastic steps to block the invasive aquatic species from colonizing the lakes and threatening their $7 billion sportfishing industry. Led by Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, who is also a Republican candidate for state governor, the coalition sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago. They are seeking a preliminary injunction that would temporarily close the locks connecting the carp-infested Illinois River to Lake Michigan. "President Obama and the Army Corps of Engineers have failed to fight Asian carp aggressively," Cox said in a statement. "Asian carp will kill jobs and ruin our way of life. We cannot afford more bureaucratic delaysemergency action must be taken to protect the Great Lakes." In an email to subscribers of his StopAsianCarp.com website, Cox explained the urgency behind the lawsuit, and laid out the complaints against the federal response to date. "Our worst fears came true after Illinois authorities announced on June 22 that a Bighead Asian carp was found in Lake Calumet, within striking distance of Lake Michigan," Cox wrote. "And when you find one carp, the experts say there are more nearby. Stunningly, despite the mounting evidence, the Army Corps and Chicago authorities refused to temporarily close the OBrien and Chicago locks. Theyve failed the apply fish poison in every location that tested positive for Asian carp eDNA. Theyve failed to comprehensively address all pathways linking Lake Michigan with carp-infested Illinois waterways. And they have failed to sufficiently accelerate the permanent separation of the Great Lakes Basin from the carp-infested Chicago Area Waterway System." The lawsuit seeks immediate action to block the carp: the installation of nets and the use of mesh screens on sluice gates, the use of fish poison in areas where Asian carp DNA has been detected, and the temporary closures of the OBrien and Chicago locks.

In April, the U.S. Supreme Court turned down a lawsuit filed by Cox that sought to use a decades-old lawsuit against Illinois over Chicagos diversion of Lake Michigan water to force action to block the carp. Cox spokesperson Joy Yearout told Circle of Blue that the Supreme Courts rejection of that case should not impact the new lawsuit. "The benefit we have going forward is that although the Supreme Court declined to hear our case, they did not rule on the merits of the case," Yearout said. "The Supreme Court would have been quicker...[but] this is the more traditional route." Nick Schroeck, executive director of the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center, said the capture of an Asian carp beyond a key electric barrier last month may bolster the states case that the fish pose an imminent threat to the lakes.

"That might persuade the judge in this case to rule more favorably [for the states]," Schroeck said. "Its easier to show the threat of the carp when you have an actual carp." The Supreme Court case relied on findings of environmental DNA in the waters beyond the barrier, which suggested that fish had been present but did not offer conclusive proof. The court is set review the states preliminary injunction request next week. But theres a strong possibility that the federal government will request an extension that could postpone the hearing for several weeks, Yearout said.

Work has begun on the landside bulkhead slots. Due to rainfall on the upper Illinois River, the raising of the wickets has been postponed for another 1-2 weeks. Therefore delays at Peoria from the intermittent lock closure are not yet occurring. More information will follow as it becomes available. See below for details:

Peoria Lock will be closed for 10 hours per day, six days per week to install Bulk Head slots in the lower approach. There will be a 70' restriction during this process and locking will take place from 5PM through 7AM the next morning. Closure from 7AM through 5PM each day, with no work performed on Sunday. This 70' width restriction will pose some major challenges for Industry. In order to lock 10 barges an assist boat will be needed to put the tow back together as the Corps will not allow the usage of the long wall to put tows together. Industry will utilize the self help program during this closure. However if there are not 2 boats waiting to lock, self help is not an option and a tug will need to be hired to assist any doubles.

The chambers will be dewatered, and no auxiliary chambers exist, so this is a total closure. This will effectively cut off all barge access to points above Pendleton, Ark during this period.

Lock #52, (Ohio River mile 938) Aug 16th-October 9th: Main chamber scheduled for intermittent closures. Traffic will pass through auxiliary.

Lock #53 (Ohio River mile 962) Aug 16th-October 9th: Auxiliary chamber scheduled for intermittent closures. Traffic will pass through main.

Scheduled closure of the main (1200 foot) chamber to install

a new Downstream Lift Gate Leaf has been postponed due

to high water. At this time a new date has not been issued,

however the project is expected to be completed sometime in August.

Lock Mi PT Closure Dates Description

Watts Bar Lock529.910/12-11/2 No auxiliary chamber, total

Chicamauga Lock471 7/20-8/16 Dewatering of chamber

closure

The following is the Pittsburgh District Repair Fleet's planned schedule of lock maintenance work that will result in lock closures or delays to navigation traffic during calendar year 2010.

Repair/Maintenance Schedule for CY 2010

2010 MonthLocation/Activity

28 June - 30 JulyBRADDOCK L/D, MONONGAHELA RIVER

Dewater 56' x 360' Lock Chamber

Repair Lock Gates and Anchorages.

Large Chamber (110' x 720') Open

Small Chamber (56' x 360') Closed

Minor Delays to Navigation

9 August - 27 AugustEMSWORTH L/D, OHIO RIVER

Dewater 110' x 600' Lock Chamber

Renovate Emptying Valves and Machinery.

Large Chamber (110' x 600') Closed

Small Chamber (56' x 360') Open

Major Delays to Navigation

13 September - 6 NovemberPIKE ISLAND L/D, OHIO RIVER

Dewater 110' x 1200' Lock Chamber to Replace Miter Gates.

Large Chamber (110' x 1200') Closed

Small Chamber (110' x 600') Open

Minor Delays to Navigation

The above schedules were developed in cooperation with the Waterways Association of Pittsburgh and are subject to change due to emergency or unusual conditions. A supplemental notice will be issued approximately one (1) month prior to the start of each job outlined above.

Beginning January 2009 the Pittsburgh District's Notices to Navigation Interests will only be available by email and download from the Pittsburgh District webpage at http://www.lrp.usace.army.mil/or/or-f/navrpt.htm.

Did you know that NOAA has a site for river stages on the internet. Follow this link to get information on current conditions and forecasts for each river area.

Per Navigation Industries' request, New Orleans District will schedule the Closure of Old River Lock to commence on October 15, 2010 for 30 days to Install Miter Gates on the Mississippi River end.

June

June 25-Aug 7, 2010the main 1200 foot chamber will be closed, 25 June 2010 through 7 August 2010. The planned closure is to install new Miter Gate Machinery (Direct Acting Cylinders). The auxiliary 600 foot chamber will remain open during this closure. A helper boat will be provided for pulling cuts.

For more information, go to the website at www.livinglandsandwaters.org or contact Denise Mitten, Programs Coordinator, at (309) 236-6279 or denise@livinglandsandwaters.org.

Holt Lock (BW 347) July 6th - August 4th

Oliver Lock (BW 338) July 8th - August 1st

Coffeeville Lock (BW/Mobile River 117) July 9th - August 2nd

Heflin Lock (Tenn-Tom 266) July 12th - 26th

Here is the link to the Waterways Council, Inc.'s 30-second commercial explaining the benefits of river shipping.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNPZJHNHSlU

The Unsung Hero of Transportation by Mark Knoy (STL POST-DISPATCH Feb. 9, 2010 editorial section)

As environmental concerns become ever more pressing, it's time for river transportation to step into the spotlight. Those of us close to the rivers have long known the efficiency of barge transportation. Studies show that one barge can move one ton of cargo 576 miles per gallon of fuel. By comparison, a rail car would move the same ton of cargo 413 miles, and a truck only 155 miles. Barge transportation is cleaner, too, producing far fewer carbon emissions than truck or rail. Plus, the generous size of a single barge gives it the same capacity as 70 trucks or 16 rail cars. River transportation helps reduce congestion on the nation's crowded highways. Beyond its environmental benefits, the river improves the quality of life for many by delivering the goods our world depends on, including corn, soybeans, wheat, coal, petroleum, fertilizer and building materials. And because river commerce offers the lowest transportation cost, consumers enjoy these essentials for less. Our region is blessed to be home to the Mighty Mississippi, the heart of America's inland water transportation system. In 2005, more than 139.5 million tons of commodities valued at $19 billion were shipped on the river system to, from and within Missouri and Illinois. To ensure the industry's ability to safely and efficiently move these commodities, it's critical that we properly maintain and update our nation's navigation infrastructure: locks, dams, terminals and related facilities. A proposal in our nation's capital could be a catalyst to make that happen. In December, a top-level team consisting of key government personnel and other stakeholders issued recommendations that would prioritize, over a 20-year period, navigation projects across the nation's waterways system, improve the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' project management and processes and recommend an affordable funding mechanism to meet system needs. That proposed funding mechanism may include an increase in the current fuel tax of 20 cents per gallon paid by river transportation companies (the only group of system users that is taxed). We view this potential additional cost as a worthwhile investment to ensure the future viability of America's inland waterways system. A modern lock-and-dam navigation system is essential to the health and vitality of our nation to U.S. competitiveness in the world market, environmental protection and job stability. If adopted by Congress, these recommendations would help ensure that our nation continues to enjoy the full benefit of efficient, clean, quiet river commerce.This is good public policy for the nation and particularly for the people of Missouri and Illinois. AEP River Operations is proud to work with nature's own waterways to provide an environmentally friendly means of transportation. But the benefits of our country's rivers go far beyond the barge industry. The river gives to us all, providing recreation, hydropower, flood control, drinking water and a haven for birds, fish and other wildlife. We all stand to benefit by taking steps to ensure the health, strength and stability of our inland waterways for years to come.

Periodic updates regarding the status of the closure can be obtained by contacting the Chicago Harbor Lock at Ph# 312-787-4795 or by visiting the Chicago District website at http://www.lrc.usace.army.mil .

Over the past year a study entitled "A Modal Comparison of Freight Transportation Effects on the General Public" was conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute's Center for Port and Waterways at Texas A&M University. It reports on the environmental, selected societal, and safety impacts of utilizing inland river barge transportation and comparing these impacts to highway and rail transportation.

The study compares cargo capacity and fuel efficiency, fatalities and injuries, spills, impacts of infrastructure investment, and environmental impacts. It also illustrates the impacts of a waterways closure on the metropolitan St. Louis area and what it would mean if all cargo presently shipped through St. Louis by barge was diverted to the area's freeways on trucks.

Through our membership in the Waterways Council, Inc. we are proud to be supporters of this important study. This study shows how our national waterways system plays a critical part in so many facets of our daily lives. It offers an updated perspective on the benefits of moving cargo by water.

You can read the results of this study HERE.

If you are west bound on 40/64, take exit 19A and turn left at the first stoplight. You are now on Chesterfield Parkway. The 5 story office building is located approx 3/4 mile ahead on the right hand side of Chesterfield Parkway.

If you are east bound on 40/64, take the Chesterfield Parkway exit and turn left at the first stoplight, then right on Chesterfield Parkway, which is the next stop light. The 5 story office building is located approx 3/4 mile ahead on the right hand side of Chesterfield Parkway.