Riverboat industry grapples with threats of flooding, drought
Low water levels forced cancellations last year, and climate experts fear that may happen again as it shapes up to be another dry summer.
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Low water levels forced cancellations last year, and climate experts fear that may happen again as it shapes up to be another dry summer.
In the middle of the shrunken Mississippi, a barge drags a giant metal-edged suction head along the riverbed to remove sediment from shipping lanes.
In the middle of the shrunken Mississippi, a barge drags a giant metal-edged suction head along the riverbed to remove sediment from shipping lanes.
In the middle of the shrunken Mississippi, a barge drags a giant metal-edged suction head along the riverbed to remove sediment from shipping lanes. A barge is tied up at the only accessible dock as soybeans are shot from a huge metal spout into its hold.
As demand for overnight river cruises on the Mississippi increases, the industry also faces increasing climate threats. Recent years have seen wild swings between heavy rainfall and severe drought, making the river tougher to navigate.