ST PAUL, Minn. — Technically, the meteorological start date for winter is Dec. 1. but we're seeing signs of "Old Man Winter" -- besides Tuesday's snowstorm.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, say the last barge of the season passed through Lock and Dam 2 near Hastings, ending the 2022 Mississippi River navigation season.
The St. Paul District maintains a 9-foot navigation channel and all the locks and dams from Minneapolis to Guttenberg, Iowa.
Locks allow barges, towboats, and other vessels to pass through the dams.
The Army Corps estimates that the Mississippi carries 589 million tons of freight a year, which creates a $12.5 billion annual transportation savings.
During the months the season is closed, workers conduct maintenance projects and repairs.
The 2022 season started last March when a vessel broke through the ice on Lake Pepin on its way to St. Paul.
This past year, unusually low water levels in the lower Mississippi River caused barges to get stuck in mud and sand, resulting in delays for shippers, recreational boaters and even passengers on a cruise line.
