Mississippi River Commission Holds Low Water Hearings
The Mississippi River Commission (MRC) held its 2026 Low Water Inspection Trip last week, hosting listening sessions in four cities. It was the second of the MRC’s two annual meetings, with high-water conditions evaluated during the spring meeting.
Established by Congress in 1879, the MRC is charged with developing plans to improve the condition of the Mississippi River, foster navigation, promote commerce and prevent destructive floods.
The hearings allow commissioners to hear from people who depend on the waterway system. In 2025, 152 people presented comments, and 475 attended.
This year’s activities also included an August 16 ribbon-cutting marking completion of a section of the Caruthersville, Mo., floodwall project; an August 17 groundbreaking with the Dyer County Levee Board for the Richardson Landing project; and an Aug. 20 tour of the Port of Morgan City and Boeuf Lock, part of the Atchafalaya Basin Project.
Hearings were held in Caruthersville August 17, Memphis Aug. 18, Vicksburg Aug. 19 and Morgan City August 21. Commissioners were scheduled to inspect 600 miles of the Mississippi River and more than 100 miles of the Atchafalaya River.
The MRC publishes summaries of its spring and summer meetings, including recommendations to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding future work. The 2025 executive summary identified nine leading regional issues and related recommendations, many of which again drew the commission’s attention this year.
Comprehensive Upper Mississippi Flood Control Plan
In 2025, the MRC recommended proceeding with this study, noting that the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 authorized the Upper Mississippi River Flood Risk and Resiliency Study. The commission also heard from local officials that Section 408 permits for levee projects along the upper river were frequently denied and recommended that the Corps review its guidance.
An MRC/Corps spokesman said the comprehensive study cannot begin until completion of a flow-frequency study, expected in 2028. He added that Corps headquarters has not changed its Section 408 permitting guidance.
Dredging And Disposal Policy
The American Waterways Operators (AWO) and other groups have emphasized the importance of maintaining a 12-foot navigation channel from Cairo, Ill., to Baton Rouge, La. Corps funding currently provides only for a 9-foot channel, said Justin Lampert, director of AWO’s Midcontinent Office.
Lampert said AWO was pleased to learn in 2025 that a 12-foot channel would be formally investigated through the Corps’ five-year Lower Mississippi River Comprehensive Management Study. The study resumed in May after additional funding became available.
AWO could not attend the MRC meetings because of prior commitments in Paducah, Ky. However, members of the River Industry Executive Task Force met virtually with Corps and Coast Guard officials a week earlier to discuss low-water concerns. AWO also planned to submit written comments to the MRC, although they were not available by press time.
Regarding the Corps’ dredged-material disposal real estate policy, the commission recommended in 2025 that the agency move away from requiring full fee title to property used for disposal. The policy has not changed.
New Gaging Stations
The Corps spokesman said replacing, updating and adding gaging stations “is always ongoing,” in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey.
The commission also considered technology developed by The Nature Conservancy and suggested in comments last year. The equipment has not been adopted, but the spokesman said the Corps is “always looking at new innovative technologies that could potentially improve our management and understanding of the river.”
Completing MR&T Work In Atchafalaya Basin
In 2025, the MRC “strongly recommended” priority funding for the Atchafalaya Basin, citing the potential for “catastrophic damages” from flooding. This year, the commission returned to the basin for the Aug. 21 Morgan City hearing and a tour that included Boeuf Lock.
The basin also includes Bayou Sorel Lock, which the Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association identified as a concern in 2024. GICA President Paul Dittman said he would attend this year’s meetings to reiterate concerns about the lock.
The Port of Morgan City is located on Louisiana’s south-central Gulf Coast at the intersection of the Atchafalaya River and Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Cindy Cutrera, the port’s economic development manager, said its presentation would update commissioners on industries that depend on the federally authorized Atchafalaya River and Bayous Chene, Boeuf and Black channel.
Cutrera said the Corps “is keeping our 20-foot-deep by 400-foot-wide channel maintained at its authorized dimensions, so we are just thanking them and impressing the importance of continuing to maintain the channel.”
Pilottown Anchorage Dredging
In 2025, the commission expressed strong support for dredging Pilottown Anchorage, just above Head of Passes, La., where the Mississippi River meets the Gulf of Mexico. The anchorage is critical for navigation and safety.
Although dredging authority needed clarification, the commission urged the Corps “to explore options under current authorities and continue to look for ways to get to yes.”
The Corps spokesman said staff completed a “thorough review” and determined that congressional authority is required. That authority could come soon, as both the House and Senate versions of WRDA 2026 authorize work at Pilottown. Congress, however, has not agreed on a final bill.
The MRC’s 2026 recommendations will be available in October. The commission does not post submitted comments online, but they are available for walk-in review at its Vicksburg offices.
