American Currents

ACBL’s Daily River Conditions

Upper Miss Winter Closures:
- Lock 19 (UM 364.3) will be the only lock to close from Dubuque through St. Louis. Closure will occur from December 15, 2025, to March 14, 2026, marking the first of three consecutive winter closures.
- Lock 25 (UM 241.4) may experience tentative, short-duration closures (no more than 12 hours) for NESP preparatory work. Additional details will be provided as available.
- ACBL will send out our official annual guidance letter regarding this matter the week of August 25th.

2026 Planned Illinois River Lockport Closure – Closure of the Lockport Lock, River Mile 291, starting March 31st, 2026, thru May 19th, 2026.

Lower Miss Operational Impact –
- Due to the current river stage and operating conditions, ACBL has implemented draft restrictions listed below.
  - Loading drafts were reduced to 0.05% NBD Gulf to Cairo.
  - Tow size has been reduced pending horsepower classification by 9%-14% (4-5 barges)
- Normal Water Stages:
  - Caruthersville to Memphis (LM 869- 725): 20′ – 5′
  - Memphis to Vicksburg (LM 725 – 439): 40′ – 20′
  - Vicksburg to Natchez (LM 439- 303): 30′ – 10′
- Low Water Stages:
  - Caruthersville to Memphis (LM 869- 725): Below 5′
  - Memphis to Vicksburg (LM 725 – 439): Below 20′
  - Vicksburg to Natchez (LM 439- 303): Below 10′
- For current river stage information, please refer to the links at the bottom of this page.

Tentative Major Lock Maintenance Schedule 2025:
- Meldahl (OR 436.2): Downstream Miter Gate and Culvert Valve repairs | Auxiliary Chamber Closure – estimated for September/November
- Markland (OR 531.5): Down Stream Gate Rehab | Auxiliary Chamber – estimated for October/November
- Marmet (KR 67.7): Inspection, dewatering, and misc. repairs | Main Chamber Closure – Dates are TBD.

Lock 16 (UM 457.2) – Closed due to miter gate issues as of August 22nd. More info to come.
- August 22nd 03:00: Passed 0 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 0 hours of delay. LPMS shows 1 tow waiting, averaging 21.0 hours of delay.

Pekin Railroad Bridge Closure (IR 151) – River is closed as of August 22nd due to rail truck falling off bridge and into river. More info to come.

McAlpine Lock Closure (OR 606) – Beginning April 29^th thru September 20th there will be intermittent daytime closures for southbound traffic from 0700 to 1900, Monday through Saturday, to facilitate work on the Portland Canal wall. Northbound traffic will be permitted to transit, provided there are no divers in the water.
- August 22nd 03:00: Passed 8 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 0.1 hours of delay. LPMS shows 0 tows waiting, averaging 0 hours of delay.

Meldahl Lock (OR 436.2) –
- Main chamber closure beginning the afternoon of June 13th thru September 12th for maintenance to gates and lifting mechanisms. All locking operations will utilize the Small Chamber.
- August 22nd 03:00: Passed 4 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 5.6 hours of delay. LPMS shows 2 tows waiting, averaging 15.0 hours of delay.

Nickajack Lock Closures (TR 424.7) – Scheduled daily intermittent closures, August 11th thru September 11th, from 0600-1600 for repairs to a filling valve. August 22nd 03:00: Passed 1 tow in the last 24 hours, which averaged 0.2 hours of delay. LPMS shows 0 tows waiting, averaging 0 hours of delay.

Pickwick Lock Closure (TR 206.7) – Scheduled Main Chamber closure beginning July 7th thru October 7, 2025, for work on the upper gate. The auxiliary chamber will remain open to navigation during this time. August 22nd 03:00: 1 tow passed in the last 24 hours, averaging 0 hours of delay. LPMS shows 0 tows waiting, which has an average of 0 hours of delay.

Kentucky Lock (TR 22.3) – Scheduled full lock closure, September 22nd thru November 21st, for wall armor and concrete repairs.
- Opening October 16th at 1800 thru October 20th at 0400 to allow traffic to pass.
- August 22nd 03:00: Passed 5 tows passed in the last 24 hours, averaging 30.2 hours of delay. LPMS shows 3 tows waiting, which has an average of 26.3 hours of delay.

Jamie L Whitten Lock Closure (TT 411.9) – Routine maintenance closures beginning September 3rd at 0600 until October 3rd at 0600.

Dardanelle Lock 10 (AK 205.5) – Scheduled daily closures with 70′ width restrictions from 0700-1900 beginning June 15th thru September 30th for construction.

James W. Trimble Lock (AK 292.8) – Scheduled daily closures with 70′ width restrictions from 0700-1900 beginning June 15th thru September 30th for construction.

Bayou Sorrel Lock Closures (PA 36.7) – Intermittent closures for scheduled repairs are beginning July 21st thru September 11th, Monday thru Thursday, 0630-1800.
- August 22nd 03:00: 11 tows passed in the last 24 hours, averaging 34.1 hours of delay. LPMS shows 25 tows waiting, which has an average of 25 hours of delay.

Victoria Bend Revetment (LM 594) – Daily intermittent southbound traffic closures beginning August 11th thru August 25th, 0700-1900, to perform bank stabilization. Northbound traffic is restricted to 4 wide.

Baton Rouge Dredging (LM 226-223) – Dredge Hurley will begin operations within the Upper Baton Rouge Bridge area on July 20th. Daylight restrictions to begin the evening of July 17^th for any tows over 105′ wide.

Algiers Lock (LM 88) –
- Intermittent closures from 0700 to 1800, Monday thru Saturday, July 21st thru September 6th to complete the river end guidewall and dolphin construction.
- August 22nd 03:00: Passed 11 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 17.6 hours of delay. LPMS shows 14 tows waiting, which has an average of 17.9 hours of delay.

Morgan City Dredging (AT 117) – Dredge Robert White began working in the Morgan City Area on August 18th.

Algiers Canal Closures (AC 3.8) –
- Old Hwy 23 Lift Bridge/Belle Chasse Bridge will undergo daily channel closures from Monday to Saturday, between May 19th and October 25th, from 0600 to 1430, due to the second phase of the remaining bridge structure demolition.

Judge Seeber Bridge/Clairborne Ave Bridge Closures (EC007) – Only open for marine traffic from 2200-0500 daily beginning August 22nd. Repairs scheduled for August 29th and 30th, closures will occur, more info to come.

Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Lock (Industrial Canal Lock) – (EC001) –
- August 22nd 03:00: Passed 14 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 10.0 hours of delay. LPMS shows 4 tows waiting, averaging 9.0 hours of delay.

Colorado River Locks (WC 440) – The East and West locks will have daytime restrictions Monday through Friday, January 29th thru August 29th. August 22nd 03:00: Passed 19 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 3.8 hours of delay. LPMS shows 0 tows waiting, which has an average of 0 hours of delay.

Bayou Boeuf Lock (WC 93.3) – Repairs are scheduled beginning July 14th, Monday thru Friday, 0700–1730, are expected to last thru September 2025. Bayou Chene is available as an alternate route.
- August 22nd 03:00: Passed 15 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 2.0 hours of delay. LPMS shows 0 tows waiting, averaging 0 hours of delay.

Links to Current River Stages: