American Currents
ACBL’s Daily River Conditions
Thursday, July 9, 2026
As part of our annual financial and operational compliance cycle, American Commercial Barge Line is partnering with EY to complete the 2025 audit confirmations. If your organization is selected for verification, EY may contact you directly to validate account activity or balances. This process helps ensure transparency, accuracy, and continued trust in our reporting. We appreciate your quick attention to any requests and thank you for supporting a smooth audit cycle.
- Lower Miss Operational Impact –
- Due to the current river stage and operating conditions, ACBL has implemented draft restrictions listed below.
- Loading drafts are not currently reduced NBD Gulf to Cairo.
- Tow size has been reduced pending horsepower classification by 13% (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.
- Due to the current river stage and operating conditions, ACBL has implemented draft restrictions listed below.
- Channel Restriction (UM 693) – Channel restriction due to low water/shoaling at the mouth of the Root River. Dredging is expected to continue throughout the night and be reevaluated July 10.
- Lock 25 Closure (UM 241.40) – Lock closure scheduled July 9th from 0700-1900 for repairs.
- Brandon Road Lock Closure (IR 286.00) – Weekday (Monday-Friday) lock closures starting September 21st, 2026 through April 28th, 2028 from 0600 – 1800 for rock excavation in channel and wall construction at the lock approach area. Delays are expected.
- Lockport Lock Restrictions (IR 291.10) – As of 0700 7/09, the flow at Lockport Lock is 8000 CFS. Lockport restrictions are in place until the flow drops below 7000 CFS. USACE is unable to pull cuts northbound or southbound until the flow falls below that threshold.
- Emsworth Lock Closures (OR 6.2) – Beginning April 27th thru Sept. 4th, the auxiliary chamber will be closed daily from 0600 to 2359, and the primary chamber will have intermittent closures for filling valve maintenance. Primary chamber tow restriction: max tow width of 78 feet.
- July 9th 03:00: Passed 3 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 6.9hours of delay. LPMS shows 5 tow(s) waiting, averaging 26.6 hours of delay.
- Channel Closure (OR 491) – There will be intermittent closures July 13th thru July 19th for highline wire work from 0700 – 1700 daily.
- Barkley Lock (CR 30.6) – Lock closure July 22nd thru September 30th to make repairs to the miter gates. Traffic may pass by taking the alternate route via Kentucky Lock and the Barkley Canal.
- July 9th 03:00: Passed 6 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 0.8 hours of delay. LPMS shows 0 tow(s) waiting, averaging 0.0 hours of delay.
- Glover Wilkins Lock Closure (TTW 376.3) – Scheduled 30-day closure to perform critical maintenance activities will occur from September 9th thru October 10th.
- Thad Cochran Lock Closure (TTW 371.1) – Scheduled 30-day closure to perform critical maintenance activities will occur from September 10th thru October 10th.
- Bayou Sorrel Lock (PA 36.7) – Lock Master reports the underwater surveys of the lock chamber have completed as of 1945 July 8th. The lock has resumed normal operations.
- July 9th 03:00: Passed 14 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 19.2 hours of delay. LPMS shows 4 tows waiting, averaging 28.0 hours of delay.
- Union Pacific Morley Railroad Bridge (PA 56) – Full channel closure from July 26th 20:00 through July 27th 20:00 to complete bridge repairs.
- Calcasieu Lock North Chamber Wall Replacement (WC 238) – Scheduled closure from May 20th through approx. September 18th. Calcasieu Lock will have daytime closures Monday through Friday from 0700-1900 for major repairs to the north chamber wall. The maritime industry anticipates these closures will result in significant delays of 3-5 days. ACBL will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates and additional information as it becomes available.
- July 9th 03:00: Passed 21 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 21.3 hours of delay. LPMS shows 32 tows waiting, averaging 30.3 hours of delay.
- Brazos Lock Closure (WC 401) – As of July 6th, lock closures have shifted back to daytime. Restrictions will take place Monday-Friday, between 0700 and 1900 through August 28th to allow for repair work.
- July 9th 03:00: Passed 32 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 10.5 hours of delay. LPMS shows 6 tow(s) waiting, averaging 28.75 hours of delay.
Links to Current River Stages:
- Mississippi River:
- Ohio River:
