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Severe drought affects operations on mighty Mississippi
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Description
Mike Tobin reports from Memphis
- Duration 2:01
- Date Aug 16, 2012
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Transcript
This transcript is automatically generated
I think hearing about this all summer this severe drought in many parts of the country.
Also having an impact on the mighty Mississippi River as well.
Water levels are getting close to record lows there.
-- -- -- live in Memphis on this this might like it's hard to believe that a year ago you were down there.
Because the Mississippi was at near record flood stages.
Whole different story now.
It's.
It's amazing a year ago at this time the water would have been fifty feet over my head -- I was standing at this exact play -- that.
But that not the river has -- that is like forcing trucks onto a -- stretch of highway transportation become slower more costly and more treacherous.
Ultimately it cost you money.
5060 billion dollars of cargo moves -- the Mississippi every year.
-- water 40% of the continental US so when mid America is dry the big river isn't so big.
Giant barges are at risk of running it.
-- the Coast Guard is working the ministry.
To ensure that that the impact is minimal.
We have as much -- advisors in place.
And here's where the river level ultimately gets to your pocketbook in normal time -- -- ball can push one -- up cargo 616.
Miles.
For one gallon of diesel fuel but now what the river low they can push fewer barges simply what it costs more to get things down -- river.
That river isn't artery for everything from corn to fuel -- is so much more expensive.
This will be passed on.
How hard the other -- -- -- respect and food prices go -- 57%.
This will be part of that increase.
And today the water is just about two feet above the record lows of 1988.
The good news is that the Army Corps of Engineers.
Has been hard at work dredging and setting up infrastructure intended to focus the watered the main channels the only shut downs have been for night -- navigation and when a barge runs aground Martha wow interesting story beautiful part of the country Mike thank you sell lots.
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