ST. PAUL, Minn. – The navigation season has officially come to an end on the Upper Mississippi River.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the MV Charlie G was the last commercial tow to pass through Lock and Dam 2 near Hastings on Nov. 24, making it the last tow to leave St. Paul.
The Corps on Monday closed Lock and Dam 7 near La Crosse, Wis., to begin winter renovation and maintenance work. That effectively shuts down the river, because tows can no longer go further north. And the Corps says ice is forming on the river, so navigation would end soon anyway.
The Corps will drain Lock and Dam 7 of water to perform renovations, including sandblasting and painting the gates. Lock and Dam 7 is scheduled to reopen March 12.
