NEWS RELEASE
Feb. 6, 2012
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District
MVR-PA-12-02-12
Dan McBride, (309) 794-5455, [email protected]
Hilary Markin, (309) 794-5730, [email protected] \
Ensure a Safe Boating Experience
New Upper Mississippi River Navigation Charts Now Available
Rock Island, Ill. –(Feb. 2, 2012) Boaters should not leave home without a copy of the new 2011 Upper Mississippi River Navigation Charts which are now available for purchase.
These bound sets of river charts indicate important river features such as navigable sloughs, open channel areas, hazardous areas such as wing dams, historical features, small boat harbors, wildlife sanctuaries, bridge clearances, locks and dams, and other useful information to ensure a safe and enjoyable boating experience.
The navigation charts depict the Mississippi River from Minneapolis, Minn., to the mouth of the Ohio River at Cairo, Ill. They also show portions of the St. Croix and Minnesota Rivers. These charts are updated from the 2001 charts and were created using the most recent aerial photography and survey data developed by and available to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The navigation charts are sold through a cooperation agreement between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau and cost $30 (including tax), plus shipping. To avoid shipping, charts may be purchased in person at the Mississippi River Visitor Center on Arsenal Island in Rock Island, Ill. Charts may also be purchased over the phone by calling the Mississippi River Visitor Center at (309) 794-5338. Telephone orders must be paid by credit card (VISA, Master Card, or American Express).
The 2011 navigation charts can also be downloaded from the Web for free at http://http://www3.mvr.usace.army.mil/omni/webrpts/menu.html
The downloadable charts are print-quality Adobe Acrobat files, and include digitally encoded geographic coordinates. Devices that use this information allow a user to measure distance or area on the map, as well as show a current position if GPS positioning is available.
