American Currents
ACBL’s Daily River Conditions
Friday, March 6th, 2026
As part of our annual financial and operational compliance cycle, American Commercial Barge Lines 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.
- Upper Miss Re-Opening – ACBL has distributed our annual guidance for accepting release dates for the Upper Mississippi above St. Louis. Click here for our full guidance.
- Lock 19 is anticipated to open on March 14, 2026.
- 2026 Planned Illinois River Lockport Closure – Closure of the Lockport Lock, River Mile 291, starting March 31st, 2026, thru May 19th, 2026. Click here for our full guidance.
- Illinois River Lockport Re-Opening – ACBL has distributed our annual guidance for accepting release dates above Lockport Lock. Click here for our full guidance.
- 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 14% (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.
- McAlpine Lock Closure (OR 606) –
- Portland Canal Main Wall Repairs – Starting October 27, 2025, they will begin repairing the main wall of the Portland Canal. They will pass traffic N/B 0700-1000, No traffic will pass from 1000-1500, N/B only from 1500-1900, then all traffic will pass from 1900-0700. They expect this to last until April 2026.
- Markland Lock Closure (OR 531.5) – Beginning March 9th thru April 17th, the primary chamber will be closed for repairs to the miter gate. All traffic will utilize the auxiliary chamber.
- Barkley Lock Closure (CR 30.6) – March 2nd thru March 12th, possible 4-hour closures between lockage’s, to facilitate repairs to the downstream miter gates.
- March 6th 03:00: Passed 2 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 2.1 hours of delay. LPMS shows 0 tows waiting, averaging 0 hours of delay.
- C.W. Bill Young Lock Closure (AR 14.5) – The Allegheny River lock will be closed for maintenance from March 16th thru April 10th. A full river closure will be in effect during this period.
- Old River Lock Closures (LM 303) – Beginning February 9th and continuing until further notice, the lock will be subject to intermittent delays during daylight hours (up to 10 hours daily) for repairs.
- March 6th 03:00: Passed 5 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 0.7 hours of delay. LPMS shows 1 tow waiting, averaging 19.0 hours of delay.
- Harvey Canal Closures (LM 98.3) – Daily closures will occur March 6th thru April 6th, seven days a week, from 0700–1100 and 1300–1800, to complete emergent water line repairs near the Lapalco Sector Gate.
- Gulf Region Fog – As of February 27th, due to dense fog in the area, several operators are experiencing disruptions. Delays are anticipated.
- Port Allen Channel Closures (PA 63.7) – Daily closures from 0700-1800, March 16th thru March 20th, for demolition of the old LA Hwy 1 Bridge.
- St. Claude Avenue Bridge (EC 1) – As of March 5th, the bridge is currently open to marine traffic due. More info to come.
- Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Lock (Industrial Canal Lock EC 1) – March 16th: Instillation of barges moored end-to-end to pilings in the area to protect the St. Claude Ave bridge piers. More info to come.
- Brazos Lock Closure (WC 401) – Closures are scheduled to begin in early April, Monday-Friday, between 1800 and 0600, to allow for repair work.
- March 6th 03:00: Passed 28 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 26.05 hours of delay. LPMS shows 5 tows waiting, averaging 102.4 hours of delay.
- Calcasieu Lock North Chamber Wall Replacement (WC 238) – Beginning in May 2026 there will be two 35-day, Daytime lock closures at the Calcasieu Lock. Expected to last until October. Max width during the nighttime passings will be 54′.
Links to Current River Stages:
- Mississippi River:
- Ohio River:
