This lock helped build Minneapolis. Now it's closing.

The Upper St. Anthony Falls lock, which began passing ships up and down the Mississippi River in 1963, will close in June. The closing is part of an effort to keep invasive carp from spreading into Minnesota's northern waters, including lakes Itasca, Bemidji and Mille Lacs.

Read the story at Minnesota Public Radio.

Construction shipper seeks loading access at U

A major shipper in the Twin Cities area has approached the University of Minnesota about using its riverside dock in Minneapolis for loading of sand and gravel, setting off alarms among river and neighborhood advocates. Eagan-based Aggregate Industries’ proposal highlights how seriously the company is taking the loss of its ability to ship through St. Anthony Falls next June.

Read more in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

River infrastructure, a story too big to ignore

UMWA members and others who understand the vital economic role of river infrastructure have long hoped that it will not take a lengthy shutdown on the Mississippi to finally bring focused national attention to its acute needs. And there is evidence that the condition of the system’s locks and dams has become a story too big to ignore.

Read more in Waterways, a publication of the Upper Mississippi Waterway Association.