NWS reports falling Mississippi River stages upstream
On September 28, 2026, an NWS hydrologic summary reported falling stages at upstream Mississippi River locations including Canton, Quincy, Lock and Dam 21, and Hannibal. The Corps previously instituted a low-water advisory on September 7.
Why it mattersNearly 60 percent of U.S. soybean exports move via the Mississippi River and Gulf ports, where low water threatens barge transportation efficiency.
How we got here
- The river stage at St. Louis stood at 2.47 feet after earlier rainfall provided only temporary relief. Iasoybeans
- The river at St. Louis rose 0.7 feet over twenty-four hours to reach 15.9 feet. Gov
- River stages fell at several upstream Mississippi River locations including Canton, Quincy, Lock and Dam 21, and Hannibal. Gov
What's likely next
- October–December 2026: Shippers will monitor river levels during the peak soybean export season; Steenhoek warned that low water could make the navigation channel shallow and narrow and reduce barge-transport efficiency.
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