Low water causes annual summer woes for Dorena Hickman ferry

During this time of year, low water on the Mississippi River has become an annual problem concerning the daily operation of the Dorena-Hickman ferry.

The ferry was forced to close early on Tuesday afternoon by low water at the ramp. The ferry announced Wednesday morning that they will operate on a normal schedule.

For the ferry to operate, the Mississippi River needs a minimum 6.5 feet at the Hickman gauge to reach the lower level of the ramp. As of 4 a.m. Monday the river was at 6.75 feet, but by 9 a.m. had fallen to 6.39 feet, and exactly 6 feet at 4 p.m.

As of 5 p.m. on Tuesday, the Mississippi was at 5.73 feet at Hickman. At 7 a.m. on Wednesday it had recovered to 7.1 feet.

Another factor in the past week has been an ongoing dredging operation to clear silt and sediment around the docks in the harbor. 

Last year was even more problematic for Mississippi River barges and ferry traffic. The river was already very low by the end of June, and the ferry had to close til further notice on August 23. The river fell several more feet through the fall, and the ferry remained closed until the new year.

In 2022, the Mississippi saw some record low levels and the ferry was frequently closed for much of August and September.

Even though the region's rivers are again at low levels, no soil in our immediate area is classified to be experiencing drought conditions, according to this week's USDA Drought Monitor .



Pictured: The Mississippi River at Hickman during a previous period of low water.  (Photo Army Corps of Engineers)