Barge Sinks At Columbus Lock And Dam

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – One of the two barges that hit the John C. Stennis Lock and Dam this past weekend sunk about 6 AM on Monday.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tells WCBI the sunken barge is restricting flow through the gates. The head water on the waterway is now about a foot and a half higher than normal, at 165 feet. All of the gates are open at the dam.

Water levels are increasing, at the moment, and the river is expected to crest Tuesday morning.

The barges will be moved as soon as possible.

The sunken barge was carrying soybeans.

The other barge at the lock and dam, which is empty, is stable at the moment.

Waterway Operations Manager Rick Saucer says a third barge that broke loose is near the boat ramp in the old river run. Saucer is hopeful that the barge will remain there.

Tom Sawyer Grain operates the barges that came loose this past Saturday at Raymond Lucas Port in Clay County.

Saucer says there should be very little environmental impact.

Clay County EMA Director Kerrie Gentry-Blissard says the barges do not have anything to do with flooding in the Waverly Ferry and Humphries Cove areas.

The Corps of Engineers says three barges came loose at Aliceville Lake on Saturday. However, a boat was able to bring the loose barges under control.