Drought conditions and resulting low water levels of the Mississippi River aren’t affecting the Tombigbee River, officials said Thursday.
In Natchez, the Mississippi River currently is about 49 feet below last year’s record high level and in Vicksburg, the river Tuesday measured at 4.79 feet above sea level. The flood stage is 43 feet, said officials with the National Weather Service.
But the Tombigbee River remains unaffected, said Agnes Zaiontz of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority.
“Our water is contingent on coming off the Tennessee River,” she explained. “We’re usually higher when the (Mississippi River) water is low.”
“We’re able to maintain our pools,” agreed Allan Brewer, chief of navigation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “We’re (at) normal pool (levels) on everything.”
Zaiontz added additional barge traffic on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway isn’t expected, because of the low levels of the Mississippi River.
“Most touring companies are able to tie it up and wait it out,” she said. “They don’t see this as long term.”
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