The locks themselves get much of the blame for the delays. Now the most efficient tows are 1,200 feet long. To get through one of the old locks, a modern tow has to break apart, pass through in two stages and re-form on the other side. In slow periods on the river, this barge ballet is no big deal. But during peak shipping season, when millions of tons of corn and soybeans are headed for New Orleans, it causes serious delays.
Time is money.
Wasted time drives up the cost of U.S. grain and jeopardizes future grain sales. Already dug in are environmentalist groups such as the Environmental Defense Fund, which opposes any plan that would put more barges on the river. Barges and towboat propellers kill fish, churn up sediment and cause bank erosion. That's why several environmental groups are taking on the corps. With their wealth, public clout and experience in the ways of Washington wars, environmental groups may be its toughest adversary yet.