Kimmswick, a historic town on the banks of the Mississippi River, has been eagerly awaiting the arrival of excursion river cruise boats at the newly constructed Kimmswick port. However, consistently low water levels have made it impossible for these boats to safely dock, leaving town officials disappointed.
Mayor Phil Stang expressed hope for more water in the river to allow boats to safely dock, without the need for levees to be built up again. Efforts to attract river cruise boats to the town have been ongoing, but low water levels have made it difficult for boats to land.
This year, low water levels on the Mississippi River have caused problems in various areas, including ships running aground at Vicksburg and saltwater intrusion from the Gulf of Mexico affecting drinking water supplies in southern Louisiana. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in St. Louis has worked to maintain a 9-foot channel on the river for transporting goods, with no stoppages or restrictions in their area of operations.
Despite the absence of boats at the Kimmswick port, the town has continued to attract visitors, who have made their way to the town’s network of shops and restaurants. The mayor emphasized that the impact on the city of Kimmswick is not solely reliant on the presence of boats, as the town has garnered attention as a historic river city.
In 2022, the town had scheduled 13 one-day riverboat stops, but most were unable to take place due to low water levels. Additionally, the Delta Queen Steamboat Company, which had announced Kimmswick as its port of call and headquarters in 2015, has faced setbacks and delays, including damage from Hurricane Ida in 2021.
Despite these challenges, the company is working to secure a future for the Delta Queen as an overnight cruise vessel, with plans to include Kimmswick as a stop. The ongoing issues with low water levels have made it difficult for the town to welcome the cruise ships it had hoped to attract to its newly constructed port on the Mississippi River.
In conclusion, while Kimmswick continues to face obstacles due to low water levels, the town remains optimistic about the future and the possibility of attracting river cruise boats once water levels improve.
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