Drought Causing Significant Drop in Mississippi River Level

Since reaching its third- highest crest on record just over a month ago, you may have noticed that the Mississippi River has fallen sharply in the tri-state area due to drought conditions throughout the Upper Mississippi River basin. Area officials and marina operators said boaters still were able to go about their business Wednesday, but the low water level comes at a time when the year’s heaviest rains usually have fallen. Significant rainfall is not expected any time soon. The Mississippi River stood at 9.4 feet this morning at the Dubuque railroad bridge, having fallen from a crest of 24.3 feet on April 29.