355:
24:
89:
939:
630:
1054:. In addition, several major rehabilitations are underway. Altogether, this ongoing work represents an investment of over $ 3.5 billion in inland waterway modernization that will be completed over the next decade. Half this investment will come from fuel taxes paid by the inland towing industry. These projects include not only modern navigation facilities, but also important investments in environmental restoration and management.
1002:. The locks can generally be categorized by three different sizes, as expressed by length. About 15 percent of the lock chambers are 1,000 to 1,200 ft (300 to 370 m) long, 60 percent are 600 to 999 ft (183 to 304 m) long, and 25 percent are less than 600 feet (180 m) long. Lock widths are mostly 110 feet (34 m). The 1,200-foot (370 m) locks can accommodate a tow of 17
81:
1018:
in need of modernization or major rehabilitation. Since many of today's tows operate with 12 or more barges, passing through a 600-foot (180 m) lock requires the tow to be "cut" into two sections to pass the lock. Such multiple cuts can be time-consuming and cause long queues of tows waiting for their turn to move through the lock.
1017:
operated by the Army Corps of
Engineers are over 50 years old. Many of the 600-foot (180 m) locks on the system were built in the 1930s or earlier, including those on the Ohio, Upper Mississippi, Illinois and Tennessee rivers. These projects are approaching the end of their design lives and are
1085:
spending for the inland waterway system has averaged about $ 170 million in recent years, the income stream from fuel tax revenues can support an annual capital investment program of about $ 250 million without reducing the surplus in the Inland
Waterways Trust Fund, whose balance was $ 385 million
753:
at relatively low cost. The inland and intracoastal waterway system handles about 630 million tons of cargo annually, or about 17 percent of all intercity freight by volume. These are raw materials or primary manufactured products that are typically stored for further processing or consumption, or
322:. This determination is made by a combination of waters explicitly listed in the law, and general definitions that mean certain waters might or might not be included depending on various factual determinations (such as being "navigable in fact" and the history of use) by the
989:
sites with 237 lock chambers. Some locks have more than one chamber, often of different dimensions. These locks provide the essential infrastructure that allows tows to "stair-step" their way through the system and reach distant inland ports such as
981:
waterways. Commercial operators on these designated waterways pay a fuel tax, deposited in the Inland
Waterways Trust Fund, which funds half the cost of new construction and major rehabilitation of the inland waterways infrastructure.
925:, this cargo moves at an average transportation savings of $ 10.67 per ton over the cost of shipping by alternative modes. This translates into over $ 7 billion annually in transportation savings to the economy of the United States.
702:, such as the Ohio, Upper Mississippi, Illinois and Tennessee rivers. Such tows are an extremely efficient mode of transportation, moving about 22,500 tons of cargo as a single unit. A single 15-barge tow is equivalent to about 225
1010:, while the 600-foot (180 m) locks can accommodate at most eight barges plus the towboat. The lock size and tow size are critical factors in the amount of cargo that can pass through a lock in a given period of time.
1025:
and added 1,200-foot (370 m) chambers that permit a typical tow to pass in a single lockage. This modernization process continues today with the construction of a new dam with twin 1,200-foot (370 m) locks at
290:
are examples of other West Coast rivers that are dredged for navigation. The steep grades and variable flows of most other West Coast rivers make them unsuitable for large boat travel. Also, most large rivers there are
877:. The shippers and consumers in these states depend on the inland waterways to move about 630 million tons of cargo valued at over $ 73 billion annually. States on the Gulf Coast and throughout the
710:
trucks. If the cargo transported on the inland waterways each year had to be moved by another mode, it would take an additional 6.3 million rail cars or 25.2 million trucks to carry the load.
733:
emissions from water transportation were 10 million metric tons less in 1997 than if rail transportation had been used. Inland waterways allow tremendous savings in fuel consumption, reduced
1159:
266:(and arguably the entire North American Pacific coast) that is navigable for a significant length. The river is regularly dredged, and freight barges may reach as far inland as
136:
in the United States are in the eastern half of the country, where the terrain is flatter and the climate is wetter. The
Mississippi River System is connected to the
647:
985:
The nearly 12,000 miles (19,000 km) of U.S. inland and intracoastal waterways maintained by the Army Corps of
Engineers includes 191 commercially active
374:
states have some waters of indeterminate status. Flowing waters are navigable from the mouth to source, or mouth to specified point, unless otherwise noted.
1332:
1166:
921:
each ship between $ 2 billion and $ 10 billion annually. Another eight states ship at least $ 1 billion annually. According to research by the
528:
510:
354:
1030:, located at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and a second 1,200-foot (370 m) chamber at McAlpine Locks and Dam near
552:
717:
and environmentally advantageous. On average, a gallon of fuel allows one ton of cargo to be shipped 180–240 mi (290–390 km) by
682:
A principal value of the inland waterways is their ability to efficiently convey large volumes of bulk commodities moving long distances.
340:
331:
312:
1337:
1203:
1190:
318:
define the "navigable waters of the United States" and apply certain laws and regulations to those waters, including the principle of
1057:
Several key navigation improvement feasibility studies are underway throughout the inland waterway system, including on the Upper
1352:
977:. Most of the commercially important inland waterways are maintained by the USACE, including 11,000 mi (18,000 km) of
690:
lashed together to form a "tow". A tow may consist of four or six barges on smaller waterways and up to over 40 barges on the
323:
177:
741:, reduced traffic congestion, fewer accidents on railways and highways, and less noise and disruption in cities and towns.
326:. Not all waters have had these facts determined, and so are of uncertain status. All water subject to tides are included.
865:
Inland and intracoastal waterways directly serve 38 states throughout the nation's heartland as well as the states on the
351:. However, all Navigable Waters, plus those considered navigable-in-fact are included in the general "Waters" definition.
1313:
1298:
1274:
1259:
1244:
1229:
1214:
307:
669:
67:
45:
38:
299:
production and other uses. Mountainous terrain and a shortage of water make canals in the West infeasible as well.
1338:
Navigable Waters of the United States in New
England / Subject to Section 10, Rivers and Harbors Act Jurisdiction
866:
441:
263:
714:
651:
1113:
539:
Though navigable-in-fact, parts or all of the following have been excluded from the definition by
Congress:
1125:
970:
547:
1101:
270:, through a system of locks; however, there are strict draft restrictions beyond the confluence with the
1119:
922:
582:
204:
973:(USACE) is responsible for 12,000 mi (19,000 km) of the waterways. This figure includes the
765:
industry depends on the inland waterways for more than 20 percent of the coal they consume to produce
1204:
http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Portals/74/docs/regulatory/JurisdictionalLimits/US_Navigable_Waters.pdf
734:
591:
586:
543:
414:
113:
32:
814:
for export overseas. Sixty percent of the country's farm exports travel through inland waterways.
699:
640:
613:
595:
556:
149:
818:
405:
49:
1034:. Modern 1,200-foot (370 m) chambers are also being constructed at Kentucky Lock on the
974:
533:
495:
477:
232:
224:
184:
145:
1107:
1031:
141:
358:
Map of the all-water route from the
Mississippi to New York and the eastern Atlantic, 1885
8:
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1070:
561:
519:
490:
463:
454:
445:
429:
319:
244:
236:
952:
Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.
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of the United States. Many other eastern rivers are navigable as well, including the
137:
117:
749:
Barges are well suited for the movement of large quantities of bulk commodities and
1138:
762:
515:
499:
481:
468:
450:
348:
296:
275:
271:
1021:
In the 1960s the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers began to modernize the locks on the
1317:
1302:
1263:
1074:
1035:
761:
is the largest commodity by volume moving on the inland waterways. The country's
707:
604:
472:
401:
387:
343:
334:
267:
208:
1278:
1248:
1233:
1218:
822:
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and other farm products, most of which moves by waterway to ports on the Lower
792:
730:
578:
504:
486:
459:
419:
382:
378:
259:
153:
315:
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902:
738:
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200:
165:
161:
109:
1043:
898:
750:
703:
396:
287:
169:
101:
88:
1077:. Over the next few years, these studies will identify the navigation and
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991:
910:
882:
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766:
524:
435:
371:
283:
216:
212:
1095:
1066:
1022:
999:
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838:
713:
The ability to move more cargo per shipment makes barge transport both
695:
654: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
252:
248:
188:
207:(GIWW) and Mississippi River System connect Gulf Coast ports, such as
890:
776:
772:
629:
338:
are different than those listed as "Waters of the United States" in
160:
traffic, thereby making this segment vital to both the domestic and
1081:
actions needed to support the inland waterway system. While annual
1051:
978:
906:
894:
834:
788:
780:
105:
1038:
and at the Inner Harbor Lock on the Gulf
Intracoastal Waterway at
92:
The inland and intracoastal waterways of the eastern United States
80:
1007:
995:
914:
878:
849:
796:
726:
683:
367:
240:
220:
196:
893:
each ship more than $ 10 billion worth of cargo annually, while
329:
Note that the "Navigable Waters of the United States" listed in
302:
830:
573:
725:(2.6–3.4 km/L) 30 ton load, 450 mi (720 km) by
1003:
886:
853:
842:
803:
718:
687:
192:
157:
133:
129:
885:
especially depend on the inland and intracoastal waterways.
507:, including the East Branch, Black Branch, and Yellow Branch
826:
758:
1014:
845:
292:
1141:("Waters of the United States rule"), a judicial rule
698:. A 15-barge tow is common on the larger rivers with
100:
include more than 25,000 mi (40,000 km) of
1098:, a water tour of the eastern US and parts of Canada
370:
waters have been surveyed thoroughly, but the other
1110:, where a barge crashed into an interstate bridge
390:to the confluence of the East and West Branch at
1344:
928:
295:, often in multiple places, to supply water for
1116:, where a barge crashed into a railway bridge
303:Navigable waters included in legal definition
104:waters. Much of the commercially important
729:, and 514 mi (827 km) by barge.
156:allows ocean shipping to connect with the
670:Learn how and when to remove this message
68:Learn how and when to remove this message
856:; and many other manufacturers products.
353:
87:
79:
31:This article includes a list of general
498:from Passumpsic River to the border of
362:
1345:
1189:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
1069:, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, the
1013:More than 50 percent of the locks and
775:is the next largest group, including
227:, with major inland ports, including
195:, past the Mississippi River, around
176:rivers, which are all dredged by the
98:inland waterways of the United States
932:
652:adding citations to reliable sources
623:
17:
754:transshipped for overseas markets.
13:
308:Title 33 of the United States Code
199:, and up the Atlantic Seaboard to
37:it lacks sufficient corresponding
14:
1364:
1104:, a federal government initiative
1042:. Other projects are underway in
860:
937:
817:Other major commodities include
628:
22:
1307:
639:needs additional citations for
1353:Waterways in the United States
1292:
1283:
1268:
1253:
1238:
1223:
1208:
1197:
1152:
744:
694:below its confluence with the
1:
1114:Big Bayou Canot rail accident
929:Maintenance and modernization
802:Another large group includes
619:
1333:U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
1126:The Waterways Journal Weekly
971:U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
548:Hartford County, Connecticut
7:
1089:
10:
1369:
1326:
1120:Inland Waterway (Michigan)
923:Tennessee Valley Authority
205:Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
120:and connecting waterways.
84:Inland Waterway Connection
946:This section needs to be
262:is the only river on the
140:, which continues to the
123:
1145:
1102:America's Marine Highway
735:greenhouse gas emissions
587:Fairhaven, Massachusetts
415:Pittsburg, New Hampshire
152:from Baton Rouge to the
114:Mississippi River System
614:Penobscot County, Maine
596:West Haven, Connecticut
557:Bridgeport, Connecticut
518:and its East Branch to
324:Army Corps of Engineers
178:Army Corps of Engineers
150:Lower Mississippi River
52:more precise citations.
852:and products, such as
833:used in construction;
406:Concord, New Hampshire
359:
93:
85:
1135:, a mode of transport
1129:, a trade publication
1079:natural environmental
975:Intracoastal Waterway
357:
185:Intracoastal Waterway
146:Saint Lawrence Seaway
91:
83:
1108:I-40 bridge disaster
1086:at the end of 1999.
721:(e.g. @ 6–8 mpg
648:improve this article
363:New England district
142:Great Lakes Waterway
1071:Black Warrior River
562:Boston Inner Harbor
520:East Haven, Vermont
491:Marshfield, Vermont
464:Greensboro, Vermont
455:Manchester, Vermont
446:Craftsbury, Vermont
430:Ompompanoosuc River
320:navigable servitude
1133:Container on barge
566:Fort Point Channel
360:
94:
86:
1063:Illinois Waterway
1059:Mississippi River
1028:Olmsted, Illinois
967:
966:
875:Pacific Northwest
867:Atlantic seaboard
808:Mississippi River
692:Mississippi River
680:
679:
672:
610:Kenduskeag Stream
581:in the harbor of
425:Lake Memphremagog
411:Connecticut River
138:Illinois Waterway
118:Mississippi River
78:
77:
70:
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1188:
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1177:
1171:
1165:. Archived from
1164:
1156:
1139:Clean Water Rule
962:
959:
953:
941:
940:
933:
919:Washington state
763:electric utility
675:
668:
664:
661:
655:
632:
624:
516:Passumpsic River
500:Victory, Vermont
482:Proctor, Vermont
480:to Mile 63.8 in
471:to Mile 88.5 in
469:Missisquoi River
451:Battenkill River
349:Clean Water Rule
346:
337:
317:
297:hydroelectricity
272:Willamette River
144:and then to the
73:
66:
62:
59:
53:
48:this article by
39:inline citations
26:
25:
18:
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1160:"Archived copy"
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1157:
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1148:
1092:
1075:Tennessee River
1036:Tennessee River
963:
957:
954:
951:
942:
938:
931:
863:
793:heavy fuel oils
747:
724:
708:tractor-trailer
676:
665:
659:
656:
645:
633:
622:
605:Portland, Maine
473:Lowell, Vermont
402:Merrimack River
388:Penobscot River
365:
347:, which is the
339:
330:
311:
305:
268:Lewiston, Idaho
187:runs along the
128:Most navigable
126:
112:consist of the
74:
63:
57:
54:
44:Please help to
43:
27:
23:
12:
11:
5:
1366:
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1314:33 U.S.C.
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1299:33 U.S.C.
1291:
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1275:33 U.S.C.
1267:
1260:33 U.S.C.
1252:
1245:33 U.S.C.
1237:
1230:33 U.S.C.
1222:
1215:33 U.S.C.
1207:
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964:
945:
943:
936:
930:
927:
862:
861:Economic value
859:
858:
857:
815:
812:Columbia River
800:
770:
746:
743:
731:Carbon dioxide
722:
715:fuel efficient
678:
677:
636:
634:
627:
621:
618:
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616:
607:
598:
589:
579:Acushnet River
576:
559:
550:
537:
536:
531:
522:
513:
508:
505:Nulhegan River
502:
493:
487:Winooski River
484:
475:
466:
462:to Mile 79 in
460:Lamoille River
457:
453:to Mile 50 in
448:
444:to Mile 25 in
439:
433:
427:
422:
420:Lake Champlain
417:
408:
399:
394:
385:
383:Augusta, Maine
379:Kennebec River
364:
361:
304:
301:
260:Columbia River
225:Corpus Christi
154:Gulf of Mexico
125:
122:
76:
75:
30:
28:
21:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1365:
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1172:on 2017-05-30
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1048:West Virginia
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993:
988:
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920:
916:
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904:
903:West Virginia
900:
896:
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888:
884:
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876:
872:
868:
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786:
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771:
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764:
760:
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756:
755:
752:
751:raw materials
742:
740:
739:air pollution
736:
732:
728:
720:
716:
711:
709:
705:
704:railroad cars
701:
697:
693:
689:
685:
674:
671:
663:
653:
649:
643:
642:
637:This section
635:
631:
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392:Medway, Maine
389:
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201:Massachusetts
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162:foreign trade
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110:United States
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20:
19:
16:
1309:
1294:
1285:
1270:
1255:
1240:
1225:
1210:
1199:
1174:. Retrieved
1167:the original
1154:
1124:
1056:
1044:Pennsylvania
1020:
1012:
984:
968:
955:
947:
899:Pennsylvania
864:
837:, including
748:
712:
681:
666:
660:October 2012
657:
646:Please help
641:verification
638:
538:
397:Lake Umbagog
366:
328:
306:
288:Umpqua River
282:rivers, the
257:
182:
127:
97:
95:
64:
55:
36:
15:
1040:New Orleans
992:Minneapolis
911:Mississippi
883:Ohio Valley
839:fertilizers
785:diesel fuel
767:electricity
745:Commodities
583:New Bedford
534:White River
529:Groton Pond
525:Wells River
511:Paul Stream
496:Moose River
478:Otter Creek
442:Black River
438:to Mile 0.9
436:Waits River
432:to Mile 3.8
372:New England
341:33 CFR
332:33 CFR
313:33 CFR
284:Snake River
280:San Joaquin
233:Kansas City
217:Baton Rouge
213:New Orleans
174:Atchafalaya
116:—the
50:introducing
1318:§ 59p
1303:§ 59a
1264:§ 59f
1176:2017-05-07
1096:Great Loop
1067:Ohio River
1032:Louisville
1023:Ohio River
1000:Pittsburgh
979:fuel taxed
871:Gulf Coast
821:, such as
819:aggregates
696:Ohio River
620:Efficiency
592:West River
553:Burr Creek
544:Park River
286:, and the
276:Sacramento
264:West Coast
253:Pittsburgh
249:Cincinnati
189:Gulf Coast
172:, and the
33:references
1289:33 USC 59
1279:§ 58
1249:§ 56
1234:§ 54
1219:§ 52
1006:plus the
958:July 2013
891:Louisiana
835:chemicals
777:crude oil
773:Petroleum
723:‑US
601:Back Cove
570:South Bay
237:St. Louis
106:waterways
102:navigable
58:July 2013
1347:Category
1185:cite web
1090:See also
1073:and the
1052:Arkansas
907:Kentucky
895:Illinois
873:and the
850:minerals
789:jet fuel
781:gasoline
684:Towboats
245:St. Paul
1327:Sources
1083:capital
1008:towboat
996:Chicago
948:updated
915:Alabama
879:Midwest
797:asphalt
727:railway
706:or 870
368:Vermont
241:Chicago
229:Memphis
221:Houston
197:Florida
166:Potomac
108:of the
46:improve
1316:
1301:
1277:
1262:
1247:
1232:
1217:
1004:barges
998:, and
917:, and
869:, the
831:gravel
688:barges
574:Boston
293:dammed
274:. The
251:, and
223:, and
209:Mobile
203:. The
170:Hudson
168:, the
148:. The
134:canals
130:rivers
124:Extent
35:, but
1170:(PDF)
1163:(PDF)
1146:Notes
887:Texas
854:steel
843:metal
823:stone
804:grain
719:truck
700:locks
686:push
193:Texas
191:from
158:barge
1191:link
1061:and
1050:and
1015:dams
987:lock
969:The
889:and
881:and
846:ores
829:and
827:sand
795:and
759:Coal
737:and
585:and
568:and
310:and
278:and
258:The
183:The
132:and
96:The
810:or
650:by
612:in
603:in
594:in
572:in
564:,
555:in
546:in
527:to
489:to
413:to
404:to
381:to
344:328
335:329
180:.
1349::
1187:}}
1183:{{
1065:,
1046:,
994:,
913:,
909:,
905:,
901:,
897:,
848:,
841:;
825:,
791:,
787:,
783:,
779:,
255:.
247:,
243:,
239:,
235:,
231:,
219:,
215:,
211:,
1193:)
1179:.
960:)
956:(
950:.
799:.
769:.
673:)
667:(
662:)
658:(
644:.
71:)
65:(
60:)
56:(
42:.
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