The NYT with a piece on how decades of water-hogging center-pivot irrigation has been drawing down the Central Plains aquifer. This will intensify competition for resources like Missouri River water.
Who manages the Mississippi River?
A New Orleans publication argues that climate change challenges are making a single management plan for the entire Mississippi River basin more urgent than ever.
‘Boring old barges’ could be ‘huge’
An investor columnist touts the “boring old” barge industry.
Tight oil loosens energy markets
The North American oil and gas “supply shock” is loosening the global energy market.
Can Mighty Miss Rebuild Louisiana’s coast?
I guess this is how government sometimes does things: First, commit $50 billion for coastal restoration; then, find out whether your assumptions are correct. Is there really enough silt coming down the Mississippi River to rebuild Louisiana’s coastline?
More attacks on barge interests
Reuters with another article on lobbying efforts of the shipping and barge industry on Capitol Hill, including attacks on the industry from both sides of the aisle.
It’s part of the blowback the industry is getting after the success of its efforts during last year’s drought to increase the Washington profile of waterways issues.
Has China ‘lost’ 28,000 rivers?
A recent article suggests that as many as 28,000 rivers may have “disappeared” in China over the past few decades
Gloucester barge to get refitting
In Gloucester, England, home of the best-preserved 19th-century docks, a historic canal barge is getting refurbished into an attraction. These long English and European barges were self-propelled boats, really, with living quarters aboard for the family (almost always a family) that owned them.
Natural gasoline, not natural gas, caused Mobile explosions
The Center for Liquefied Natural Gas (CLNG) released an April 28 statement on the April 24 explosions that engulfed two barges in flames in Mobile, Ala.:
“Our sincerest sympathies go out to the victims who were critically injured during the tragic barge explosions in Mobile, Alabama on Wednesday evening.
“At the same time, CLNG would like to clarify that the incident was associated with natural gasoline, which is a naturally-occurring liquid often found in association with natural gas that is used as a petrochemical feedstock and in the refining business. Natural gasoline is not liquefied natural gas (LNG) as some news stories have inaccurately reported.” [Note: The Waterways Journal accurately reported the barges as carrying natural gasoline.]
“The properties of natural gasoline are very different from those of LNG. Although substantial energy is stored in LNG, it cannot be released rapidly enough to cause the overpressures associated with an explosion in an unconfined space. LNG has been safely handled for many years and the industry remains committed to maintaining the safety and security of this essential fuel.”
High water ‘not fazing’ barge operators
NPR’s Kai Ryssdal with an interview with Austin Golding on the recent high water.
