Corps says low levels may affect Mississippi River industries

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - The Army Corps of Engineers says the Mississippi River may reach low water conditions that could negatively affect some operations at facilities and industries along the waterway in coming months.

The corps' Memphis office said Thursday that the Mid-South area, which includes parts of Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi, experienced below-normal rainfall during the summer. The corps says that could lead to low water levels that could force some businesses along the river to seek special operations permits.

The river also experienced low water levels in 2012, a year after a flood inundated farmland and homes in the region. Last year's low water levels led the corps to dredge the river and many of its harbors, in order to allow safe transport of materials on the heavily traveled commercial waterway.