The 2024 navigation season on the Upper Mississippi River officially ended on Dec. 1 when the final towboat of the year passed through Lock and Dam 2 near Hastings, Minn.

The last vessel was the Ashley Danielson, a 105'7" towboat operated by Genesis Marine LLC, which passed through the lock at 11:48 a.m., according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District.

Traditionally, the last tow departing St. Paul, Minn., and heading south of Lock and Dam 2 marks the unofficial end of the navigation season. This typically occurs during the last week of November or the first week of December.

The 2024 season began on March 17, when Marquette Transportation Company's 129'6" towboat Joseph Patrick Eckstein passed through Lock and Dam 2 with 12 barges.

Following the season's conclusion, St. Paul District staff are conducting scheduled maintenance at several locks. The projects include miter gate anchorage bar replacements at Locks and Dams 7 and 9, guidewall repairs at Lock and Dam 2, and gate maintenance at Locks and Dams 5 and 5A.

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