A barge navigates the shallow water in the Mississippi River in Tennessee-CNN PhotoNew Orleans, La. - The drought is sucking the "mighty" out of the Mississippi river.
Downriver, a salt water "wedge" threatens water supplies in Plaquemines Parish. Upriver a riverboat dock in Memphis is too shallow to be used.
Friday, crews will begin pumping fresh water from the river in Jefferson parish onto barges that will carry it to people and businesses down river.
The river levels are so low near the mouth of the river, a saltwater wedge is pushing up the river threatening water supplies.
Plaquemines parish declared a state of emergency Tuesday.
Two barges will carry 1.2 million gallons of water on each trip to another barge in Port Sulphur.
Plaquemines parish is already pulling fresh water from Jefferson Parish through an existing pipeline.
Construction of a separate line to Orleans parish is almost complete.
Upriver in Tennessee, barge operators keep a close eye on depth finders as they navigate an increasingly shallow and narrow river.
They have reason to be nervous.
Over the last two weeks, boats and barges have been running aground nearly every day.
Because of the shallow water, barges must lighten their loads to be able to avoid running aground.
That runs up the cost of shipping and could eventually mean higher prices for consumers.
The giant American Queen riverboat had to let passengers off on a levee because the water is too shallow where it normally docks.
