The final tow of the 2025 Upper Mississippi River navigation season left St. Paul, Minn., on Tuesday, Nov. 25, marking the unofficial end of commercial river traffic for the year.
The towboat Sierra Dawn departed in the late afternoon with 12 barges, heading toward the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Lock and Dam 2 near Hastings, Minn. The departure of the last southbound tow from St. Paul traditionally signals the close of the navigation season, a milestone that typically occurs in late November or early December. In 2024, the Ashley Danielson was the final tow, departing Dec. 1.
The 2025 season opened on March 19 with the arrival of the Neil N. Diehl and nine barges.
“It’s a bittersweet milestone when the last tow departs,” said Mitch Serjogins, St. Paul District acting locks and dams chief. “It’s the end of the season, but the work is not done. Maintenance becomes our priority over the winter to ensure we continue providing a reliable navigation channel for the movement of commodities up and down the Mississippi River.”
Serjogins said maintenance projects are scheduled at Lock and Dam 7 near La Crescent, Minn., and Lock and Dam 9 near Lynxville, Wis. Because of that work, all St. Paul District locks and dams from St. Paul to Lynxville will close from Dec. 8 through March 15, 2026.
The St. Paul District’s navigation program maintains a 9' channel and 13 locks and dams from Minneapolis to Guttenberg, Iowa, supporting commercial transportation and national security.
