Downstream drought effects

The ongoing Midwestern drought is causing significant water level problems in the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, which in turn is causing barge transport difficulties, which could have economic ramifications.

Tell that to conservatives who don't think climate and weather are important economic issues.

Barge operators continue to sound alarm about low Mississippi River levels

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers say that they're going to keep the channel open and deep enough for traffic, but when you have to excavate rock (instead of just bottom sediments) to do that, well, that means the situation is getting serious.