The sorry state of the United State’s inland waterways system is well known, but solutions to fixing it seem, at times, elusive.

“Folks cross railroads, they travel roads and see rusty bridges, they’re asking ‘Where’s our DOT funding for this?’ But they’re not calling and asking ‘Where’s our energy and water funding to maintain our rivers?’” said Thomas Heinhold, the Army Corps of Engineer’s Rock Island District deputy chief of operations.

Heinhold was part of a barge and lock and dam tour Aug. 4 on the Mississippi River near Davenport, Iowa.

Maintenance, repairs and improvements to the lock system come primarily from the federal budget.

Read the full article on the Iowa Farmer Today website.