At JB Marine Service in St. Louis, Mo. barges are repaired and cleaned out for that next load on the river. George Foster, President of JB Marine shows how his floating office is not floating because of low water levels. | Al Podgorski~Chicago Sun-Times

With the city of St. Louis in the background, a tugboat pushes a barge up the Mississippi River.

The M V. Elizabeth Brown tugboat leaves a wake of water as it makes it up the Mississippi River.

With the city of St. Louis in the background, a tugboat pushes a barge up the Mississippi River.

The Mississippi River is at very low levels due to the drought of 2012. In St. Louis, Mo., barge traffic is active but much slower than in previous years. The river is essential to lowering costs of moving goods through the United States. Dennis Wilmsmeyer is Executive Director of America's Central Port in Granite City, Illinois. | Al Podgorski~Chicago Sun-Times

At JB Marine Service in St. Louis, Mo. barges are repaired and cleaned out for that next load on the river. | Al Podgorski~Chicago Sun-Times

The Mississippi River is at very low levels due to the drought of 2012. In St. Louis, Mo., barge traffic is active but much slower than in previous years. The river is essential to lowering costs of moving goods through the United States. Otis Williams, Deputy Executive Director at the St. Louis Development Corporation, talks about the river levels. | Al Podgorski~Chicago Sun-Times

As the M.V. Elizabeth Brown makes it's way down the Mississippi River, the arch and the city of St. Louis looms behind.

A barge makes it's way up the Mississippi River near St. Louis, Mo.

The Mississippi River is at very low levels due to the drought of 2012. In St. Louis, Mo., barge traffic is active but much slower than in previous years. The river is essential to lowering costs of moving goods through the United States. Dennis Wilmsmeyer is Executive Director of America's Central Port in Granite City, Illinois. He uses an app on his smartphone to check river water levels. | Al Podgorski~Chicago Sun-Times