Our experience in wetland habitat restoration began 30 years ago with the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program (UMRR), the largest restoration program ever undertaken on a major waterway, worldwide.  Since then we have carried out many more restorations along the inland waters of the United States, including restoration after large-scale environmental remediation.  

One of the challenges faced during a remediation, restoration, or construction project located
in the middle of a marshland is access.  Typically contractors have to construct temporary roads to safely reach work areas.  This requirement is costly, especially in the case of an environmental remediation project where all materials have to be removed and disposed of as hazardous waste.  Building temporary roads also negatively impacts the sensitive wetland environment and its inhabitants.   There are other options that can save time and money, while greatly reducing the negative impact on both aquatic plant and animal species. 

Our final installment of becoming a tow boat master focuses on the demanding schedule that one will encounter if he or she chooses this path.  It is not an easy schedule, but the rewards have drawn many. 

We continue our series on becoming a Master of Towing Vessels by next addressing the duties in which this person is responsible.  Our last entry left off with some fun statistics that outlined the enormity of cargo in which an average sized tow can transport.  This statistic, supplied by the National Waterways Foundation, stated that an average sized, 15 barge tow can transport as much as 216 rail cars, and 1,050 semi-tractors!  Just one barge alone can carry 58,333 bushels of wheat, enough for 2.5 million loaves of bread!

Have you ever wondered how you can get a job running a tow boat up and down the Mississippi River?  Did you know that there is actually a shortage of river boat pilots?