Jackhammers Pound River Rocks to Keep Mississippi Open

Efforts to clear the drought-depleted Mississippi River will proceed without the aid of explosives as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has opted, for the moment, to jackhammer submerged rock obstacles in hopes of opening the waterway for barge traffic.

While blowing up the so-called pinnacles, submerged formations south of St. Louis that hinder passage in the low-level Mississippi, remains “on the table,” a Corps spokesman said a “hydro hammer” will be used to break up the rocks.