<div class='node-body'><p>Continued drought conditions have brought the Mississippi River to its <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/20/usa-drought-barges-idUSL2E8JK8XQ20120820">lowest level since 1988 </a>and have lead the U.S. Coast Guard to <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/nation/article/Mississippi-River-s-water-level-sinks-3802587.php">close an 11-mile stretch of the river</a>, backing up traffic on the heavily used waterway. In New Orleans, the levels mean salt water is creeping into the drinking supply.</p></div><div class="field field-type-filefield field-field-news-hp-image">
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<p><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/08/21-2" target="_blank">read more</a></p>