NEW ORLEANS — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it will build an underwater sill in the Mississippi River to stop saltwater from creeping farther upriver from the Gulf of Mexico.

The Corps says river levels have fallen to a level that allows saltwater to intrude upstream.

"Based on current river conditions and forecasts, the toe of the saltwater wedge is expected to reach River Mile 80 Above Head of Passes within the next 28 days, triggering construction of the underwater sill," officials said.

Construction of the sill will begin near Myrtle Grove, La., and take about two weeks once the contract is awarded.

Similar sills have been built before and will remain until river flow naturally pushes salt water back downstream.

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