By Dan Klepal
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The barges are coming; the barges are coming!

The only question now is whether the 1,400 to 1,700 tons of road salt on each of the 20 barges winding their way upriver toward Cincinnati can be unloaded because of the rising Ohio River.

Flood stage along the Ohio River at Cincinnati is 52 feet, and the river is supposed to crest today at between 52 and 53 feet. Officials are worried that high water would keep the salt from being brought ashore.

Although some salt was unloaded Tuesday as the river hovered just over 50 feet, it's not nearly enough to satisfy dozens of local governments running low on supplies because of the unusually high number of winter storms this year, particularly with more snow predicted today and Thursday.

Joe Wojtonik, spokesman for the Morton Salt Co. in Chicago, said the Queen City is expecting three barges today and three barges Thursday from his company.

"We're aware of the water levels, but our facility should have no problems," Wojtonik said. "We can work at several feet above flood levels."

Carold Ueland, distribution manager for Cargill Salt, said it's up to site managers to determine if barges can be unloaded safely.

E-mail dklepal@enquirer.com